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
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- Portraits - Family
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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 - Family
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1945 outdoor photo of 2 women and 7 men, same Farm Bureau group seen in mcalB14F24i11.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 outdoor photo of woman and man (relationship unknown). The address is 109 Intervale Ave., Burlington, home of Adalard J. and Mary D. LeBlanc, according to the city directory. See also mcalB22F12i04.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of a group of men and women assembled in a large room that has been decorated somewhat. Identity of the group, venue, and the location are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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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 2.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1949 photo of a group of men and women seated at dining tables in a large open room, a restaurant or dining hall. Photo #4.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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A group of men and women (along with a few young children) gathered at a rustic restaurant with knotty pine paneled walls, hard wood floors and a wooden chandelier made from logs. Photo #1?
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1945 photo of 20 men and 2 women, very likely employees of a company. Identity of company and location unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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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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1949 photo printed from a damaged negative. A group of older men and women sit at dining tables in a restaurant. Bar with beverage bottles seen center background. Walls are knotty pine, floor hard wood, drop panel ceiling. Photo #4.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Large group of men and women gathered in a room perhaps a restaurant for a portrait. Print made from damaged negative. Dated 1949. Photo #2.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1945 photo of what appears to be a business meeting and a presentation pertaining to the Farnsworth Co. that manufactures televisions and other electronic transmitters and receivers. Wall display shows a certificate indicating that "John Doe & Company" is an "approved Farnsworth dealer."...
Show more1945 photo of what appears to be a business meeting and a presentation pertaining to the Farnsworth Co. that manufactures televisions and other electronic transmitters and receivers. Wall display shows a certificate indicating that "John Doe & Company" is an "approved Farnsworth dealer." Presumably the attendees, which include some women, have an interest in the company.
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- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1947 photo of a restaurant scene, with an elderly foursome (right) offering a toast (milestone anniversary?).
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1947 photo of a meeting of men and women affiliated with the Nash bed company. (See also mcalB15F22i07.) Identity of persons, venue, occasion unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1953 indoor group portrait of large number of men and women.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1951 or 1952 photo of a group of men and women gathered at a rustic restaurant. Candles, greenery and pine cones decorate the tables. The women wear what may be Christmas corsages. Photo #1?
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Large group of young people and some adults in a restaurant, perhaps students and teachers. Location, occasion, date unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1953 indoor group portrait photo of men and women in a restaurant. Captains' chairs seen in foreground. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1944 photo of three men and a woman (who resembles Margaret Thatcher) looking over some documents. Several photos of buildings and houses are on the wall. Location may be an architectural firm, but that remains unknown along with the identity of the persons and the occasion.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1951 group of men and women of various ages (and one child) gathered outside for a portrait in front of a brick building.