Francie Staggs talks about her life, a life well lived. She grew up on a small farm in Martinville, Illinois and met Jan Staggs while going to school in Champaign. In 1968 she lived in Okinawa while Jan worked there as a clerk for the U.S. Army. Following their return to Illinois ,Jan spent the bulk of his career working for the state of Illinois. In the 1980s Francie earned both a Bachelor and Master's Degree from Sangamon State University. She was one of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum's first volunteers, and helped with the dedication of both the library in 2004 and the museum in 2005. Fifteen years later she was still volunteering for the museum.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
USA is Huge
Abstract
Interview Session 1
Early life on the farm, marriage and life in Madison, Wisconsin
Interview Session 2
Jan and Francie’s experiences in Okinawa and post service years in IL
Interview Session 3
Experiences as a volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
Photos
Caption
Francie with her parents, William "Bill" and Dorothy Saiter Davidson, and brother James Davidson.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 1947
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Frances Davidson and Jan Staggs on their wedding day in the home of her grandparents, Richard and Pauline Davidson, one and one-half miles west of Marshall.
Where:
Marshall, Clark County, Illinois
When:
October 27, 1962
Ownership:
Narrator's photo.
Caption
Jan Staggs, in khakis and ‘steel pot’ has his photo taken while stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado with the 5th Infantry Division in late 1966. He and wife Francie lived off-post.
Where:
Ft. Carson, Colorado
When:
circa 1966
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Private Jan Staggs during his basic training days at Ft. Polk, Louisiana in early 1966.
Where:
Ft. Polk, Louisiana
When:
circa 1966
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Specialist 5 Staggs was stationed in Okinawa in 1967 when this photo of him with Francie was taken. They enjoyed their tour in Okinawa, thankful that Jan had not been sent to Vietnam.
Where:
Okinawa, Japan
When:
circa 1967
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Francie's family on the night she received the University of Illinois Alumni Humanitarian Award.
From left to right are Francie Staggs; Sherry Staggs Daley; Marcia Staggs Vogelsburg; and Jan Staggs.
Where:
Springfield, IL
When:
November 12, 2010
Ownership:
UIS photo.
Caption
The U of I Alumni Humanitarian Award was presented to Francie Staggs at the University of Illinois in Springfield.
From left to right: Loren R. Taylor, Pres. of the UI Alumni Assn; Harry J. Berman, UIS Interim Chancellor, Francie Staggs and Michael Hogan, UI President.
Where:
Springfield, IL
When:
November 12, 2010
Ownership:
UIS photo.
Caption
"Painting the Town" of Marshall with Walldog Murals. The town of Marshall was named after John Marshall, second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In 2016 over 150 artists came to Marshall and created some twenty historic murals known as the Walldogs.
Where:
Marshall, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo
Caption
Lincoln/Guinnip Well. It is well documented that Lincoln practiced law in Marshall and traveled the Marshall-Charleston Road. There is no documented proof that Lincoln used the well, but many assume that he refreshed his horse and drank the water.
Where:
Marshall, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo.
Caption
Behind the Scene in the ALPM "Ghost of the Library" exhibit.
Pictured from left to right are Alan and Penny Roth; Connie Cardinal; Francie Staggs; Carol Cronister; and Denise Hampton.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo.
Caption
Francie with Fred Bird and Clark, mascots for the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. The photo taken in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum’s plaza on December 16, 2017 during the Museum’s popular “The Rivalry, Cubs v Cards” exhibit
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
December 16, 2017
Ownership:
Narrator's photo.
Caption
Francie Staggs rubs the nose of the Gutzon Borglum's bronze of Abraham Lincoln in front of the Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, IL, a tradition for any visitor to the tomb. The photo was taken on the day of a total solar eclipse in August of 2017.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
August 21, 2017
Ownership:
Narrator's photo.
Caption
National Road Mural. The Stone Arch Bridge was constructed in 1831 and is still used today. The bridge is located on Archer Avenue (also known as the National Road or Cumberland Road), located near where Francie and Jan were married.
Where:
Marshall, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's photo.
Caption
The photo of Francie that appears on her Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum volunteer Badge.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
August or September of 2004
Ownership:
ALPLM photo.