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W. W. Embree Collection
Waite W. Embree and his father, Elmer E. Embree, preserved most of the historical materials generated by the family’s business and social activities, which the Regional History Center acquired in 1967. Waite, especially, was an avid collector of materials related to the history of DeKalb and the history of railroading. In the absence of an active county historical society, Waite Embree filled a void in DeKalb County with his keen interest in the preservation of the county’s past for many decades. Waite’s interests and foresight makes the Embree Collection one of the most unique in the Center with regard to the documentation of DeKalb and the local area through photographs and postcards. The collection is also particularly strong in the evolution of railroads during the first half of the twentieth century, with focus on those that operated in the Northern Illinois region.
Researchers should note that much of Embree’s postcard collection have been added to the Center’s postcard collection (RC 199), while his war poster collection has been added to the Oversize Collection (RC 200).
For more information about this collection, please see the Center's finding aid or contact
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- NISTC Golden Anniversary Parade
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title N.I.S.T.C. 50th Anniversary Parade; Place Lincoln Highway [DeKalb, Ill]; Date Oct. 9, 1948, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development, Entertainment
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- Barbed Wire Spooler
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Barbed Wire, DeKalb, Industrial, Equipment, Economic Development
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- Illinois Central Railroad, Galena, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Galena, Railroads, IC [Illinois Central]; Galena, IL Station; 8/2/50; Neg. No. 2362, Jo Daviess, Place, Economic Development
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- DeKalb Fire Department, Station #1, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title DeKalb Fire Department; Place Fire Station #1, North Fourth St, DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1913; Ladder Wagon on left - Chemical Wagon on right. On Ladder Wagon: Wm. Wall, Phil Showalter; Standing: Mike McEvoy, Tom Jackson; On Chemical Wagon: Wm. Harmes, Tom Murray; Civilians not identified, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Place, Fourth Street, Economic Development
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- Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific, Ladd, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Ladd, Railroads, Enginehouse and Tank; Road Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific; Place Ladd, Illinois; Date March 24, 1939; Photo No. M106, Bureau, Place, Economic Development
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- Second Street from Grove look Northeast, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, South Second Street from Grove Looking Northeast, DeKalb, Illinois; 1937; Embree Lumber and Coal Yard at left., DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Second Street, Economic Development
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- Horse drawn Fire Equipment , DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Horse drawn Fire Equipment; Place Fire Station No. 1, [on North 4th Street], DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Left to Right: Tom Murray, Mike McEvoy, Jake Price, Wm. Wall, L.L. Smith; R. Shoop; from Wall 4/10/1938, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Place, Economic Development
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- Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific, Kingston, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Kingston, Railroads, CMStP&P [Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific] Station; Kingston, IL; 11/5/1949, DeKalb, Place, Economic Development
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- Chicago and Northwestern, Rollo, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Rollo, Railroads, CNW Station, Rollo, Illinois; August 1, 1937; An Old Northern Illinois Line, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- Republican election Headquarter, Third and Lincoln, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Republican Election Headquarters; Place 3rd & Lincoln, DeKalb; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date Oct 1952, DeKalb, Place, Lincoln Highway, Third Street, Economic Development
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- First Methodist Church, and First Church of Christ Scientist, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title First Methodist Church [at left in the distance] and First Church of Christ Scientist, taken from N. 3rd & [near] Oak St; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1909. The address for the Methodist Church is 317 N. 4th, and that of the First Church of Christ Scientist, 222 N. 3rd., DeKalb, Religious, Place, Oak Street, Third Street, Religion
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- Methodist Episcopal Church, Fourth and Locust Street, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Methodist Episcopal Church; Place 4th & Locust Sts, DeKalb [Illinois]; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1888; Original by Oleson. [J.O. Oleson was a professional photographer in DeKalb], DeKalb, Residential, Place, Fourth Street, Locust Street, Religion
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- Chicago and Northwestern, Henrietta, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Henrietta, Railroads, CNW Station, Henrietta, Illinois, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- Looking Northeast from Huntley park stand pipe, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title DeKalb, Ill, Looking Northeast from Huntley Park Stand Pipe; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1928; Albert Wedberg Photo [given to Embree]1956; (Additional information in pencil #3. North from Huntley Park, 3rd Street going north, Electric plant), DeKalb, Residential, Place, Third Street, Economic Development
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- Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, CMStP&P [Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific]Viaduct over Lincoln Highway, DeKalb; 1934; Note the "Stop at Deane's Garage" sign painted on viaduct wall, DeKalb, Place, Economic Development
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- Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, Cortland, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Cortland, Railroads, Depot; Road C&NWRR; Place Cortland, Ill; Date July 2, 1949; Neg. No. 1193, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, People, Economic Development
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- Chicago and Northwestern, Union Grove Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Union Grove, Railroads, Station; Road Chicago & Northwestern; Place Union Grove; Date Oct 26, 1952; Neg. No. 1270, Whiteside, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- American Steel and Wire Co, Welfae Building (Hospital), Sixth Street
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title American Steel & Wire; Place Welfare Building (the Hospital) 6th St.[DeKalb, IL]; County DeKalb; Date March 30, 1940, DeKalb, Medical, Place, Sixth Street, Economic Development
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- Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Lee, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Lee, Railroads, Ritzman Photo; Look[ing] South; Road Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Place Lee, Ill; Date 7/16/49; Neg. No. 2552, Lee, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Mendota, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Mendota, Railroads, Photo No. 222; Engine No. Advance Zepher Mark Twain; Road CB&Q; Place Mendota, Ill. Station; Date 6/19/36; Time 7:45 AM; 63/50; Neg. No. 1480, LaSalle, Commercial/Business, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
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- Chicago and Northwestern, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, [Looking south down N. 6th Street toward Lincoln Highway, view of back side of Nehring Electrical Works Plant #2]; DeKalb, Feb. 1947; Neg. No. 2472, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Sixth Street, Economic Development
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- Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, CMStP&P [Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific] Wrecking Viaduct; DeKalb [Illinois]; 1948, DeKalb, Place, Economic Development
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- Glidden House, snow
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Glidden House [Hotel]; Place No. East Corner 2nd & Main [Lincoln], DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1894; Knodle photo, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Second Street, Economic Development
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- DeKalb Fire Department Station No. 1
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, DeKalb Fire Dept., DeKalb, Ill. Fire Station No. 1, 1916 (Copy 3); Equip: 1st Seagrave truck on left, & the Randolph; L.L. Smith, Morris Kennedy, Wm McConn, Earl Morris, Percy Hannan, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Place, Economic Development
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- Chicago and Northwestern, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, CNW [Chicago Northwestern] Bridge Sign 106 over Kishwaukee [River], DeKalb, IL; 12/1935; Neg. No. 2311 Note: At left are homes on Lincoln Highway, and in distance Northern Illinois State Teachers College Buildings, DeKalb, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development