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Collection Overview
Title: W.W. Embree Collection (DeKalb), 1881-1966
ID: RHC/RC/002
Extent: 63.5 Linear Feet
Arrangement:
The W.W. Embree Collection (RC 2) also falls into a logical series of record groups defined by Embree’s collecting activities. The first series (boxes one through seven) contains the family’s genealogy, correspondence, diaries, and records books. The Civil War correspondence found in box 6, folder 15 has been removed. A photocopy of the original letters is available for use by researchers. Series two (boxes eight through fifteen) documents through photographs, the streets, businesses, events, and groups of DeKalb from 1900 through the 1950's. The prints and negatives in this series can be used through a comprehensive index prepared by Waite Embree (see Appendix A)
Series three (boxes twenty-six through thirty-seven) also provides photographic documentation; in this group, the photos and negatives are of the Embree family and DeKalb area citizens. Boxes twenty-eight and twenty-nine contain photos of many DeKalb individuals and families which are arranged alphabetically by surname: an index can be found in Appendix B to this inventory.
Finally, the largest--and perhaps most significant--records series in the collection, series four (boxes forty through seventy-three), gives excellent photographic documentation of rail rolling stock in the Midwest during the period 1900-1950. The photographic prints and negatives illustrate various types of engines and are arranged alphabetically by railroad name, then by type of drive wheel configuration. Three indices arranged by railway, location, and general description are available for the prints and negatives. A large volume of printed materials which complements the photos include timetables, guides, promotional brochures, rail magazines, and approximately one hundred volumes on rail history. A former University Archivist added some volumes to this book collection and contributed a great deal of the organization of this whole series.
In keeping with the agreement concerning the donation of the collection to the University the integrity of arrangement by Embree has been respected whenever possible. The original collection contained four clearly identifiable sets of historical records and the inventory at hand details the largest and most significant of these sets of records.
Date Acquired: 03/00/1967
Subjects: Adams, Thomas J., Boy Scouts, Chicago and North Western Railway Company., Chicago Great Western Railroad Company, Civil Works Administration (U.S.), DeKalb (Ill.)--History., Diaries, DeKalb, Diaries-- 1910-1960, Embree Family, Hemenway Family, Illinois Central Railroad Company, Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Pictorial works, Railroads, United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence, Wagner Family, World War I, World War II, Wurlitzer Company
Forms of Material: Glass plate negative, Lantern slides., Photographs, Tintype
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Waite W. Embree and his father, Elmer E. Embree, preserved most of the historical materials generated by the family’s business and social activities. Waite, especially, collected a large volume of printed materials and photographs that relate to his main interests--the history of DeKalb and the history of railroading. It is important to note that Embree was a collector: indeed, 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.
Researchers should note that three record series originally accessioned in the Embree collection have been separated from it. First, a photo morgue of approximately 13,000 negatives from the DeKalb Chronicle (1940-1956) has been returned to the newspaper. Second, Embree’s postcard collection may be found in the Center’s postcard collection (RC 199). Third, the artifacts and war posters have been added to the Page Museum Collection (UA 11) and the Oversize Collection (RC 200) respectively. The Embree Collection, then provides excellent source material for research in family history, the history of the DeKalb area, and the evolution of railroads during the first half of the twentieth century. The photographs, especially, provide a unique complement to the other manuscript collections held by the Center documenting DeKalb’s past.
Collection Historical Note
Elmer Embree was born August 6, 1877, at Waverly, Nebraska. His parents died when he was small and he lived with relatives until his graduation from high school in 1896. Shortly afterwards he came to DeKalb and in 1902 he became associated with Frank Mosher of DeKalb in the retail lumber and coal business under the name Mosher and Embree. In 1923 on the death of Mr. Mosher he became sole owner of the firm. In 1936 his sons became partners in the firm under the name of E.E. Embree and Sons. Elmer Embree also owned a citrus grove in Texas and was active in that industry until this death in 1947.
Elmer Embree married Eva Wagner in 1900. Miss Wagner was the daughter of H.H. Wagner, a local dry goods merchant. While not collectors, the Embrees preserved many items of historical interest from both families. Two of Eva’s brothers, Hayden and Elvin Wagner, attended West Point and were involved in American military in Cuba and the Philippine Islands.
Waite Wagner Embree, the eldest of three children born to Elmer and Eva, was born November 27, 1905. After graduating from the University of Illinois, he joined his father and brother, Henry, as a partner in the E.E. Embree and Sons Lumber Yard. Waite’s sister, Nancy, married and now lives in Peoria, Illinois; his brother, Henry, still resides in DeKalb.
