Take me back to the Oral History landing page.
Janis Droegkamp - Family Memories
Jan Droegkamp has spent much of her professional career working in a variety of postings with the Peace Corps, first in Jamaica in 1972, then Lesotho (surrounded by apartheid South Africa), before returning to Massachusetts for graduate school. Since earning her graduate degree Jan has also worked in Kenya, Thailand, Cambodia, Fiji, Albania, Uganda and other countries. While in Fiji, Jan decided to start a family. In 1985, she became a Mother by Choice when she gave birth to her son, John, and represented the group several years later on the Oprah Winfrey show. She also began a long association with Sangamon State University in Springfield, Illinois, both running the University's Credit for Prior Learning program and teaching.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Jan's first day in Jamaica
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early history and school years
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Peace Corps career in Jamaica and in Lesotho, southern Africa
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Sangamon State U., Single Mothers by Choice and Peace Corps experience
Photos
Caption:
Jan Droegkamp holds her baby sister Jane when she was five and her sister was just two months old in 1951. Jan and Jane shared the same birthday. The family lived in Oakfield, Wisconsin at the time.
Where:
Oakfield, Wisconsin
When:
1951
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Education expectations were high in the Droegkamp family. Here is Jan pictured with her Father when he received his Master’s Degree in 1954. Jan’s sister Jane looks on with admiration.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1954
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan Droegkamp as a Delta Zeta Sorority girl in 1966 while she attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Where:
Waukesha, Wisconsin
When:
1966
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan was a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica in 1973 when she helped plant trees on Jamaica’s tree planting day.
Where:
Jamaica
When:
1973
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan defended her Doctoral Dissertation at the University of Massachusetts in 1982.
Where:
Massachusetts
When:
1982
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan loved discovering local culture wherever she went. In 1983, while working in Kenya, she had her hair cornrowed.
Where:
Kenya
When:
1983
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan worked with primary school teachers during her Peace Corps tour in Kenya in 1984.
Where:
Kenya
When:
1984
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Friends and family gave Jan a surprise baby shower in 1985 at her sister’s home in Wisconsin.
Where:
Wisconsin
When:
1985
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan enjoys the day with her son John, age two, during a trip to New York in 1987.
Where:
New York
When:
1987
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan got a chance to satisfy her love of travel in 1995 when she traveled throughout the African continent.
Where:
Africa
When:
1995
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan served all over the world for the Peace Corps during her career. She was conducting research on women over fifty during this trip to Botswana in 2003.
Where:
Botswana
When:
2003
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan returned to Jamaica in 2005, teaching a study abroad class.
Where:
Jamaica
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan Droegkamp posed with three volunteers in 2010 while serving on the Peace Corps staff in Uganda.
Where:
Uganda
When:
2010
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan’s retirement activities included working for social justice. Jan and other volunteers are shown here at the Arizona/Mexico border in 2015.
Where:
Arizona/Mexico border
When:
2015
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan was still giving guest lectures on global issues after she retired. She enjoyed meeting students from across the world at this University of Illinois at Springfield lecture in 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan’s son John married Blair Vajko on a beautiful day in Springfield’s Washington Park in August, 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Jan with her son John and grandson Kingston Harold Droegkamp following John’s wedding in Washington Park in August, 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo