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, groups, unidentified
- Description
-
A formal portrait of a propeller driven airplane sitting in a open field with 20 men standing and kneeling beside it. The word SHELL is printed on the side of the plane. See also mcalA15F08i10.
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
-
Photo of an older man standing outside at the corner of Wheeler House (one time residence of James R. and Jane Wheeler) located in Burlington, Vermont now owned by the University of Vermont. Seen is a fluted column and stone steps. This is the South Prospect Street side of the house which has the...
Show morePhoto of an older man standing outside at the corner of Wheeler House (one time residence of James R. and Jane Wheeler) located in Burlington, Vermont now owned by the University of Vermont. Seen is a fluted column and stone steps. This is the South Prospect Street side of the house which has the number 133. He wears a bow tie, a dark colored suit jacket and light colored pants. See the same man in mcalA15F01i17
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- Title
- Saint Paul's Episcopal Church
- Date Created
- 1935-1936
- Description
-
1935 or 1936 photo of members of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (i.e. Cathedral Church of St. Paul) in Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1950
- Description
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1950 group photo of one man (Maj. Ed Russell), several women (Maj. Elsie Russell, in uniform, closest to the flag) and children at the Salvation Army. The children hold rolled certificates. Large portrait painting of "General" William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, on the wall behind. (See...
Show more1950 group photo of one man (Maj. Ed Russell), several women (Maj. Elsie Russell, in uniform, closest to the flag) and children at the Salvation Army. The children hold rolled certificates. Large portrait painting of "General" William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, on the wall behind. (See the portrait of Booth at: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b39560/) Burlington's location was once at 117 Cherry Street. Photo #1. Duplicate of mcalB17F21i14
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- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1944
- Description
-
1944 photo of bagged Christmas packages each with the Salvation literature, "The War Cry" destined as gifts to the needy. Majors Edward and Elsie Russell of the Salvation Army stand to the left. A decorated Christmas tree is behind.
- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1949
- Description
-
Sponsored Movie. 1949 photo of a large group of children and adults gathered to see a movie, hosted perhaps by the Salvation Army. The presence of Santa Claus indicates the time of year. On Wed., Dec. 21st, 1949, the Salvation Army had a Christmas party for children. This may be it. The newspaper...
Show moreSponsored Movie. 1949 photo of a large group of children and adults gathered to see a movie, hosted perhaps by the Salvation Army. The presence of Santa Claus indicates the time of year. On Wed., Dec. 21st, 1949, the Salvation Army had a Christmas party for children. This may be it. The newspaper account did not mention the location or whether a movie was shown.
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- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1945
- Description
-
1945 photo of a group of women affiliated with or perhaps employed by the Salvation Army, with Majors Ed and Elsie Russell (in uniform) seated at the table. Location may be the longtime mission at 117 Cherry St., Burlington, Vt. The Russells were in charge there ca. 1940-1951.
- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1949-1950
- Description
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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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- Title
- Sheldon Academy of Beauty and Culture
- Date Created
- 1960-1961
- Description
-
1960/1961. Sheldon Academy of Beauty and Culture located in Burlington, Vermont. A group of men and women, students of a local beauty salon or cosmetology school gather for a group photo. Photo #3.
- Title
- Sheldon Academy of Beauty and Culture
- Date Created
- 1960-1961
- Description
-
1960/1961. Sheldon Academy of Beauty and Culture located in Burlington, Vermont. A group of men and women, students of a local beauty salon or cosmetology school gather for a group photo. Photo #4. See also mcalA15F06i15
- Title
- Sheldon Academy of Beauty and Culture
- Date Created
- 1960-1961
- Description
-
1960/1961. Sheldon Academy of Beauty and Culture located in Burlington, Vermont. Three women get their hair washed in a beauty salon or cosmetology school. Two the beauticians are men. Photo #8. See also mcalA15F06i14
- Title
- Sheldon Academy of Beauty and Culture
- Date Created
- 1960-1961
- Description
-
1960/1961. Sheldon Academy of Beauty and Culture located in Burlington, Vermont. Six students of a local beauty salon or cosmetology school gather for a group photo.
- Title
- Stores - IGA (Burlington, VT)
- Date Created
- 1936
- Description
-
1936. Similar to mcalB18F20i03, this photo shows 2 additional men, and all are wearing hats. Building is Burlington Grocery Co., 47-49 Maple St., Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Stores - IGA (Burlington, VT)
- Date Created
- 1945
- Description
-
IGA storefront with, probably, owner and staff in doorway. Name of store unfortunately unreadable because of glare but could be Alarie's or Burns's.
- Title
- Stores - IGA (Burlington, VT)
- Date Created
- 1936
- Description
-
Employees and/or management of Burlington Grocery Co. standing in front of their respective cars (seen in mcalB18F20i04). These appear to be some of the same men seen in mcalB18F20i03. Cars may be Chevrolets, perhaps '34 or '35 models.
- Title
- Stores - IGA (Burlington, VT)
- Date Created
- 1936
- Description
-
1936. (See mcalB18F20i03) Management team of Burlington Grocery Co., 47-49 Maple St., Burlington, VT. The Burl. City Directory listed the following administrative positions: Sam C. Blodgett, pres.; Edward F. Holbrook, vice pres.; and treas. William F. Holbrook.
- Title
- Stores - IGA (Burlington, VT)
- Date Created
- 1937
- Description
-
1937. A duplicate of mcalB18F20i06, this photo shows 10 men, all administrators and employees of Burlington Grocery Co., 47-49 Maple St., Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Stores - IGA (Burlington, VT)
- Date Created
- 1935
- Description
-
1935. Management team of Burlington Grocery Co., 47-49 Maple St., Burlington, VT. The Burl. City Directory listed the following administrative positions: Sam C. Blodgett, pres.; Edward F. Holbrook, vice pres.; and treas. William F. Holbrook.
- Title
- Stores - Interiors - Unidentified
- Date Created
- 1945
- Description
-
Customers celebrating the New Year in Sulham's Sweet Shop, 60 Main St., Winooski, Vt. Harold Sulham is behind the Coke machine; his wife Evelyn is one of the waitresses behind the bar. The smiling lady in front is Charlene Sullivan, and the three boys in the back are (l.-r.) Johnny Provost, Chuck...
Show moreCustomers celebrating the New Year in Sulham's Sweet Shop, 60 Main St., Winooski, Vt. Harold Sulham is behind the Coke machine; his wife Evelyn is one of the waitresses behind the bar. The smiling lady in front is Charlene Sullivan, and the three boys in the back are (l.-r.) Johnny Provost, Chuck Crowley, and Francis Mongeon (Source: Vincent Feeney's 2002 history of Winooski, p. 147). -- Note the pressed tin ceiling and the display of flags above the bar, very likely those of the Allied Forces in World War II.
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- Title
- Stores - Interiors - Unidentified
- Date Created
- 1945
- Description
-
Eight men and eight women in an office, which looks fairly typical but certainly not model (note oddly stacked furniture, crowded layout). Very few clues to the type of business other than the conservative dress code.