Barbara Jane Archer

She was born in Springfield, March 7, 1935, the daughter of Glenn P. and Z. Verbel (McFarland) Bartlett. Mrs. Archer was a graduate of Springfield High School, Class of 1953. She went on to further her education at Oklahoma A&M University, earning her Bachelor of Education in 1957. She graduated from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, achieving her Master of Education in 1972.

Mrs. Archer began her teaching career in1957 with Springfield School District #186 as an English teacher. She would teach for 33 years in the district including Jefferson Junior High School, Lawrence 9th Grade Center, Franklin Middle School, Southeast High School, and Springfield High School. She was a demanding, caring teacher, setting standards which she felt her students could and should meet to prepare them for future years of their education and life. In addition to her classroom work, she sponsored numerous junior and senior high school activities, especially speech competitions and dramatic productions, the National Honor Society, and Academic Bowl competitions. She retired in 1990.

Mrs. Archer continued her service to the education community serving as a part time Communications Instructor at Lincoln Land Community College, the editor of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Newsletter and the Executive Director of the Vachel Lindsay Association.

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Archer was a member and served in various capacities in many organizations. She was a Past Mother Advisor of Springfield Assembly #18 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, former member of the Springfield Education Association, Illinois Education Association, and National Education Association. She was a Life member and former board member of Illinois Retired Teachers Association; former editor of The Lincoln Log newsletter; and was a volunteer site interpreter and hearth cook at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site starting in 1989. Mrs. Archer was a member of the Vachel Lindsay Association and was a former site interpreter at the Vachel Lindsay Home Historic Site. She was a former member of the Illinois Herb Association, Illinois Native Plant Society and was certified as an Illinois Master Gardener. Barbara was a member of the Mary A. Lawrence Circle of King’s Daughters and past president of the King’s Daughters Organization. She was an active and ardent supporter of the Carrie Post Kings Daughters Home for women in Springfield. She was also a member of the Abraham Lincoln Association and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library/Museum Foundation, and a volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Springfield, where she was able to fulfill her dream for the FUMC Historic Committee’s creation of a first-ever computerized membership list for the church beginning with 1828.

Barbara was an avid cook, especially hearth cookery from eighteenth and nineteenth century recipes. She was the owner and operator of Tastes from the Past and authored five cookbooks. She enjoyed teaching hearth cookery and gave demonstrations on hearth cooking and growing and using herbs throughout central Illinois.

Barbara recently reminisced, "I loved working with teenagers, encouraging them to learn and grow. Seeing their successes and growing understanding of life was always the high point of my days. I was tough and demanding but always had their interests in my mind and heart. Many gave me far more than I ever gave them. My most treasured gift is a silver candy dish engraved 'Thanks Mom' from three students at Jefferson Junior High and Southeast High Schools. My greatest honor came when Springfield High School's National Honor Society established a monetary award in the late 1980s. The Society advisor told me they wanted to name it for me, but that it should be named posthumously. At the awards assembly, I listened to Dave Abbott's 'obituary' of some yet-to-be-identified person — wondering who it could be — until the Honor Society president and vice president stood beside me, took my hands, and led me to the podium. For the first time in my life, I was speechless."

Barbara is survived by her son David (wife Cynthia) Archer of Sherwood, OR and her grandchildren; Alice Archer and Iris (husband Mike) Jones.

Family and friends are welcome to a visitation on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Bisch Funeral Home West 2931 S. Koke Mill Rd. Springfield from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church 2941 S. Koke Mill Rd. Springfield on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 10:00 am with Pastor Nick Jordan officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Those who wish may direct memorial contributions to the Shrine Burn Centers, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Volunteers or Theatre Departments, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, or the King’s Daughters Organizations.

Please visit the “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com where tributes and condolences may be left for the family.

Arrangements are in the care of Bisch Funeral Home West. 217-544-5424