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
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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1935/37 Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill at 160 Bank St, Burlington, Vermont. Interior photo showing booths, several padded chairs, coat rack and stairs in the back. Charles Chantis, proprietor. The restaurant burned in the 1970s along with the rest of the block. Photo #8.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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Five musicians stand near a small raised stage in the upper room at the Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill once located at 160 Bank Street in Burlington, Vt. The iconic black cat symbol is seen in the center. Some of the names (of the performers?) can be seen; John and Jack.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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1930s Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill once located at 160 Bank Street in Burlington, Vt. Booths located on the main floor. The restaurant burned in the 1970s along with the rest of the block. Photo #9.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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Five musicians stand near a small raised stage in the upper room at the Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill once located at 160 Bank Street in Burlington, Vt. The iconic black cat symbol is seen in the center. Some of the names (of the performers?) can be seen; John and Paul.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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1935/37 Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill at 160 Bank St, Burlington, Vermont. Interior photo of an upper room used for banquets and larger gatherings. A small raised stage is seen at the far end with a band assembled there. Photo #3. The restaurant burned in the 1970s along with the rest of the block.
- Title
- Portraits - Individuals
- Description
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1951 / 1952 portrait photo of a man seated and playing a small organ in a restaurant. People behind eating in booths; candelabra seen on the instrument.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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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.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1956 or 1957 indoor group portrait photo of youth, men and women gathered in a rustic restaurant with knotty pine walls. Overhead hangs a wood log chandelier. Photo #3.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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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?
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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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.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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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.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Ca. 1947 photo of a restaurant scene, with an elderly foursome (right) offering a toast (milestone anniversary?).
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1953 photo of men and women gathered at the end of a long narrow room in a restaurant that has bold patterned wallpaper and printed curtains. A television has been added as seen in the upper right corner. See mcalB16F06i04 for an earlier photo. Photo #2.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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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?
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Large group of young people and some adults in a restaurant, perhaps students and teachers. Location, occasion, date unknown.
- Title
- 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.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1952 portrait photo of several people seated at a banquet table at a restaurant or other public or commercial space. The seated woman in print dress seen also in mcalB16F05i01, i03 and i05 images Photo #3.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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A large group of women ( and one man) gathered in a rustic restaurant. Seen on the dining tables are rows of small trophies, perhaps women's or ladies' bowling league? Photo #2.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1957 / 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 #4. See also mcalA15F05i12, i13 and mcalA15F08i01, mcalA15F05i11
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1944 photo of a large group of young men and women, perhaps college age, in a dining room. Location, occasion unknown.