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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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- Chicago and Northwestern, Malta, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Malta, Railroads, Engine No. 1654; Type 4-6-2; Class E; President Harding Funeral Train, Malta, Illinois, DeKalb, Equipment, People, Economic Development
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- North Third Street showing election Trailers, Third and Lincoln, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title North 3rd St Showing Election Trailers; Place 3rd & Lincoln [DeKalb, Illinois]; County DeKalb; Twp DeKalb; Date Nov 4, 1952, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Lincoln Highway, Third Street, Economic Development
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- Chicago and Northwestern Passenger Station, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, CNW Passenger Station, DeKalb, Ill. [looking East from 6th St], 12/10/34, 12:15 P.M., Bright Snow 22/25, Neg. No. 1167, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Sixth Street, Economic Development
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- Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Lyndon, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Lyndon, Railroads, Photo No. M32; Road Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; Place Lyndon, Ill. Station; Date 9/20/36; Remarks Note the train order signal; Neg. No. 1497, Whiteside, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- American Steel and Wire Company Buildings from North Sixth Street
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title American Steel and Wire Company Buildings from North Sixth Street; Place DeKalb, Illinois; County DeKalb; Date April 29, 1939, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Industrial, Place, Sixth Street, Economic Development
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- Chicago and Northwestern Railway, Geneva, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Geneva, Railroads, C&NW Ry Station, Geneva, Ill., 6/60; Ritzman Photo, Kane, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Sandwich, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Sandwich, Railroads, Photo No. M48; Road Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; Place Sandwich, Illinois Station; Date April 18, 1937; Neg. No. 1506, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- Glidden Wire Co, Red Shop Employees
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Glidden Wire Co, Red Shop Employees, 1896, DeKalb, People, Economic Development
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Kasbeer, Illinois Station
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Kasbeer, Railroads, Road Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Place Kasbeer, Ill. Station; Date July 5, 1952; Neg. No. 1493, Bureau, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- Scene in front of City Hall, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Title Scene in front of City Hall; Place DeKalb, Ill; County DeKalb, Date 9/14/36; Remarks To show how cars parked on sidewalk; [West side of South 2nd Street], DeKalb, Place, Second Street, Economic Development
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- 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
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- 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
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- Chicago and Northwestern, Rochelle, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, Rochelle, Railroads, Rochelle, C&NW under signal bridge, Interchange to 2 at right; Watchman tower; 1956; Ritzman photo; Neg. No. 2548, Ogle, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- Chicago and Northwestern Railway, DeKalb, Illinois
- Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Railroads, Photo No. M7; Tower YD; Road C&NW Ry; Place DeKalb, Ill; Date July 1934; From Wait Embree, DeKalb, Illinois, DeKalb, Commercial/Business, Place, Economic Development
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- 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
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- 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