Primary tabs

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

DeKalb City Hall
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title City Hall; Place South Second street, DeKalb, Illinois; County DeKalb; Date July 1937; Remarks Note the brick walk before the street was repaved., DeKalb, Government, Place, Second Street, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Earlville, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Earlville, Railroads, CNW and CBQ [Chicago, Burlington & Quincy]; Earlville, Illinois [looking] East; 8/16/49, LaSalle, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago, Milwaukee and Gary Depot, Kirkland, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Kirkland, Railroads, CM&G Depot, Kirkland [Illinois]; 1925, DeKalb, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Northern Illinois State Normal School from Southwest
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Northern Illinois State Normal School; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1899; J.O. Olsen photo, DeKalb, Educational, Place, Education
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 [Illinois]; 1934, DeKalb, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Chicago, Aurora and DeKalb, DeKalb, Illinois East Main Street
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Interurban; Engine No. 7; Road Chicago, Aurora & DeKalb; Place DeKalb, East Main Street [Note: White Rose Laundry at 623 E Main, and Swedish Bakery, 607 E Main]; Date Fall 1906; Neg. No. 2452; (Rolfe Ritz); Meizo original, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, Place, Main Street, Economic Development
Illinois Central Railroad, La Salle Peru, Illinois Enginehouse
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Peru, Railroads, Enginehouse; Road Illinois Central; Place LaSalle-Peru, IL; Looking South; Date July 5, 1952; Neg. No. 2607, LaSalle, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Garden Prairie, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Garden Prairie, Railroads, C&NW Station, Garden Prairie, 1946; Neg No. 1228, Boone, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Barter Room, Abram Ellwood Mfg. Company
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Barter Room, Abram Ellwood Mfg. Co; Place DeKalb [Illinois]; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1898; Dickerman original, Ritzman copy, DeKalb, Industrial, Equipment, People, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, Barrington, Illinois Turntable
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Barrington, Railroads, Photo No. 1-235x; Engine No. 125; Class D; Type 4-4-2; Road Chicago & Northwestern Ry; Place Barrington, Ill turntable; Remarks F.R. Ritzman photo, Cook, Lake, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Creston, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Creston, Railroads, Station, Creston, Illinois;Now not used. Operator transfered to crossing shanty; CNW; [Original taken] 8/22/37; [copy print] 7-9-60, Ogle, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Northern Illinois State Normal School under Construction,
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Northern Illinois State Normal School building under construction, ca. 1899. In October 1963 the buildding was renamed Altgeld Hall. Print made from a glass plate negative, DeKalb, Educational, Place, Education
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Kings, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Kings, Railroads, CB&Q Station, Kings, IL; Apr 14, 1950; Neg. No. 1495, Ogle, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
West Lincoln Highway from First Street, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title West Lincoln Highway from 1st St [in Winter]; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb, DeKalb, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Malta, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Malta, Railroads, C&NW; Engine No. 1654; Type 4-6-2; Class E; President Harding Funeral Train; DeKalb/Malta [Illinois], 1923, DeKalb, Equipment, Economic Development
Illinois Central Railroad, Freeport, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Freeport, Railroads, Freeport Station; IC [Illinois Central]; Neg. No. 2504, Stephenson, Commercial/Business, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Creston, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Creston, Railroads, Station Creston, Illinois; C&NW; Now not used. Operator transferred to crossing shanty; 8/22/37, Ogle, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, Malta, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Malta, Railroads, Photo No. 1-404; Engine No. 911; Class R1; Type 4-6-0; Road C&NW Ry.; Place Malta, Ill; Train Way Frt; Time 12:30P; Date 8/15/36; Remarks Neg No. 394, DeKalb, Equipment, Economic Development
Post card, East and West Mills, American Steel and Wire
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, East & West Mills, located on North 10th St, DeKalb, DeKalb, Industrial, Place, Tenth Street, Economic Development
Manual Arts Building, now Still Hall
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Manual Arts Bldg, Northern Ill State Teachers College, DeKalb, Ill, 1950; Purchased at Lehan Drug Store, DeKalb. [This building was named Still Hall when it was dedicated in 1928, and is its current name], DeKalb, Educational, Place, Education
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, Crystal Lake, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Crystal Lake, Railroads, Copy [photograph] by F.R.R[itzman]; Photo No. 1-237x; Engine No. 403; Class A2; Type 4-4-0; Road Chicago & Northwestern Ry; Place Crystal Lake, Illinois; Date 1898; Remarks Chas Kliber (on running board), McHenry, Equipment, People, Economic Development
Looking east from Gas Tanks, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Looking East from Gas Tanks; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1936; Ritzman Photo; [Pleasant Street crosses RR tracks in distance], DeKalb, Industrial, Place, Pleasant Street, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Normandy, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Normandy, Railroads, Road Chicago & Northwestern; Place Normandy, Ill; Date Jul 15, 1951; Neg. No. 1249, Bureau, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Waterman, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Waterman, Railroads, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Waterman, IL Station; Look[ing] East; 7/16/49; Neg. No. 2570, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Princeton, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Princeton, Railroads, Station CB&Q; Place Princeton, IL; Date July 5, 1952; Neg. No. 2479, Bureau, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development