Following Elmer Embree’s death in 1947, the lumber yard business dissolved and Waite Embree, after a brief stint as an insurance agent, joined the operating staff at the DeKalb Wurlitzer plant where he worked until his death in a tragic auto accident in 1962. He was survived by his wife, Mattie Welch Embree, and a son, George Daniel, who is living and working in the Netherlands.
As a young man Waite began collecting materials related to Illinois and DeKalb County history. An interest in transportation led him to undertake extensive photography of railroads in and around the DeKalb area and to collect materials important to the study of railroad history. As a long-time member of the DeKalb Kiwanis Club (like his father before him), Waite Embree became accustomed to public speaking. In later years as he became known as a local historian, he began giving lectures on local history to various clubs and school and church groups in the area. The DeKalb Chronicle published various short articles by Mr. Embree and frequently drew on his extensive photograph collection to illustrate articles of historical interest.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Northern Illinois University
Access Restrictions:
There are no restrictions to the collection.
Use Restrictions:
Property rights in the collection are held by the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.
Acquisition Source:
Mrs. Waite Embree and Mr. George D. Embree
Acquisition Method:
Mrs. Waite Embree and Mr. George D. Embree donated the Waite W. Embree Collection to the Regional History Collections of the University Archives in March 1967. Northern Illinois University Archivist J. Joseph Bauxar and history Professor Earl Hayter brought this collection to the University, thus preserving the single most significant group of historical records documenting the heritage of the DeKalb area. In the spring of 1978 Mr. Bauxar transferred the collection to the Regional History Center.
Related Materials:
Researchers should note that three record series originally accessioned in the Embree collection have been separated from it. First, a photo morgue of approximately 13,000 negatives from the DeKalb Chronicle (1940-1956) has been returned to the newspaper. Second, Embree’s postcard collection may be found in the Center’s postcard collection (RC 199). Third, the artifacts and war posters have been added to the Page Museum Collection (UA 11) and the Oversize Collection (RC 200) respectively.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series I.: Family Records and Diaries],
[
Series II.: Non-biographical Photographs],
[
Series III.: Biographical Photographs],
[
Series IV.: Railroad Documentation],
[
All]
- Series I.: Family Records and Diaries
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Index to Embree Collection Genealogy Charts
- Folder 2: Genealogy-Embree & Collateral Lines
- Folder 3: Genealogy & Index-Wagner Collateral Lines
- Folder 4: Items related to Embree Genealogical Research
- Folder 5: Embree Home Book
- Folder 6-10: Correspondence: Waite W. Embree to family, 1924-1928
- Folder 11-13: Correspondence: Embree Family, 1910-1962
- Folder 14-15: Correspondence: George Embree, 1956-1962
- Folder 16-19: Correspondence: W.W. Embree General A-I
- Folder 20: Correspondence: W.W. Embree & James Huntley
- Folder 21-25: Correspondence: W.W. Embree General J-Z
- Folder 26-31: Correspondence: Nancy Embree to Family, 1929-1932
- Box 1A
- Folder 1-3: Embree Genealogy Notebook
- Box 1B-C: Directory Notes
- Box 2
- Folder 1-2: Correspondence: Nancy Embree to Family, May, 1932-1933
- Folder 3: Correspondence: Nancy Embree General
- Folder 4-8: Correspondence: Henry Embree to Family, 1926-1930
- Folder 9: Correspondence: Henry Embree General
- Folder 10: Nancy Embree Hewitt & Family File
- Folder 11: Henry Embree File
- Folder 12: Mattie Embree File
- Folder 13: Mattie Embree-DeKalb Home Garden Club Records
- Folder 14: George Embree File
- Folder 15: George Embree-Cornel College & Iowa Items
- Folder 16-19: W.W. Embree: School Materials, Elementary-High School
- Folder 20-26: W.W. Embree: School Papers & Items from the University of Illinois, 1914-1928
