Do I have the right parents for Grace - on FamilySearch.org they are different

William emigrated to the USA with his parents in 1882 ? (Don D.USA 1.7.96)

William Duckering aged 5, a child sailed on SS Arabic arriving Ellis Island, New York, USA in 1887 with his father William and mother Mary. See copy on file. 2191

USA Army Registration card - see copy on file: Serial Number U1287, William Elmhirst Duckering, residence University of Alaska College, Alaska, Area Engineering Office, US Anchorage. Age 60 born 31 Jan 1882 England. Contact person Ray M Wardale, Smith Tower, Seattle, Wash. Employer University of Alaska (Sept-May), Area Engineering Office (Summer) Anchorage. Signed William Elmhirst Duckering.
William was enlisted from 31st August 1918 at Camp A A Humphrey, Va and discharged 12th August 1919 from Camp Lewis, Wash, with an honorable character reference. His rank on enlisting was 1st Lieutenant in the Engineers, US Army and on discharge Captain from the Engineers. See Application for Equalised Compensation, State of Washington copy on file.3702

William set up the Department of Engineering and became Dean at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Engineering Buildingis named the 'Duckering Building'. (Eric D. USA 22.6.96) See photographs on file.

William 'graduated with honors from the University of Washingtonin 1903 with a B.A. degree. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1909 and his C.E. degree in 1916.' (Taken from the Dedication Programme of the Duckering Building 9th May 1964- Verle 2.97)

Resume of William's career taken from the 'Dedication Programme'of the Duckering building 9th May 1963.
'For eleven years he was a civil engineer for railroads in the Pacific Northwest and then began his teaching career, first a tthe University of Washington and then at Engineers School, Camp Humphries, Virginia, during World War I. After three years at Iowa State College he went to the University of British Columbia as head of the Civil Engineering Department.'
'He came to the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines as head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Mathematics in 1932. In 1935 the College became the University of Alaska and Professor Duckering was named first Dean of Faculty in addition to his other duties. In 1944 his title was changed to Dean of the University and he assumed more and more administrative duties, especially when President Bunnell's health began to fail in 1947.''At Commencement 1949, the Regents awarded Dean Duckering the honary degree Doctor of Engineering in recognition of his great service to the University in guiding its academic program, his sound technical advice in campus construction and his inspiring leadership.'
'Death claimed Dean Duckering on October 7, 1950 when he suffered a heart attack. Ironically he had announced his intention to retire at the end of the academic year and the Regents, that very morning, had approved a generous plan for him.'

Article taken from the 'The Farthest North Collegian' title 'He Works, He Works ! ''When young Bill Duckering stepped ashore on the beach at Nome in the spring of 1900, little did he realise that years later he would become one of the top men in higher education in the Territory of Alaska.'
'Duckering was an engineering student at the University of Washington. He made the trip to the new gold strike at Nome for the purpose of acquiring experience in engineering, and also to make a few dollars that would be helpful toward school expenses the following year.'
'"When we landed at Nome, before the 1st of July, there were an estimated 22,000 persons of all vocations and all walks of life milling about a dozen miles of beach," Duckering reminisced.'
'"Nome was a wild lawless town that year", he said "Mining was done under the protection of armed guards. On one claim I saw three men with high-powered rifles protecting two pick-and-shovel boys from the claim jumpers." ''In 1903 William Elmhirst Duckering was graduated with honors from the University of Washington. Good civil engineers were in demand in that early era of western railroad construction, and Duckering spent the next eleven years designing bridges, establishing railway locations, building and maintaining trackage for the Oregon Short Line Railroad in Idaho, Wyoming and other western states. 'In spite of his great affinity for railroading, Duckering realised that he enjoyed the academic life more. In 1915 he made a lifetime decision. He was a born teacher. So he turned down lucrative executive position with a Utah railroad and returned to the University of Washington.'
'While originating revolutionary methods of teaching engineering, Duckering acquired two additional scholastic degrees to add to his A.B. -a Bachelor of Science and the professional degree, Civil Engineer.'
'Because of his effective teaching methods, Professor Duckering was called by the War Department in 1918 to The Engineering School, Camp Humphries, Virginia, where 92 West Pointers completed their engineering education under force draft. ''Some of the top-flight generals of World War II, including General Lucius D. Clay, were among the bright-eyed students under Captain William Elmhirst Duckering in those fledgling days of 1918.'
'At the conclusion of World War I, Captain Duckering donned civvies again, and was called to head the Department of Engineering Problems at Iowa State College. ''While teaching at the Haweye State, Professor Duckering was asked to join the faculty of the then-forming University of Alaska. Judge Charles E.Bunnell, who was appointed president of the embryonic school, offered Professor Duckering a position in Engineering, "as he has been most highly recommended by the Dean of Engineering at the University of Washington."'
'After serious consideration, Duckering declined the offer. Soon thereafter he became head of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. He remained there until 1930, when illness forced him to resign. Not until two years later did he feel well enough to consider a teaching position again.' 'At that time, Dr Charles E.Bunnell, president of the Territaorial college, again sought the services of Professor Duckering, this time to head the Department of Civil Engineering and Mathematics. This time Duckering decided to come north. He arrived at College in the late summer of 1932, and Mrs Duckering joined him in 1933.'
'At that time the Alaska Agriculture College and School of Mines was still a very young institution. Only 52 degrees had been given. Civil Engineering and Mining were popular majors.'
'"Since 1932 we have seen many changes on the campus," Duckering remarked. "New buildings have been erected. The faculty has brought to a high academic standing. The University has beenfully accredited. But most important, several thousand young men and women who have been students at the University are now useful citizens throughout the United States, Alaska and - the world."' 'Duckering's contribution to the growth and character of the University have been synoymous with his 18 years of service on the teaching staff. In 1935 he was made Dean of the Faculty, and inie years later his leadership was rewarded when he was designated as Dean of the University. In 1949 William Elmhirst Duckering was signally honored by the Board of Regents which bestowed upon him the honary degree of Doctor of Engineering.'
'Dr. Duckering's influence has been far wider than most persons realise. His teaching methods and personal inspiration are responsible for a large number of careers in Engineering, as well as more than a score of top-flight teachers. Four professors at the University of Alaska are Duckering products,and all four are heads of departments.'
'In addition to wearing the scholastic honors of Phi Beta Kappaand Tau Beta Pi, Dr Duckering is listed in six directories including Who's Who in Engineering, Who's Who in Education, and Men of Science. He is a member of eleven professional societies, and has been a frequent contributor to engineering publications.' '"The challengeof the University of Alaska is the challenge of the frontier, "Dr Duckering remarked. "We have pulled ourselves up by our bootstraps, and the time is not far distant when the citixens of Alaska will see a fine, modern structure on College Hill.'
'"To some it might seem that 18 years on any one faculty is along time. But in the life span of a university, that is but a brief moment in its existence," Dean Duckering philosophized.'
'"The joy in teaching Engineering comes from the fact that you are constantly building," he went on. "Association with students learning their profession is a building process. It keeps you young. Helping to shape a university of the future is a rare privilege and an experience enjoyed only by a few.' (Verle2.97)

