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

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, Serena, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Serena, Railroads, CBQ [Chicago, Burlington & Qunicy] Station; Serena [Illinois]; Neg. No. 2252, LaSalle, Place, Economic Development
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Mendota, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Mendota, Railroads, CB&Q; Mendota, 1918; Engines, LaSalle, Equipment, Economic Development
Tite Kiln, DeKalb
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Tile Works, DeKalb; 1898?; Original Photo by Dickerman, Copy by Ritzman, DeKalb, Industrial, Equipment, People, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, South Earlville, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Earlville, Railroads, C&NW; Watchman tower South [of] Earlville; 8/16/49, LaSalle, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, DeKalb, Illinois, Second Street
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Photo No. 190; Engine No. 126; Class D; Type 4-4-2; Road Chicago & Northwestern Ry; Place DeKalb, Ill 2nd St; Train 26; Time 12:40 A; Date 6/11/34; Neg No. 256, DeKalb, Equipment, Second Street, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, Geneva, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Geneva, Railroads, Photo No. 108; Enginge No. 911; Class R1; Type 4-6-0; Road Chicago and Northwestern Ry; Place Geneva, Illinois; Train Wrecker; Date July 11, 1933; Neg No. 392, Kane, Equipment, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, DeKalb, Illinois, Fourth Street
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, 5/21/34, 4th St, 8:50 AM; 11/25(?); CNW; Rail Crane;DeKalb; Neg No. 1118. [View looks northwest from 4th St. toward businesses on Lincoln Highway], DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Equipment, Fourth Street, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development
Swedish Lutheran Church, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Swedish Lutheran[Church]; Place 6th & Pine Streets, [DeKalb, Illinois]; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1898? [Note telephone poles, probably not a 1898 photo], DeKalb, Religious, Place, Pine Street, Sixth Street, Religion
NISTC Golden Anniversary Parade
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title N.I.S.T.C. Golden Anniversary Homecoming Parade; Place Lincoln Highway [DeKalb, Ill]; Date 10/9/49 [1948]; Chronicle photo, DeKalb, People, Place, Lincoln Highway, Economic Development, Entertainment
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, South Ottawa, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, South Ottawa, Railroads, Road CB&Q; Place So. Ottawa, Ill. Station; Date Nov 11, 1952; Neg. No. 1511, LaSalle, Place, Economic Development
Wurlitzer Building, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Automobile is ca. mid-1920's, DeKalb, Industrial, Place, Economic Development
First Baptist Church, Third and Prospect Street, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title First Baptist Church; Place 3rd & Prospect Streets, DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1904; Rowley photo, DeKalb, Religious, Place, Third Street, Religion
Chicago and Northwestern, Triumph, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Triumph, Railroads, C&NW, Triumph, Illinois, 8/1/49; Neg. No. 1534, LaSalle, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific, Joliet, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Joliet, Railroads, CMSTP&P [Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific] Station; Joliet, IL; 10/23/48, Will, Place, Economic Development
Geographical Publishing Co, Pleasant Street with Cars, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Geographical Pub. Co.; Place Pleasant Street, DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date Nov. 19, 1956, DeKalb, Industrial, Place, Pleasant Street, 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]; Wrecking Viaduct, DeKalb [Illinois]; 1948, DeKalb, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, Belvidere, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Belvidere, Railroads, Belvidere 1896; Train to DeKalb-Spring Valley; C&NW [Chicago & North Western]; Engine No. 82; Type 4-4-0; Hink(?) 1856, Reb. 1875, Scr(?) 1900, Boone, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Williston Hall
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Williston Hall, Northern Ill State Teachers College; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date Jan. 1, 1940; Williston Hall was a Women's Dormitory, and opened in 1915. This view looks North, from west side of Adm. Bldg., DeKalb, Educational, Place, Education
Bird's eye view from Huntley park stand pipe look east, DeKalb, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Birds Eye View from Huntley Park Stand Pipe look east; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date 1928; Albert Wedberg photo (given to Embree) 1956; [other remarks in pencil] #4. DeKalb, Ill 1928, American steel to left and right, Nehring Electric works center; from Huntley park water tanks top, DeKalb, Industrial, Residential, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern Railway, Crystal Lake, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Crystal Lake, Railroads, Photo No. 191x; Engine No. 1152, 1177; Class R1, Q; Type 4-6-0; Road Chicago and Northwestern Ry; Place Crystal Lake, Illinois Date 1918(?); Remarks Copy by F. R. Ritzman; Original owned by Fain, W Chgo, McHenry, Equipment, Economic Development
Abram Ellwod Mfg Company Employees
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, DeKalb, Industrial, People, Place, Economic Development
Illinois Central Railroad, Genoa, Illinois
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Genoa, Railroads, Engine No. 4019; Type Diesel; Road Illinois Central; Place Genoa, Ill; Train Land of Corn; Date Nov. 14, 1953; Neg. No. 1822, DeKalb, Equipment, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, La Fox Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, La Fox, Railroads, CNW; LaFox Station; Aug 3, 1947; Neg. No. 1265, Kane, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, DeKalb, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, CNW, DeKalb Station; 1896, Cook(?), DeKalb, People, Place, Economic Development
Chicago and Northwestern, DeKalb, Illinois Station
Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Title Soldiers Leaving for Spanish American War; Place C&NW [Chicago & Northwestern] Station, DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date [1898]; Photo from R.B. Chandler. Original is a small card print., DeKalb, People, Place, Economic Development