- Folder 27: W.W. Embree: Address Lists
- Box 3
- Folder 1: W.W. Embree: Playbills & Programs
- Folder 2: W.W. Embree: Baseball Programs & Tickets
- Folder 3: W.W. Embree: Financial & Business Records
- Folder 4: W.W. Embree: Records as Agent for Millers Mutual Insurance Association, 1954
- Folder 5: W.W. Embree: Bills & Receipts
- Folder 6: W.W. Embree: Family Newspaper Clippings
- Folder 7: W.W. Embree: Typed Copies of Embree Articles
- Folder 8: W.W. Embree: Published Articles
- Folder 9: W.W. Embree: Lists of Available Embree Speaking Programs
- Folder 10: W.W. Embree: Correspondence Regarding Speaking Engagements
- Folder 11: W.W. Embree: Speech Scripts, DeKalb & Local History
- Folder 12: W.W. Embree: Religious Speeches & Sermons
- Folder 13: W.W. Embree: Typed Reference Notes for Speeches
- Folder 14: W.W. Embree: Materials for American Guide Entry
- Folder 15: W.W. Embree: Notes on Various Subjects
- Folder 16: W.W. Embree: North Il. Steam Power Club Materials
- Folder 17: W.W. Embree: 1948 Trip West
- Folder 18: W.W. Embree: Office of Naval Officer Placement
- Folder 19: W.W. Embree: Wedding Trip to Niagara Falls, 1929
- Folder 20: W.W. Embree: Wurlitzer Papers
- Folder 21-22: W.W. Embree: Boy Scout Materials
- Folder 23: W.W. Embree: Personal Items
- Folder 24: E.E. Embree: DeKalb City & County Board Meeting Statistics, 1930-1942
- Folder 25: E.E. Embree: High School Materials
- Folder 26: E.E. Embree: "A History of the Federal Civil Works Administration in DeKalb, Illinois"
- Folder 27: E.E. Embree: Federal Civil Works Administration
- Folder 28: E.E. Embree: Federal Civil Works Administration Applications
- Folder 29: E.E. Embree: Correspondence
- Folder 30: E.E. Embree: Correspondence with Mrs. B.F. Herrington
- Folder 31: E.E. Embree: DeKalb High School Board Statistics, 1929-1933
- Folder 32: E.E. Embree: Descriptions & Lists of Family Travel
- Box 4
- Folder 1: E.E. Embree: Financial Records & Anderson Estate
- Folder 2: E.E. Embree: Cemetery Lots
- Folder 3: E.E. Embree: Lumber Yard Financial Statements
- Folder 4: E.E. Embree: Financial Records: Texas Abstract
- Folder 5: E.E. Embree: Lumber Yard Deeds & Releases
- Folder 6: E.E. Embree: Financial Records: Wagner Estates
- Folder 7: E.E. Embree: Insurance Policies
- Folder 8-9: E.E. Embree: Tax Receipts, 1918-1925
- Folder 10: E.E. Embree: Documents Related to Construction of Embree Home, 1902
- Folder 11: E.E. Embree: Household Accounts
- Folder 12: E.E. Embree: Warranty Deeds & Legal Documents from Ruby's Subdivision
- Folder 13: E.E. Embree: Abstract of Title for Ruby's Subdivision
- Folder 14: E.E. Embree: Wagner Financial Documents
- Folder 15: E.E. Embree: Harry Wagner Bankruptcy Documents, 1919-1929
- Folder 16: E.E. Embree: Goodyear Bakery Property
- Folder 17: E.E. Embree: Thomas J. & Mary Jane Adams, Estates
- Folder 18: E.E. Embree: Adams Family Legal Documents
- Folder 19-21: E.E. Embree: Bills & Receipts
- Folder 22: E.E. Embree: Warranty Deeds & Mortgages
- Folder 23: E.E. Embree: Stock Certificates
- Folder 24: E.E. Embree: Improvements on Embree Home
- Folder 25: E.E. Embree: Standard Foundry Company Guarantee Fund
- Folder 26: E.E. Embree: Texas Citrus Correspondence with George Osborne
- Folder 27-29: E.E. Embree: Texas Citrus Record & Correspondence
- Folder 30: E.E. Embree: Bank Book & Check Stubs
- Folder 31: E.E. Embree: E.E. Embree Estate Documents
- Folder 32-33: E.E. Embree: Financial Records: J.F. Glidden Hospital and DeKalb Chronicle Building
- Box 5
- Folder 1: E.E. Embree: Newspaper Clippings
- Folder 2: E.E. Embree: Military & Sons of Veterans Records
- Folder 3: E.E. Embree: Personal Items
- Folder 4: E.E. Embree: Documents regarding E.E. Embree Funeral & Estate, 1947-1950
- Folder 5: E.E. & W.W. Embree-National Lumber Convention, 1927
- Folder 6: E.E. & Eva Embree-Wedding, 1900
- Folder 7: E.E. & Eva Embree-Invitations
- Folder 8: Eva Wagner Embree: School Items
- Folder 9: Eva Wagner Embree: Friendship Album
- Folder 10: Eva Wagner Embree: Correspondence to Eva Wagner, 1900-1948
- Folder 11: Eva Wagner Embree: Correspondence with E.E. Embree
