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
Show less
Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Undated photo of a group of people gathered outside at night on a bricked patio or terrace. They wear name tags with photos of their younger selves. Class reunion? Photo 1.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1958 photo of several adults of varying ages seated on the grass. Possibly college summer students. Photo looks to be a closeup of a larger image.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1945 photo of a large group of men and women assembled within what appears to be a small stage. The group dynamic suggests that they are co-workers in a business, possibly with spouses present. Identity of group, venue, and occasion are unknown.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1952 portrait photo of several people seated at a banquet table at a restaurant or other public or commercial space. The seated woman in print dress seen also in mcalB16F05i01, i03 and i12 images Photo #4.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1945 photo of a large group of men and women dressed for a winter outing which may be a sleigh ride. Shows a variety of winter apparel.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1947 photo of a gathering of family and/or friends. Identity of group, venue, and occasion unknown.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1949 or 1950 group portrait of women and four men at dining tables at a restaurant.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1944 photo of William H. Wills (center), Governor of Vermont (1941-1945) signing a document, as others look on. The man on the left, still unidentified, is *not* the Lt. Gov. of the time, Mortimer Proctor. The lady on the right is probably his secretary. A photo of Wills's wife, Hazel, is on the...
Show more1944 photo of William H. Wills (center), Governor of Vermont (1941-1945) signing a document, as others look on. The man on the left, still unidentified, is *not* the Lt. Gov. of the time, Mortimer Proctor. The lady on the right is probably his secretary. A photo of Wills's wife, Hazel, is on the left side of the desk. Letters in the background probably spell "President Coolidge." Photo #1.
Show less
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1935 or 1936 indoor photo of a large unidentified group of mostly women (five men seen). They are gathered in a room with an over hang and pipes visible overhead. Game room? Is that a ping pong table to the far left foreground? Photo #2.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1951 or 1952 photo of men and women seated in a rustic restaurant with knotty pine walls. In the far right corner of the photo is seen the tips of branches of a Christmas tree decorated with tinsel.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1957/ 1958. This rustic wooden paneled room (perhaps a restaurant) is where a group of men and women gather for a group portrait. Burlington residents, Bob and Bea Earnshaw in second row seated left side. . Photo #3. See also mcalA15F05i12, i13 and mcalA15F08i01, mcalA15F05i11
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Birds eye view of a banquet on the floor of Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vt as seen from the balcony. On the floor men and women are seated at dining tables. Men seated at a very long head table just in front of the stage (only one woman seated the head table). Dated 1949 - 1950. Photo #3.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Ca. 1948 photo of a large group of women and one man (choral group?). Identity of persons, location, and occasion are unknown.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1945 photo of a large gathering of men and women in a restaurant or other dining facility (see also mcalB15F17i02). Half the group has left their seats and stood along the wall for the portrait. A few men are wearing military uniforms. Identity of the group, venue, and occasion are unknown.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Mid 1950s group portrait photo of young people and a few adults at a rustic restaurant. Photo #2.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1953 photo of mostly women gathered for a portrait photo.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1947 (perhaps Spring) photo of a group of well-dressed, influential looking men and women gathered at a train station. Identity of group or attendees, venue, occasion unknown.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1951 or 1952 photo of a group of men and women gathered in a restaurant. Booths line the side walls, tables arranged down the center of the room. A bold patterned wall paper and printed curtains decorate the interior. See mcalB16F07i11 for a 1953 photo. Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Overexposed 1953 group portrait photo of men and women gathered in a restaurant with bold patterned wallpaper and printed curtains. A television has been added as seen in the upper right corner. Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Undated photo of a group of people gathered outside at night on a bricked patio or terrace. They wear name tags with photos of their younger selves. Class reunion? Photo 4.