Earl Linwood Francis – An Arizona Life (7/25/1931 – 8/15/1966) by Royal John Medley
Earl Linwood Francis, (without beard), posed in front of his wooden platform with his tent; likely at his mining claim near Oracle, AZ (Courtesy of Traci Lemaster)
On February 27, 2026, Oracle Historical Society Historian Royal John Medley presented the rich and colorful life of Earl Linwood Francis (1931–1966)—a prospector, adventurer, and unapologetic individualist whose legacy remains woven into the landscape of Oracle. AZ.
Who was Earl? A bold character who chased fortune, defied convention, and left behind a trail of larger-than-life tales. From mining escapades to boundary-pushing dreams, his short but extraordinary life became woven into the very fabric of Oracle’s history.
Floral still life by Earl Francis attached to door of cabinet he constructed from wood salvaged from wooden fruit crates. As currently displayed at Acadia Ranch Museum (Courtesy of Traci Lemaster)
Click here to view the presentation in which all contents and intellectual property are protected by Copyright 2025 by Royal John Medley.
Oracle Historical Society – visit the museums and explore the town.
Art, Adoption, and Appropriation – Hopi Imagery and the Arizona Citrus Industry – Circa 1920’s -1950’s
Citrus & Saguaros – An Illustrated History of Citrus in Arizona 1888-1960 – scroll down the Heritage Garden page to find this article.
Lettuce and Landscapes – An Illustrated History of Commercial Row Crops in Arizona (Circa 1920’s-1960’s) – scroll down the Heritage Garden page to find this article.
Watch Labeled as Art on the AZPM YouTube Channel – John Royal Medley Jr. has collected more than 280 citrus crate labels that create a unique lens through which to view over a century of Arizona’s history. Themes include Victorian, tourism and cowboy and there is a surprising story involving a Sun Devil.