- Folder 12-14: Eva Wagner Embree: Correspondence: Congratulations on Births of Children, 1905, 1909, 1912
- Folder 15: Eva Wagner Embree: Personal Items
- Folder 16: Eva Wagner Embree: Obituary, Funeral
- Folder 17: Eva Wagner Embree: Last Will & Testament
- Folder 18: Eva Wagner Embree: Items Removed from her Diaries
- Folder 19-20: Automotive Materials-Cars & Trucks
- Folder 22-27: Eva Wagner Embree Diaries (24), 1910-1933
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Eva Wagner Embree Index to her Diaries (2), 1910-1918
- Folder 2: Eva Wagner Embree Address Book
- Folder 3: Eva Wagner Embree Friendship Books (2), 1881-1882, 1887-1892
- Folder 4: Arthur L. Wagner File
- Folder 5: Elvin Wagner File
- Folder 6: Harry Wagner-Clippings & Personal Items
- Folder 7: Hayden Wagner File
- Folder 8: Hayden Wagner West Point Items
- Folder 9: Henry H. Wagner File
- Folder 10: Correspondence: Elvin Wagner
- Folder 11: Correspondence: from Elvin Wagner in the Philippines, 1902
- Folder 12: Correspondence & Documents regarding: Hayden Wagner's appointment to West Point
- Folder 13: Correspondence from Hayden Wagner at West Point
- Folder 14: Correspondence to H.H. Wagner
- Folder 15: Correspondence Civil War Letters to Henry H. Wagner
- Folder 16: Correspondence to H.H. Wagner to his wife at Ft. Sam Houston, 1912
- Folder 17-18: Correspondence to Nancy Elizabeth Waite Wagner
- Folder 19: Description of Trip to Maine by Nancy Wagner, 1914
- Folder 20: Wagner Family Invitations
- Folder 21: H.H. Wagner Personal Items
- Folder 22: Items regarding death of H.H. Wagner, 1914
- Folder 23: Correspondence: Elmer Embree to Nina & Harrold Hemenway
- Folder 24: Correspondence: Harrold Hemenway to Nina Wagner Hemenway
- Folder 25: Correspondence: To Nina Wagner Hemenway from the Family
- Folder 26: Correspondence: To Harrold Hemenway
- Folder 27: Correspondence: To Nina Hemenway
- Folder 28: Correspondence: To Nina Hemenway from H.H. Wagner
- Folder 29: Correspondence: To Nina Hemenway from Hayden & Betty Wagner
- Folder 30: Correspondence: To Nina & Harrold Hemenway from Eva Embree
- Folder 31: Mary Louise Hemenway File
- Folder 32: Harrold Hemenway, Jr. File
- Folder 33: Marsh Hemenway File
- Folder 34: Nina L. Wagner & Harrold Hemenway Wedding
- Folder 35: Hemenway Wedding Announcements
- Folder 36: Hemenway Family Items
- Folder 37: Photographs of Hemenway Children (9)
- Folder 38: Goodyear, Vere & Family File
- Folder 39: George & Belle Embree Hobbs
- Folder 40: Adams-Welch Invitations
- Folder 41: T.J. Adams & Mary Welch Adams Personal Items
- Folder 42: Correspondence: To Mary Jane Adams
- Folder 43: Correspondence: To Thomas J. Adams
- Folder 44: James Welch & Family
- Folder 45: WWI Printed Materials
- Folder 46-48: WWII Printed Materials
- Box 7A
- Folder 1: Henry Hurlburt Wagner Diary Pages, 1891
- Folder 2: W.W. Embree Certificates & Membership Cards
- Folder 3: W.W. Embree-pages from Diaries, 1923, 1946-1950, 1957
- Folder 4-9: W.W. Embree Diaries (17) There are 2 volumes for 1939., 1929-1960
- Access Restriction: See also contents of folder 3.
- Folder 10: W.W. Embree Savings & Loan Account Books (8), 1919-1941
- Folder 11: E.E. Embree & W.W. Embree Combined Diary, 1918-1955
- Folder 12: B.C. Delselm Diary, 1882
- Folder 13: Charlotte Fay (Byrd) Embree Diary, 1944
- Folder 14: Nancy (Mrs. H.H.) Wagner Diary, 1891
- Folder 15: Scrapbook about Elvin Wagner in the Philippines, 1899-1902
- Folder 16: Wagner (Henry Hurlburt) Home Book, 1916
- Folder 17: Henry Hurlburt Wagner Diary, 1871
- Folder 18: "Autographs" Friendship Book, Harry H. Wagner, 1901-1902
- Folder 19: Orders, U.S. Corps of Cadets, 1902
- Folder 20: Notepads & Notebooks from E.E. Embree (1), 1927-1937
- Box 7B
- Folder 1: Notepads & Notebooks from E.E. Embree (6), 1898-1925
- Folder 2: W.W. Embree Official Due Book, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 1954
- Folder 3-4: Weather Diaries (2), 1893-1897; 1902-1903
Browse by Series:
[Series I.: Family Records and Diaries],
[
Series II.: Non-biographical Photographs],
[
Series III.: Biographical Photographs],
[
Series IV.: Railroad Documentation],
[
All]