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
- Camp Birchcliffe
- Description
-
July 1945 Two portrait photos of two young men outside on the grounds of Camp Birchcliffe, Grand Isle, Vermont.
- Title
- Camp Birchcliffe
- Description
-
July 1945 Photo portait of five young men outside on the grounds of Camp Birchcliffe, Grand Isle, Vermont.
- Title
- Camp Birchcliffe
- Description
-
July 1945 Two photo portraits of two young men on the grounds of Camp Birchcliffe, Grand Isle, Vermont.
- Title
- Camp Birchcliffe Activities
- Description
-
1946/1947 Some men and women relax on a dock by the shore while at Camp Birchcliffe, Grand Isle, Vermont. Photo #4.
- Title
- Camp MacArthur (Waitsfield, VT)
- Description
-
Undated Participants of the MacArthur Summer Theater Workshop handle scenery on a truck.
- Title
- Cathedral High School - Tennis Team
- Description
-
Members of the Cathedral High School Tennis Team posing on the steps of Cathedral high School. The photograph is dated 1942.
- Title
- Christ the King School - Confirmation
- Description
-
Christ the King School - Confirmation 1944. Youth assembled outside with one priest. They are gathered in front of an entrance with the words "Regnet Christus" engraved overhead. Photo #2.
- Title
- Christ the King School - Confirmation
- Description
-
Christ the King School - Confirmation 1944. Youth assembled outside with one priest. They are gathered in front of an entrance with the words "Regnet Christus" engraved overhead. Photo #1.
- Title
- Christ the King School - Confirmation
- Description
-
Young men and women from the Christ the King Parish posing with Rev. Charles A Towne in a photograph commemorating their receiving the Catholic sacrament of confirmation (A second short of this group). Photograph is dated 1944. Photo #2.
- Title
- Congregational Church - Choirs
- Description
-
1948/1949 photo of choir assembled in the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church. May be Easter season as lily plants are seen on either side.
- Title
- Congregational Church - Choirs
- Description
-
Undated photo of a youth choir of the First Congregational Church. Dressed in choir robes and assembled in one of the many rooms at First Church, the group is mostly girls with the typical short supply of boys (7-to-1 ratio), who nevertheless convey a good deal of enthusiasm. Photo #15.
- Title
- Congregational Church - Choirs
- Description
-
Undated photo of a youth choir of the First Congregational Church. Dressed in choir robes and assembled in one of the many rooms at First Church, the group is mostly girls with the typical short supply of boys (7-to-1 ratio), who nevertheless convey a good deal of enthusiasm. Photo #16.
- Title
- Farms
- Description
-
1944 photo of a young man with a scythe working in a hay field.
- Title
- Farms
- Description
-
1944 photo of a young man using a hoe and working in a large newly planted crop field.
- Title
- First Congregational Church - Organizations
- Description
-
Rev. George W. Lawrence (standing 2nd from left) with youth of the church.
- Title
- First Congregational Church - Organizations
- Description
-
Sunday School class of the First Congregational Church. Several youth are dressed in choir robes. Man standing in the back is John Patterson. Photo 10.
- Title
- First Congregational Church - Organizations
- Description
-
Rev. George W. Lawrence (standing far right) and his wife Nancy (standing 2nd from left) with college age group called Friday Club that met every Friday for dinner and a meeting. Gathered here in the church basement. Also present are Edith Candee and Martha Howe standing near Rev. Lawrence.
- Title
- First Congregational Church - Organizations
- Description
-
Rev. George W. Lawrence (2nd from left) with youth of the church.
- Title
- Graduation - Unidentified
- Description
-
1944 photo of graduates gathered outside each holding their diploma. Photo #3.
- Title
- Graduation - Unidentified
- Description
-
Photograph of a 1939 photo showing graduates gathered outside on steps with their diplomas. Girls wear white dresses ; boys are in suit and tie. Names written on the bottom of the photo.