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
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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A group of women veterans gather for a group portrait.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo of a gathering of veterans at Battery Park, Burlington, Vt. Occasion very likely is Veterans Day. A speaker is addressing the crowd. This may be J. Edward Moran, mayor of Burlington 1949-1957 and then manager of the airport.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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A group of seven women each wearing a corsage stand for a portrait. Photo no. 3.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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A group of men wear their organization's hats and vests and raise a can of beer in salute. The words "squirrel", "Vermont" and the initials M.O.C. are seen on the hats. Some of the ties and vests state "VFW Booster." The image of a cootie is also seen on the hats and ties. Military Order of the...
Show moreA group of men wear their organization's hats and vests and raise a can of beer in salute. The words "squirrel", "Vermont" and the initials M.O.C. are seen on the hats. Some of the ties and vests state "VFW Booster." The image of a cootie is also seen on the hats and ties. Military Order of the Cootie.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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A group of men, women and a younger woman gathered for a portrait.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Women of the Auxiliary 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"
- 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. (See also mcalB21F12i06.)
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Group portrait of military veterans at a celebratory gathering. Photo no. 3.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Group of older women belonging to a Mothers Club. There are different types of these clubs ; blue star for mothers with sons and daughters in the military ; gold star for sons and daughters killed while serving. A banner is held by one woman. Photo no. 1.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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A group of men, women and a younger woman gathered for a portrait.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1959 photo of 14 veterans, taken at a party at the VFW hall in Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club : Squirrel Club
- Description
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1947 or 1948 photo of members of the VFW Squirrel Club, assembled on and around a flat-bed truck, either before or after a parade in Burlington. Location is outside of the First Unitarian Universalist Society church at 152 Pearl Street (head of Church Street Marketplace), Burlington, Vt. They are...
Show more1947 or 1948 photo of members of the VFW Squirrel Club, assembled on and around a flat-bed truck, either before or after a parade in Burlington. Location is outside of the First Unitarian Universalist Society church at 152 Pearl Street (head of Church Street Marketplace), Burlington, Vt. They are part of the Military Order of the Cootie (MOC), an organization within VFW that seeks to have fun while also visiting the sick and disabled in veterans hospitals and elsewhere. The MOC motto is displayed on the side of the truck: "Keep 'Em Smiling in Beds of White."
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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1957 photo of members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, gathered at a restaurant. All are wearing white dresses and dark garrison caps.
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- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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1957 photo of a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in uniform, which includes a light-colored dress, garrison cap (with Post no. 782 visible), and white gloves.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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Undated photo of a VFW Ladies Auxiliary event, with members standing at attention as they listen to a designated speaker. Burlington had ca. 20 organizations for military veterans in the years following World War II.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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Undated photo of a group of VFW Ladies Auxiliary members, all wearing garrison caps and corsages. Occasion is unknown but the location may have been the VFW hall at 69 College St., Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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Ca. 1956 photo of members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, gathered at an unknown location. All are wearing white dresses and dark garrison caps.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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1957 photo of a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in uniform, which includes a light-colored dress, garrison cap (with Post no. 782 visible), and white gloves.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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1952 photo of some women veterans and members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Some are in uniform and wearing garrison caps; others (new inductees, perhaps?) wear dark dresses. A plaque on the wall bears the name of Howard Plant, in whose memory Post No. 782 was founded.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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1953 photo of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Post no. 782, gathered around an American flag. The different colors of dresses may indicate the service affiliation (e.g. Army, Navy, etc.) of each member. A few male veterans are in the background.