Henry W. Immke Exhibit
The Immke Restoration Project and Exhibit has been generously underwritten by Tim & Jill Schlindwein and Dr. James & Sharon Wilson
Beginning September 5, 2025, the Bureau County Historical Society and History Center will open a new exhibit with an intimate look at the photography collection created by H.W. Immke and the private grief that impacted his work.
The Historical Society first received the H.W. Immke Collection, containing over 20,000 glass plate negatives of various sizes, photographic prints, and extensive photographic equipment, from the Immke family in 1957.
Henry William Immke operated a photography studio in Princeton from 1866 to 1923 and kept on hand for customers a substantial amount of his glass plate negatives for reprints. It is believed that he took at least 30,000 photographs throughout his career. It is estimated that upwards of 10,000 of these glass plate negatives were lost after Immke likely recycled them due to the cost of glass during World War I. Some of the glass negatives also suffered damage while they were stored in the Immke family barn between 1923 and 1957.
For the last 68 years, the Historical Society has stored these priceless negatives and camera equipment. In 1987, the decision was made to restore these images for the public. They have been removed from their original newspaper wrappings with Immke’s handwriting, and the handmade wooden boxes where they were stored, and have been placed in archival boxes and paper sleeves.
With the advent of technology, we have finally completed the scanning process of these negatives and are pleased to present them to the public in their most complete form for the first time. The public is invited to view these remarkable images, most of which have never before been seen, of early Bureau County citizens. For those who are interested in seeing if the collection contains any of their ancestors, we ask that a form be filled out with the requested surname. We welcome the opportunity to search the Immke database — allow us to reunite you with your family!
After September 5, the H.W. Immke Exhibit will be open in the Newell Bryant Museum on the History Center Campus, Friday and Saturday, Noon to 5 p.m., or by appointment by calling (815) 875-2184.