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
Pages
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1944 indoor family portrait photo. Mother holds a new born baby girl.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1944 indoor photo of couple and child seen in mcalB14F14i10, with additional family members from at least three generations present. See also mcalB14F14i10 for just infant with husband and wife.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1943 indoor photo of four women and an infant, very likely three or four generations of the family.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1944 indoor photo of five family members, with three generations present (and perhaps a serviceman absent). Probable: two sisters (standing), their parents, and infant grandchild.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1952 indoor photo of couple with infant (grandparents and grandchild?). Florid interior design.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1953 portrait photo taken indoors of a family; perhaps a mother, father, their grown children or in-laws. One woman holds an infant.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1958 indoor photo (dated elsewhere as 1947: see mcalB14F26i05) of a couple with their young child.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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An infant girl seated in an arm chair. Large pattern floral wall paper in the background. Large floral pattern fabric on the back of the chair. The baby wears a dress, hard soled shoes and holds a pacifier.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Two young children seated in an upholstered chair. The older child sits on the arm of the chair while the younger baby sits leaning in the corner of the chair against her older sister. The baby wears a crocheted sweater and matching booties.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
-
An infant girl seated in an arm chair. Large pattern floral wall paper in the background. Large floral pattern fabric on the back of the chair. The baby wears a dress, hard soled shoes and holds a pacifier.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
-
Two young children seated in an upholstered chair. The older child sits on the arm of the chair while the younger baby sits leaning in the corner of the chair against her older sister. The baby wears a crocheted sweater and matching booties.
- 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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A multi generation family portrait. The man and woman in the back may be the parents of the young boy and twin infants. The two older women may be grandmothers. They appear to be in a living room setting with upholstered furniture. See also mcalA15F02i18
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A large group of family members gathered for a multi-generation photo outside a large brick building with fluted columns on the porch. The elderly man wearing the hat and woman to the right of him also seen in mcalA15F01i05. See also mcalA15F01i13 for a smaller group photo of some of the women...
Show moreA large group of family members gathered for a multi-generation photo outside a large brick building with fluted columns on the porch. The elderly man wearing the hat and woman to the right of him also seen in mcalA15F01i05. See also mcalA15F01i13 for a smaller group photo of some of the women and the infant child.
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- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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Four generation family portrait with three woman and an infant. They are assembled outside an elegant building with a wide steps and a long porch with with columns. See also the elderly woman in mcalA15F01i05
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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Multi generation family photo of two older women, an infant and a young man and woman. They are assembled in perhaps a living room with bold patterned wallpaper of leaves and foliage.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A multi generation family assemble outside near the front porch for a group photo. A mother holds an infant. An American flag hangs from the porch.
- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1951
- Description
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1951 holiday Christmas meal with women, children and Salvation Army officers (seen in center back, esp. Maj. Elsie Russell). Santa wall hanging in background. Location very likely the SA headquarters at 117 Cherry St. Photo #1.
- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1949-1950
- Description
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1949-1950 holiday (Christmas?) meal with women, children and Salvation Army officers Majors (Mr. & Mrs.) Edward and Elsie Russell, seen in center back. (The Russells were "in charge" from ca. 1940-1951.) Wrapped gifts are placed on the tables. Location very likely the headquarters at 117 Cherry...
Show more1949-1950 holiday (Christmas?) meal with women, children and Salvation Army officers Majors (Mr. & Mrs.) Edward and Elsie Russell, seen in center back. (The Russells were "in charge" from ca. 1940-1951.) Wrapped gifts are placed on the tables. Location very likely the headquarters at 117 Cherry St., Burlington. Photo #1.
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- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1949-1950
- Description
-
1949-1950 holiday (Christmas?) meal with wrapped presents. In attendance are women, children and Salvation Army officers, esp. Maj. Elsie Russell (end of table, right side) and her husband, Maj. Edward Russell, standing, far right. The Russells were "in charge," as the City Directory, ca 1940...
Show more1949-1950 holiday (Christmas?) meal with wrapped presents. In attendance are women, children and Salvation Army officers, esp. Maj. Elsie Russell (end of table, right side) and her husband, Maj. Edward Russell, standing, far right. The Russells were "in charge," as the City Directory, ca 1940-1951. The Salvation Army headquarters were at 117 Cherry St. in Burlington.
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