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 1 - 10 of 143 Records
Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Events
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- Description: View of the main floor of the Burlington Memorial Auditorium during some sort of presentation; perhaps a home show. Mostly women in the audience. Undated but may be 1930s, 40s.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
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- Description: Marine exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont showing Chris-Craft motor boats and equipment being sold by Champlain Marine Co., Inc.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
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- Description: Eastern States Farmers' Exchange of Springfield, Mass. exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont. Undated. Embossed with McAllister's name lover right corner.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Portraits, groups, unidentified
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- Description: Burlington High School chorus readied for a Christmas concert gather in the BHS (Edmunds) auditorium / gymnasium. They are dressed in the traditional white top, dark skirt/pants. A large banner above and behind them reads "Merry Christmas." Music stands and chairs grouped in the right foreground. Photo #2.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Portraits, groups, unidentified
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- Description: Santa Claus and several other men and women display footballs and other toys as they stand behind two long tables. Location may be the Memorial Auditorium in the 1920s or 1930s during a Christmas party probably sponsored by a local organization.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Burlington High School - Auditorium Construction
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- Date Created: 1951/1952
- Description: 1951 / 1952 Interior view of the construction of the gymnasium / auditorium at the old Burlington High School on the corner of Main and South Union Streets, Burlington, Vermont currently Edmunds Elementary School. View of the ceiling and back wall (perhaps where the stage will be?)
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Burlington High School - Auditorium Construction
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- Date Created: 1951/1952
- Description: 1951 / 1952 Interior view of the construction of the Burlington High School Auditorium / Gymnasium on South Union Street in Burlington, Vermont. Attached to the Edmunds building currently the Edmunds Elementary School.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Burlington High School Band
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- Description: 1944-1946 Portrait of the Burlington High School Band on the steps of Burlington Memorial Auditorium. Photo #2?
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Burlington High School Band
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- Description: 1944-1946 Portrait of the Burlington High School Band on the steps of Burlington Memorial Auditorium. Photo #2.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Burlington High School Band
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- Description: 1945-1946 Burlington High School twirlers (drum majorettes) stand outside on the steps of Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont. Late Fall - Jan. Photo #4.
- Parent Collections: Louis L. McAllister Photographs