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
- American Legion
- Description
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American Legion meal ; 1945/1947? Photo no. 1.
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- Church Groups - Unidentified
- Description
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1945 photo of an unidentified church group gathered for a meal. Glass paneled wall in background. Left to right are: Rev. James Engle Mons. Bernard Flanagan Bishop Matthew Brady Rev. James Murray
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- Congregational Church - Choirs
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Undated photo of an adult choir assembled in the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church. Photo may have been taken on Palm Sunday (note palm branches on altar). Photo #5.
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- Construction Sites
- Description
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December 4, 1953 photo of the interior of a building under construction. Two men stand center while workmen are seen in background.
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- Interiors (Unidentified)
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1930s dining hall at Mount St. Mary's is heavily decorated with crepe paper streamers attached to the ceiling. Tables are elaborately set with food with each having a cloth place mat draping the table covering and a place card. Columns are adorned with streamers and evergreen bows. An all male...
Show more1930s dining hall at Mount St. Mary's is heavily decorated with crepe paper streamers attached to the ceiling. Tables are elaborately set with food with each having a cloth place mat draping the table covering and a place card. Columns are adorned with streamers and evergreen bows. An all male wait staff stands ready to serve this Christmas meal. See also mcalA15F08i13.
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- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1945 family portrait photo of a man, his wife and grown children gathered in a living room on the sofa. Two young men in the military. Photo #2.
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- Portraits - Family
- Description
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A family gathered in their living room at Christmas (evergreens on the fireplace mantel and tree to far right). An older man and woman sit on a sofa with their daughter (?) and three grown sons(?) standing behind, each in the military. Photo #8. Dated 1945.
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- Portraits - Family
- Description
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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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- Portraits - Family
- Description
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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
- Description
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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
- Description
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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.
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- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1955 group photo of several men and women gathered in a room. Four men in business suits are shaking hands. See also mcalB15F03i16 for another exposure with 1950 date.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows? 150 Bank Street, Burlington?
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1935 or 1936 indoor photo of three men. Two hold a trophy of some sort. Boston ferns seen in the background. Same distinctive location with decorative latice work as seen in mcalB15F13i01. See also mcalB15F12i04 for different exposure of same men.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1935 or 1936 indoor photo of three men. Two hold a trophy of some sort. Boston ferns seen in the background. Same distinctive location with decorative latice work as seen in mcalB15F13i01
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Group of distinguished men dressed in suit and tie pose for a portrait photo. Dated 1935-1936. Same distinctive location as mcalB15F12i04
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- 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.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows? 150 Bank Street, Burlington?
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1937 indoor photo of a large group of men and women dining. Monogram initials overhead. Same distinctive location with decorative lattice work as seen in mcalB15F12i04