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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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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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. (See also mcalB15F18i08.)
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1956 photo taken outside the Waterman building at UVM of a small group of alums at a "milestone" reunion, perhaps 50th.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of a restaurant scene or perhaps a college dining hall. Same group as in mcalB15F17i01. Identity of group, venue, and special occasion, if any, are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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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.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1948 photo of a large group of men and women seated at a dining table that forms a "U" in the room. A sign near a target on the wall says: "What is your aim? Plan now for '49." Identity of group, venue, and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1952 photo of a group of men and women gathered around dining tables at a rustic restaurant.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1935-1936 photo of a group of men and women gathered for a meal at a restaurant. The room is long and narrow with dining tables set end to end down the middle. Wood paneling and wood floors. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1956 or 1957 indoor Christmas group portrait photo of men and women gathered in a rustic restaurant with knotty pine walls. Overhead hangs a tissue paper bell and pine bows decorate the dining tables as well as candles and a small Santa. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1951 or 1952 group photo of men and women gathered at a rustic restaurant. Knotty pine walls. A large gift wrapped present rests on the table in front of one man. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1945 photo of a large group of men and women, standing at a banquet table with a large American flag and "Welcome Home" sign behind them (also an undecorated Christmas tree). Very likely a dinner for returning GIs, or perhaps the man in uniform in the front row.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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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 #2. See also mcalA15F05i12, i13 and mcalA15F08i01
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1952 group portrait of men and women (including the chef) gathered around several dining tables in a restaurant or other public or commercial space. Photo #2. The seated woman in print dress seen also in mcalB16F05i01, i03, i04 and i05 images
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1944 indoor photo of a group of men and women, gathered in front of several theatrical curtains for their portrait. Two women are holding bowling pins. Name of group, location, occasion unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of a dinner being held at Christmas, with several attendees wearing navy uniforms. There are two American flags placed onstage on either side of the Christmas tree. The location looks like the Southwick Ballroom on the Redstone Campus, Univ. of Vt. Occasion unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Different view of mcalB15F16i10, with Christmas dinner being held possibly in Southwick Hall Ballroom at UVM. Sailors in uniform can be seen at table on left. Occasion unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1949 photo of a group of men, women, and a nun gathered in a room; perhaps a kitchen (linoleum floor) for a portrait. Same people as seen in mcalB16F01i05.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1948 photo of a large group of women and one man (choral group?). Identity of persons, location, and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits, families, unidentified
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A man, woman and two daughters gather on a sofa for a portrait. Photo #4. See the same family members in mcalA15F03i03 and i04
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- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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A multi generation family photo. Date and location unknown but may be taken in early 20th century.
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- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A multi generational group of men, women and an infant standing and seated in chairs outside an elegant brick and fluted column porch. May have been taken in the 1920s.