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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1949 portrait photo of husband and wife with their four grown children. Upright piano seen to the left. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Family
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1950 multi generational portrait photo of an older man and wife with ten younger adults (their grown children?) gathered outside. A building to the left has a horseshoe on the door. Photo #2
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 outdoor photo of large family, with three generations present and two service men. This photo brings together the people seen in mcalB14F18i05 and mcalB14F18i06.
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1949 or 1950 wedding anniversary photo of two older couples standing at a table laid out with silver tea service, cups and sandwiches. A tiered cake is center. Photo #1.
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1950 photo of the same man in mcalB15F03i01 standing in a field with a colt. The man wears a shiny belted jacket and cap.
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- Portraits - Family
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1950 group portrait photo of several men and women standing in a room. Four men in business suits are shaking hands. See also mcalB15F07i01 for another exposure with 1955 date.
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Mid-1930s outdoor photo of perhaps three family generations, with 6 women and 9 men. Varied array of men's suits, footwear, etc. One man wears knickers.
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- Portraits - Family
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1948 or 1949 group portrait photo of several men and women. Photo #3.
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- Portraits - Family
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1947 or 1948 winter photo of a young couple with their dog outside the front stoop of 52 No. Winooski Ave, Burlington, Vt. Rooms lent in the 1940s by Mrs. Lydia M. Harte.
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- Portraits - Family
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1950 multi generational portrait photo of an older man and wife with ten younger adults (their grown children?) gathered outside. A building to the left has a horseshoe on the door. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 outdoor photo of 2 women and 7 men, same Farm Bureau group seen in mcalB14F24i11.
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- Portraits - Family
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Another portrait photo of young couple as seen in mcalB15F02i05 seated on a very large (Art Deco style?) upholstered chair with wide arms.
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- Portraits - Family
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1950 photo of a man, a woman, a mare and her colt standing outside on a grassy field in front of a house. Photo #2.
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- Portraits - Family
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1949 family portrait photo taken in their home. Husband and wife with their four grown children. Photo #2.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 outdoor photo of 2 women and 7 men, same Farm Bureau group seen in mcalB14F24i11.
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- Portraits - Family
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Same family as seen in mcalB15F02i03. Here they stand outside near front porch of their home. Dated 1949.
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Another photo of mother and her three grown children. Mother sits in a very large upholstered armchair (Art Deco style?) Sons sit on the chair arms on either side of their mother. Framed picture behind reads in part "Welcome Guest!" Photo #1. Dated 1949.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 outdoor photo of 2 women and 7 men, standing outside a building marked "Office" with a smaller sign beneath reading "Farm Bureau." Could this be a local office for the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company? Employees only? Brothers and sisters?
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 indoor photo of two couples. One man is in the armed services.
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- Portraits - Family
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1949 portrait photo of an older mature husband and wife seated in their home with various flowers arranged.