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

Illinois Central Railroad, Colvin Park, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Colvin Park, Railroads, IC [Illinois Central]; Station - Colvin Park, IL; 4/23/1939; Neg. No. 2361, DeKalb, Place, Economic Development
NISNS girls basketball team
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Northern Illinois State Normal School Girls Basketball Team; Place DeKalb, Illinois; Date 1908-1909; Miss Foster, rear right, instructor [photo appears in 1909 NORTHER yearbook], DeKalb, Educational, People, Education, Women and Gender
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, North Aurora, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, North Aurora, Railroads, Station; Road CB&Q; Place North Aurora, IL; Date 1952; Neg. No. 1499, Kane, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Right of way, Dekalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Title C&NW Right of Way; Place From Right to roof look east, 4th Street Crossing, [Main St/Lincoln Hwy runs diagonally from left corner]; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date March 1897; Engine No. 50; Class H1; Photo No. M40x, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Economic Development
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Walton, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Walton, Railroads, CB&Q; Walton, IL Station, 8/16/49, Lee, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
DeKalb Waterworks, Main Pumping Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Pearl Street Reservoir & Main Pumping Station; Place Pearl Street & C&NW [RR tracks] DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1897?; Looking east from C&NW Grade; Rowley photo, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Pearl Street, Economic Development
McMurray Training School from back side
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, McMurray Training School, view looking southwest, 1917. On the left is the Northern Illinois State Normal School Administration building, now known as Altgeld Hall., DeKalb, Educational, Place, Education
Chicago and Northwestern North yard Belvidere, Illinois Engine house and Coal Chute
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Belvidere, Railroads, CNW; Engine house & coal chute; North yard, Bellvidere, Il; March 28, 1937; Photo No. M47; Neg. No. 1289, Boone, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Daily Chronicle Building, Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title North Side Lincoln Highway from 1st [Street]; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 11/15/59; Ritzman photo, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Peru, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Peru, Railroads, Station; Road Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; Place Peru, Illinois; Date March 24, 1939; Photo No. M102; Neg. No. 1504, LaSalle, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
DeKalb Fire Department, North Fourth Street
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title DeKalb Fire Department; Place No. 4th Street; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1913; Left to right: Hook & Ladder, Webb Truck; Men on wagon: Otto Olson, Robt Murphy Murphy; On truck: L.L. Smith, Percy Hannan, on seat Wm. Wall, Mike McEvoy. Civilain not identified.; Photo from Wm. Wall, Ritzman copy, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Place, Fourth Street, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, DeKalb, Illinois, Kishwaukee Bridge
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, CNW [Type] 4-4-0; [Engine] No. 662; Class C3; Approx. 1897; Kishwaukee [River] Bridge; Elmer Embree orig.; Neg No. 2461, DeKalb, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Great Western Tower, Sycamore, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Sycamore, Railroads, Enlargement of Photo 1-673; C&NW Engine No. 484; Class R1; Type 4-6-0; Great Western Tower; Sycamore, Ill; 8/15/39; Neg. No. 356, DeKalb, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Henrietta, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Henrietta, Railroads, CNW Station; Henrietta, Illinois; 10/20/46; Neg. No. 1223, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Freeport, Illinois Passenger and Freight Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Freeport, Railroads, CNW Passenger & Freight Station; Freeport, IL; 4/14/1950; Note: Chicago & Northwestern, and Illinois Central [both] use passenger station jointly; Neg. No. 2309, Stephenson, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, McGirr, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, McGirr, Railroads, Photo No. M59; Road C&NW; Place McGirr, Illinois; Date 8/1/37; Neg. No. 1221, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Main Street, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Postcard published by Secor's Pharmacy, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Main Street, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, DeKalb, Illinois 8th Street
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Photo No. 1-203; Engine No. 102; Class K; Type 0-4-0; Road Chicago & Northwestern Ry; Place DeKalb, 8th St (Note "car shop" behind); Date 1894; Remarks Original in poss[ion] of Joe Wood, Joe Wood second from right; F.R.Ritzman copy photo, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Place, Eighth Street, Economic Development
Decorations, NISTC 50th Homecoming
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Decorations, N.I.S.T.C. 50th Homecoming; Place 1st & Locust, Looking No.W [DeKalb, Ill]; Date Oct. 1948, DeKalb, Educational, Place, Education
First Congregational Church, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title First Congregational Church; Place 2nd & Grove, DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date Mar. 24, 1897; From E.E. Embree. [Note the deep snow the wagon is driving through]. Original is a small card print., DeKalb, Place, Second Street, Economic Development
Interior of DeKalb Public Library
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Interior DeKalb Public Library; Place Second Floor, Chronicle Bldg, DeKalb; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date about 1923-1928; Standing: Margaret Powers, DeKalb, Educational, People, Place, Economic Development
First Baptist Church, Third and Prospect, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title First Baptist Church; Place Third and Prospect, DeKalb, Illinois; County DeKalb; Date 1893; Remarks Given to Frank Rolfe by Sunday School Teacher Cora G. Earl; Original owned by Waite Embree; Remarks from Frank Rolfe. In pencil "Frank From Cora G Earl S.S. Teacher Dec. 25 xmas 1893" Original is a card print., DeKalb, Religious, Place, Second Street, Religion
Trinity Lutheran Church, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Trinity Lutheran Church, 830 Grove at South 9th Street, DeKalb, Illinois. Sometime after 1941 it became Grove Street Baptist Church., DeKalb, Religious, Place, Ninth Street, Economic Development, Religion