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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A workman uses a wrench to tighten a bolt as he works on a vertical chute or conveyor belt. He stands in an open industrial commercial room with a brick floor. A large open bin seen to the right.
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Backyard driveway of McAllister's home at 47 No. Winooski Ave., Burlington after a heavy snow storm. Shoveled snow seen piled against property boundary fence. A young man stands with shovel in hand. Dated 1957 / 1958
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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 mcalB16F17i08.
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Two portrait photos of a young man in graduation cap and gown standing on a lawn next to a house. Dated 1945.
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1944 half length portrait photo of a young military man in uniform.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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1951 / 1952 portrait photo of a man seated and playing a small organ in a restaurant. People behind eating in booths; candelabra seen on the instrument.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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Two men sit for their portrait photo. Dated 1951 /1952.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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1949 outdoor photo of an older man seated on a pinto horse.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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An older man in white dress uniform. Dated 1956 / 1957.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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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 or Morgan?) horse barn. Overhead are horse identification signs. Legible are names Phyllis, Favorite Duke Dainty and UVM Royal Ida. See mcalB16F01i11 for...
Show more1949 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 or Morgan?) horse barn. Overhead are horse identification signs. Legible are names Phyllis, Favorite Duke Dainty and UVM Royal Ida. See mcalB16F01i11 for another exposure.
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1935 / 1936 portrait photo of a young boxer posing outside a brick building.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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Photo of a portrait painting of a distinguished older man.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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1944 of a soldier in military uniform standing outside 47 No. Winooski Ave., Burlington; McAllister's home.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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1945 or 1946 photo of a portrait photo. Shown is a young man in a military uniform. Photo has been set up on a rough plank board surface with shelves behind containing rolls of paper. Appears to be McAllister's cellar studio with some of his panoramic photos rolled up. Upper left can be seen an...
Show more1945 or 1946 photo of a portrait photo. Shown is a young man in a military uniform. Photo has been set up on a rough plank board surface with shelves behind containing rolls of paper. Appears to be McAllister's cellar studio with some of his panoramic photos rolled up. Upper left can be seen an upside down group portrait photo of several girls. Similar surface appears in mcalB10F21i10. A calendar hangs to the left reading "November."
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1947 / 1948 portrait photo of a young man in a tuxedo standing in a corner of a room.
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1944 photo of 2 photos pinned to a surface of the same young man in a check jacket. Images have an embossed seal with word "proof" legible.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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Portrait photo of a man wearing a suit standing in a room with religious picture of Jesus in the background. Dated 1956 / 1957.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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An older man seated at his desk in his office. Vermont maps and rocks seen in the background. Geology office, geologist? Dated 1957/1958.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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1944 of a soldier in military uniform standing outside 47 No. Winooski Ave., Burlington; McAllister's home.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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1945 photo of a member of McAllister's family in military uniform standing outside in McAllister's driveway at his home. The trademark wooden lattice fence seen behind.