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
- Order of the Eastern Star
- Description
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Members of Eastern Star, formally dressed, seated and standing for a portrait photograph. Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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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.
- Title
- Automobile Wrecks & Wreckers
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Photograph of a Hope & Son wrecker transporting a large trailer
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Four teenager girls pose as if to dance or cheer. They wear full skirts; one quilted with black cats. They stand in a school gymnasium (basketball hoop seen in the background). Wood logs rest on fire irons on the floor in front of them.
- Title
- Shelburne High School
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Undated photo of the graduating class at Shelburne High School, consisting of 5 girls and 7 boys. The school closed in 1964.
- Title
- Athletics, unidentified
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Photograph of unidentified football team. Photo #23.
- Title
- Automobile Wrecks & Wreckers
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Photograph of a demolished truck at the scene of an accident.
- Title
- Oil Tank Construction - Texaco
- Description
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Lake front Texaco buildings and tanks with view looking across Lake Champlain toward New York state.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: College Street
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Undated photo of College Street near the intersection of St. Paul Street. On the left are retail stores and businesses including E. S. Adsit Coal Company and Turk's, a clothing store. On the right is Burlington City Hall Park with a sign for Bailey's Music Room on the broad side of the building,...
Show moreUndated photo of College Street near the intersection of St. Paul Street. On the left are retail stores and businesses including E. S. Adsit Coal Company and Turk's, a clothing store. On the right is Burlington City Hall Park with a sign for Bailey's Music Room on the broad side of the building, also seen is a sign for Wright's.
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- Title
- Athletics, unidentified
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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A man named Lou, strikes a traditional pose of a boxer. Location Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, Vermont.
- Title
- Stores - Windows - Unidentified
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Large window display of clothing and accessories for infants and children (store, location, and date unknown). Possibly The Children's Shop at 20-24 Church St., Burlington, Vt.?
- Title
- Saint Michael's College - Groups
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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A group of men in business suits (associated with Saint Michael's College?) along with a priest pose for a portrait in a large open room (library?) with a brick fireplace and painting.
- Title
- Photographs
- Description
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Two images of a photo of a young priest. His portrait appears elsewhere in the McAllister collection (mcalA16F01i13)
- Title
- Boy Scouts
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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A photo of boy scout John Allen receiving his God and Country Award from the Assistant Minister Rev. George Lawrence and Mr. Dean (probably the scout leader)in the First Congregational Church sanctuary with the pulpit behind the three men. Taken mid 1950s. John was a member of the church and...
Show moreA photo of boy scout John Allen receiving his God and Country Award from the Assistant Minister Rev. George Lawrence and Mr. Dean (probably the scout leader)in the First Congregational Church sanctuary with the pulpit behind the three men. Taken mid 1950s. John was a member of the church and resided on Pine Street in Burlington.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Center Street
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Workmen spreading asphalt to a portion of Center Street in Burlington. View is from intersection of Center Street and Bank. Buildings seen are 191-195 Bank and 207 Bank. Date may be 1920s?
- Title
- Airplane Crashes
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Crash of biplane at the end of North Runway
- Title
- 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.
- Title
- Shelburne High School
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Undated photo of the Shelburne Public School building ; undated ; located on Shelburne Road, Shelburne, Vt. Built in 1926.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cherry Street (4X5)
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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View of newly paved Cherry Street in Burlington looking west from South Winooski Avenue. Wooden clapboard, brick buildings and retail stores line the street. The New Sherwood Hotel is the tall building in the background on the right. The taller spire in background may be the Cathedral School on...
Show moreView of newly paved Cherry Street in Burlington looking west from South Winooski Avenue. Wooden clapboard, brick buildings and retail stores line the street. The New Sherwood Hotel is the tall building in the background on the right. The taller spire in background may be the Cathedral School on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Cherry Streets. Automobiles are parked on both sides. Possibly taken in the 1920s - 1930s.
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- Title
- Order of the Eastern Star
- Description
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Eastern Star members in formal attire, attending a function. Photo #3.