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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

Chicago and Northwestern Railway, DeKalb, Illinois Pleasant Street Crossing
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Photo No. M21; Road Chicago and North Western Ry; Place DeKalb [Illinois], Pleasant St. crossing; Date 1932; Remarks Watchman's shanty on left built by Northern Illinois 1886; F.R.R. [photo], DeKalb, Industrial, Place, Pleasant Street, Economic Development
DeKalb House, Fourth and Main
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, DeKalb House [Hotel], N.E. Corner of 4th & Main, DeKalb, Ill., 1886. Copy [photo from] F.R. Ritzman, Original owned by Richard Kool., DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Fourth Street, Main Street, Economic Development
Massed Bands, NISTC Homecoming Close Up
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Massed Bands, N.I.S.T.C. Homecoming (50); Place Football Field; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date Oct 9, 1948; N.I.S.T.C. Band - center, DTHS [DeKalb Township High School Band] - left., DeKalb, People, Place, Entertainment
Chicago and Northwestern, DeKalb, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, DeKalb, IL Station; 6/2/1904, 12:25 noon; Engine No. 120 [on right] Type 4-6-2 Class B-1 C&NW 1882, Scrapped 1911; Engine No. 1025 [on left]; Type 4-4-2; Class D Schen. 1901, Scrapped 1937; Neg. No. 2446, DeKalb, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Interior of Haish Library, NISNS
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Interior Haish Library, N.I.S.N.S. [building]; Place DeKalb, Ill; Date 1903, DeKalb, Educational, Place, Education
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, Herbert, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Herbert, Railroads, Station; Road Chicago and Northwestern Ry; Place Herbert, Illinois; Date April 23, 1939; Photo No. M109; Neg. No. 1210, Boone, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Marengo, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Marengo, Railroads, CNW Station Marengo, 6/21/46; Neg. No. 1230, McHenry, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Shabbona Grove, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Shabbona, Railroads, Photo No. M61; Station; Road C&NW; Place Shabbona Grove, Ill; Date 8/1/37; Neg. No. 1235, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
DeKalb House Hotel
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, DeKalb House [Hotel], 4th Street and Main, ca. 1886 [Original owned by Richard Kool], DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Fourth Street, Main Street, Economic Development
DeKalb Wagon Company Sign, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, DeKalb Wagon Co, Sign on Warehouse, *Gurler Street, DeKalb, Illinois, March 30, 1941. [* Address was 229 W. Garden Street]. The sign reads, "DeKalb Wagon Company, Business Wagons, Commercial Auto Bodies.", DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1100 State Street, DeKalb, Illinois. View looking south down 11th Street., DeKalb, Religious, Place, Eleventh Street, State Street, Religion
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, DeKalb, Illinois Milw. Viaduct
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Photo No. 1-288x, F.R.R [photo]; Engine No. 3019; Class H; Type 4-8-4; Road Chicago & Northwestern; DeKalb, Ill. [at] Milw. Viaduct; Train Ind 11; Time 12:30P; Date 10/20/35, DeKalb, Equipment, Economic Development
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific, Genoa, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Genoa, Railroads, Sycamore Woodstock Traction Piers, Over CMStP&P [Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific] Tracks; Date Nov. 14, 1953; Ritzman Photo, DeKalb, Place, Economic Development
Glidden Wire Co, Red Shop Employees
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Glidden Wire Co, Red Shop Employees, 1896, DeKalb, People, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Railroads, Photo No. 1-293x; Engine No. 1096; Class D; Type 4-4-2; Road C&NW; From William Ruth, Chicago; Date 1934, Equipment, Economic Development
Illinois Central Railroad, Galena, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Galena, Railroads, IC [Illinois Central]; Galena [Illinois] Station; 10/8/55; Neg. No. 2364; [Freight Station on left, Passenger Station on right], Jo Daviess, Place, Economic Development
Main Street, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Original carte-de-visite print given to Embree from Clifford Hunt, May 7, 1944, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Economic Development
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
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, IL; 1934, DeKalb, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, West Elgin, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Elgin, Railroads, CNW Station; West Elgin, IL; Neg. No. 2251, Kane, Place, Economic Development
First Methodist Church, Fourth and Oak Street, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title First Methodist Church; Place 4th & Oak Sts, DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date November 1946. Church address is 317 N. 4th, DeKalb, Religious, Place, Fourth Street, Oak Street, Religion
Chicago and Northwestern Wreck, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, CNW Wrecking crew, DeKalb, Il, August 7, 1954 [S. 2nd St at Grove, note law office of Julius Matteson at 203 Grove], DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, People, Place, Second Street, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Wreck, DeKalb (?), Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, from front of image; "C&NW Wreck,April 23,'08," DeKalb(?); Copy print from F.R.Ritzman, DeKalb, Equipment, Economic Development
NISTC Golden Anniversary Parade, DeKalb Fire Truck
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title N.I.S.T.C. Homecoming Parade - 50th; Place Lincoln Highway [DeKalb, Ill]; Date Oct 9, 1948; Note: DeKalb Com. Fire Truck, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development, Entertainment
DeKalb Sycamore Traction Co., DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Interurban; Title DeKalb Sycamore Traction Co, Open Car #67; Place Electric Park near DeKalb, IL; Date Aug. 4, 1904; Conductor on trailor: Mr. P. Swanson; Ritzman Copy; Neg. No. 2249, DeKalb, Equipment, Place, Economic Development