Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with Craig Williams II
Part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project
Interview # T20-A-L-2021-061
Craig Williams II, president of the Muni and SAP Functional Expert at the Department of Innovation and Technology, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Tumultuous 2020 Oral History project.
Interview dates & location:
Date: October 26, 2021 Location: ALPL Sound Studio
Interview Format: Digital audio
Interviewer: Amanda Riggenbach, ALPL
Total Time: 1:26 / 1.43 hrs.
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on December 29, 2021.
The interview is archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2021 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
Craig Williams II, Tumultuous 2020, T20-A-L-2021-061
Biographical Information/Overview of Interview: Craig Williams II was born in Springfield, Illinois in 1984. The oldest of four, he became involved with the performing arts at an early age. He sang in the choir at church, and this led to him performing in musicals at Springfield High School. He graduated high school in 2003 and attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale before transferring to Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Williams moved back to Springfield after graduating with an accounting degree in 2007. He pursued a career in accounting while becoming immersed in the Springfield community.
Following Williams move back to Springfield, he performed in musicals with the
Muni. He was invited to co-direct Cinderella for the children’s theater. This sparked Williams’ interest in directing. He began to direct for the musicals at Springfield High School and joined the Muni’s board of directors. Throughout the interview, Williams discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Muni from the perspective of the board president-elect and then later as the board president. He discusses the importance of the Muni within the community, and the pivots they took to remain active in the greater Springfield area throughout the summer of 2021.
Subject Headings/Key Words: The Muni, Springfield, Illinois; The Municipal Opera; Springfield, Illinois; performing arts; COVID-19 pandemic; COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on arts
Notes to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955