Louis L. McAllister Photographs
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). 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
Showing 171 - 180 of 415 Records
Stores, Interiors
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- Description: An abundance of fresh and canned food are seen in this interior photo of a local grocery store. One large sign reads IGA Carnival. Another reads Save time, save money. Store employees in white coats and dress ties stand ready to assist customers. Dozens of overhead signs advertise food sales. 1st National Store
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
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- Date Created: 1944-02-17
- Description: Feb. 17, 1944 dated photo. Burlington Street Department, Snow Removal Methods and Equipment. This view of Main Street looking westerly from the intersection of South Winooski Ave. showing the effect of the clear Rock Salt applied to the pavement the previous day with the equipment shown in view No. 1. Note the great amount of snow piled along the gutters and the entire absence of snow in the traveled portion of the street, thus eliminating the necessity of applying sand for traction purposes. Although the pavement is wet with the salt brine formed from the melting snow it does not create a slippery condition because the tires seem to grip the pavement as the frost is removed from the surface. On the left is the Court House and the mansard roofed building that once was a place of worship for the First Baptist Church. Businesses and retail stores on the right including offers for personal loans, and the Federal Savings Bank. Cars parked on both sides of the street.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Burlington Streets: Riverside Ave.
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- Date Created: 1935-1936
- Description: 1935/1936 view of Riverside Ave. at North Prospect Street showing the street and debris on the right side. Homes and businesses are seen including a Shell filling station. The photographer's shadow was also recorded as seen at the bottom of the photo.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Burlington Streets: Riverside Ave.
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- Description: Undated photo (1929 or early 1930s?) of Riverside Ave showing road construction project by the city street dept crew. Billboards are seen in the background including one advertising Lucky Strike cigarettes. Filling station seen to the left may be Fairview Garage of 110 Riverside Ave.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Kresge's (Burlington Store) - exteriors, excavation, construction
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- Description: Completed construction of S.S. Kresge Company department store #397 on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. Seen here is the cement block wall as it adjoins a neighboring building.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Portraits, groups, unidentified
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- Description: Six men stop their work and stand next to two butchered cows (steers?) in a meat processing plant. Undated.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Preston, William (in Burlington Store)
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- Description: Photo of William Preston of Preston's jewelers once located on upper Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. He sits with a female high school student in the store. This photo may have been taken for a local high school year book.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Stores, Exteriors
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- Description: Burlington retail store entrances and parking lot for Irving's Fashions, Singer and People's.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Vermont Structural Steel
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- Date Created: 1951
- Description: 1951 Interior view of the Vermont Structural Steel plant on 207 Flynn Ave, Burlington, Vermont.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Automobiles
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- Description: Interior view of a Chrysler DeSoto car dealership show room. 1948/50?
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs