Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Collection Overview
Louis L. McAllister photographed people and places near Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT) and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851)...
Show moreLouis L. McAllister photographed people and places near Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT) and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851). Julius McAllister worked as a photographer and dentist in Washington D.C., Bristol, Vermont and Columbus, Nebraska. Around 1895, Julius, his third wife Amy, and their children left Nebraska for the Union Soldiers’ Colony in Fitzgerald, Georgia. By 1900, Julius and Amy were divorced, and Amy and her stepson Louis were working as photographers in Thomasville, Georgia.
In 1907 Louis McAllister married Cora Shepard (born about 1872 in Vermont) in Holland, Michigan. By 1910, they were living in Queen City Park in South Burlington, Vermont, where Louis established a photography studio. The McAllisters moved to Burlington, and by 1919 they lived at 47 N. Winooski Avenue. They continued to occupy a summer cottage at Queen City Park, and were active in the Queen City Park Association, which held spiritualist camp meetings annually. McAllister conducted his photography business from home until his death in 1963.
McAllister’s “trademark” was his panorama camera which made him familiar to all sorts of groups ranging from graduating classes to state police to summer camp groups. In addition he did print 8 x 10 photos, many of which document building construction and Burlington Street Department projects, as well as group and individual portraits.
The L.L. McAllister Collection includes portraits, construction projects, buildings, businesses and events in the Burlington area covering the period ca. 1920-1960. The collection also includes photos of street, bridge, airport and sewer construction and repair, as well as group portraits of clubs, schools, etc.
Revised April, 2010
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Related Archival Collection
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- Title
- Portraits - Individuals
- Description
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Mid 1940s photo of an older man working on the legs of a piece of furniture (cabinet?). The room has remnants of wallpaper and appears now to be a workshop. See also mcalB16F14i09
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Another 1949 photo of a group of men, women, a nun and children gathered in a room; perhaps a kitchen (linoleum floor) for a portrait. See also mcalB16F01i06 with just the adults. Photo #4.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1949 photo of an older man in a business suit and hat putting a window in an opening of a building. Location may be (University of Vermont?) horse barn. See mcalB16F14i19 for another exposure.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Ca. 1946 photo of 4 elderly men, standing in front of a house. Identity of group, venue, and occasion unknown.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Seven very young children are assembled on a living room couch for a group portrait. They each hold a toy or doll except the little boy on the far left. See also mcalA14F15i18
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A young girl dressed for her first communion seen here in what may be a private home.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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1957/1958 photo of two young girls stand in a living room of a home amid a collection of dolls each holding a large antique German bisque head baby doll. Many other German bisque, china and cloth headed dolls also seen. Among the collection are nun dolls, German made china, Grace Storey Putnam...
Show more1957/1958 photo of two young girls stand in a living room of a home amid a collection of dolls each holding a large antique German bisque head baby doll. Many other German bisque, china and cloth headed dolls also seen. Among the collection are nun dolls, German made china, Grace Storey Putnam baby in stroller, Kathe Kruse dolls, plus several fashion dolls. Photo #1. See mcalB16F13i07 for what may be same location.
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- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Two young children stand upon an upholstered stool each dressed in a German / Austrian / Tyrolian type outfit. A fireplace is seen behind with a portrait painting of a young woman hung above the fireplace. See also mcalA14F16i08
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Four young children pose for a group portrait. Two girls stand, a younger girl in on a wooden rocking horse and a young boy is seated in a child's rocking chair. Photo #1. See also mcalA14F15i17, mcalB14F10i01, mcalB14F11i01
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A young girl poses in her First Communion dress. See also mcalA14F16i17
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A young girl poses in her First Communion dress. Photo #2. See also mcalA14F16i16
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Three young children pose next to their Christmas tree with gifts. The girl holds a small hard plastic doll that may be a Vogue Ginny popular in the 1950s. Other presents are arranged in a display around the tree and on the upholstered chair in which the boys sit. See also mcalB14F11i08
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Four young children pose for a group portrait. Two girls stand, a younger girl in on a wooden rocking horse and a young boy is seated in a child's rocking chair. Photo #2. See also mcalA14F15i16
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Seven very young children are assembled on a living room couch for a group portrait. They each hold a toy and the little boy on the far left holds a real calico kitten. See also mcalA14F15i18, mcalA14F15i20 and mcalA14F16i33
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A young girl dressed for her first communion seen here in what may be a private home's living room.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A slightly out of focus photo of two young children seated upon an upholstered stool each dressed in a German / Austrian / Tyrolian type outfit without the hat on the boy. Photo #3. A golden retriever dog lays in front. A fireplace is seen behind. See also mcalA14F16i06 and mcalA14F16i08
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A man and woman gather near a Christmas tree in their home with a young boy and girl. Christmas gifts are displayed beneath the tree. They include a chemistry outfit and a model train set. The girl holds a doll. See also mcalA15F03i01 for an earlier Christmas photo.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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A multi generation family photo. Date and location unknown but may be taken in early 20th century.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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Five young children stand outside of what may be their wooden clapboard sided home on a winter's day with an older man standing behind them. A hatch way door is open behind the children.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A father holds his young son as he sits next to his wife in a living room. See mcalA15F01i11 for the same setting but with an older couple.