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
- Burlington: "Cooties" Club
- Description
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1952 Back of photo: "Bugs Contacts Grange Hall" Male members of the Cooties Club, under the Veterans of Foreign Wars, gather for a group portrait.
- Title
- Disabled American Veterans
- Description
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A group of older men and one older woman gather for a group portrait. She wears a corsage, several of the men wear their organization's caps. A pin on one man's shirt reads "D.A.V." (Disabled American Veterans) Photo no. 1. See also mcalA19F01i20
- Title
- Fort Ethan Allen (Colchester, VT)
- Description
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1945 Summer, Fall, Winter A large group of servicemen with a few service women gathered for a portrait photo. A Coca-Cola poster hangs on the wall in the corner.
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- Fort Ethan Allen (Colchester, VT)
- Description
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1945 Summer, Fall, Winter Servicemen
- Title
- Regular Veterans Association
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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Members of the Regular Veterans Association with the American flag and the group's flag behind them. Dated 1947. Photo #3.
- Title
- Regular Veterans Association
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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Members of the Regular Veterans Association with the American flag and the group's flag behind them. Dated 1947. Photo #2.
- Title
- Regular Veterans Association
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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Members of the Regular Veterans Association with the American flag and the group's flag behind them. Dated 1947. Photo #1.
- Title
- Regular Veterans Association
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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Members of the Regular Veterans Association with the American flag and the group's flag behind them. Dated 1947. Photo #4.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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A man, member of D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans) shakes the hand of a woman in recognition. She wears an evening gown and corsage. See also mcalB08F03i01
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Yet another view of Veterans Day (1957) at Battery Park, Burlington, Vt. (see also mcalB21F12i02). Veterans, a color guard plus others in uniform, and children from the neighborhood are present. This photo shows another veteran addressing the crowd.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Group portrait of military veterans at a celebratory gathering.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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The men gather for a group portrait. The military veterans wear caps of their organization.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Undated photo of a gathering of veterans and their spouses. Flag displays the name of the local VFW post. Howard W. Plant was the first Burlington casualty of World War I. A memorial in Battery Park is dedicated to his memory, and the Burlington VFW Post no. 782 bears his name.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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The men gather for a group portrait. Banner in the background reads "Ladies Auxiliary Howard Plant, Post No. 782, Burlington, Vermont, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States" Instituted June 1924. Photo #1.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo of a Veterans Day ceremony at Battery Park. A man in uniform places a wreath at the VFW memorial site dedicated to Howard W. Plant, as a small crowd of women veterans (wearing garrison caps) and children look on. Weather on this day was chilly, with 15-25 mph winds, according to the...
Show more1957 photo of a Veterans Day ceremony at Battery Park. A man in uniform places a wreath at the VFW memorial site dedicated to Howard W. Plant, as a small crowd of women veterans (wearing garrison caps) and children look on. Weather on this day was chilly, with 15-25 mph winds, according to the Burlington Free Press. The other possible occasion may be the 40th anniversary of Plant's death (6 Dec., 1917).
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1952 photo of some veterans at Memorial Auditorium, perhaps the people in charge of the bazaar; and, of course, Santa Claus.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1952 photo showing more of the interior of Memorial Auditorium. The occasion is very likely an annual Christmas bazaar sponsored by the VFW. A group appear to be lined up to see Santa Claus. Memorial Auditorium opened in 1928 and has a seating capacity of 2,500.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1959 photo of a veteran speaking at Battery Park, very likely on Veterans Day. A small crowd of veterans and citizens has gathered near the VFW war memorial.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo of a veterans' ceremony at Battery Park in Burlington, Vt., perhaps on Veterans Day. Crowd consists of men and women veterans (many wearing uniforms and/or garrison caps), and children. This gathering is at the Howard William Plant memorial. Plant, as the plaque states, was the "first...
Show more1957 photo of a veterans' ceremony at Battery Park in Burlington, Vt., perhaps on Veterans Day. Crowd consists of men and women veterans (many wearing uniforms and/or garrison caps), and children. This gathering is at the Howard William Plant memorial. Plant, as the plaque states, was the "first Burlington boy" to die in World War I. VFW Post #782 is named the "Howard Plant Post" in his honor. Plant died in 1917, so this ceremony marked the 40th anniversary of his death.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo of 16 veterans (of World War II, most likely) at the VFW hall. This may be a get-together after a Veterans Day observance such as the one seen in mcalB21F12i02.