'Engineering Building Named for Duckering'
'A highlight of the Governor's Day activities on May 9 1963 was the dedication of the William Elmhirst Duckering Building, the newest academic structure on campus which was completed in January.'
'The program was held in the Schaible Lecture Hall at 11.15 am and was attended by many civilian and military dignitaries, among them Governor William A. Egan, the Guest of Honor, and Senator E.L. (Bob) Bartlett.'
'Of particular interest and significance was the fact that four of the seven platform dignitaries were former students of the late Dean: William R. Cashen '37 was the presiding chairman; Lee S. Linck '40 the building architect who presented the key; Oliver Kola '38, president of the Alaska Section ASCE who assisted at the unveiling of the name plate; and H.W. (Woody) Johansen '40 Dean Duckering's succesor as head of the CEDepartment, and now District Engineer Alaska Department of Highways who delivered the dedication address.'
'Mr Johansen's address is here printed in its entirety: '"I consider it a privilege and an honor to be here today to tell you something of the man known to all of his students as Dean. Not Professor nor Doctor, but Dean Duckering the educator and the engineer. I first met him in the fall of 1933 when I arrived on the campus to enroll as a freshman in the Department of Civil Engineering. Word of his arrival on campus in the fall of 932 had spread to my home in Cordova and impressions of him, gained from returning students who had met him during his first year on campus, were firmly fixed in my mind. - He was a rugged man large stature wearing a beard and glasses; he was a martinet who exercised strict discipline in class and who permitted no deviation from established procedure; it was said that you earned your grades from him; he was an experienced engineer who had acted as railroad location engineer in pushing a railroad through northwestern Wyoming through that area to later become Yellowstone National Park. -These and other pre-conceived ideas were uppermost in my mind when I first walked into his office.'' "Contrary to these impressions, when I first entered his office on registration day, I saw seated behind an executive-type desk, a man of medium height and slight - you may say - frail stature. He wore heavy steel-rimmed glasses and a neat Van Dyke beard. His eyes seemed to look right through you and understand your innermost thoughts. His voice was his most dominent characteristic. It was forceful, carried authority and yet it expressed the unlimited understanding necessary for the at rare college professor who is able to encourage his students to extend themselves, their university and their country - this Dean Duckering was always able to do.'' "Dean Duckering, together with the first President of the University, Dr. Charles E. Bunnell, strongly believed in the concept that the university, the faculty and the staff had but one purpose - one reason for being that to help the young students overcome their problems and guide them on their path to becoming useful members of society. This concept is too often lacking in many of our institutions of higher learning in the world today.'
'"Prior to coming to the University of Alaska, Dean Duckering's experience was both practical and academic. For eleven years as a railroad engineer for the Oregon Short Line Railroad, he designed bridges and worked in construction and maintenance. During this period, he formulated many ideas and principles which were to influence his later thoughts on engineering education.'
'"In 1914, ill health forced his retirement from the railroad and he accepted a teaching position with the University of Washington. While at Washington he, together with Professor C.E.Moore, was among the pioneers in the problem-type method of instruction. He was also instrumental in revising and unifying instructions in the five-year engineering curriculum.'
'"His outstanding work at Washington became known to the War Department and in 1918, he was among those selected to develop a course of instruction for the training of war-time engineering officers. The method of instruction was so effective that he was highly commended for his work.''"Leaving the Army in 1919, he went to Iowa State College as Head of the Department of Engineering Problems. There he further refined the techniques and procedures for teaching the engineering approach to the solutions of problems encountered in the engineering profession.'
'"In 1923, after declining an offer to become the first Head ofthe Department of Civil Engineering at the infant Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines then beginning under the guidance of Judge Charles E. Bunnell at Fairbanks, Alaska, Professor Duckering became Head of the Department of Civil Engineering at The University of British Columbia. He remained there until forced to retire because of ill health in 1930. After two years convalescence, when Dr. Bunnell again sought him out, he accepted the appointment to head the Department of Civil Engineering and Mathematics at the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines.'" ' Dr Bunnell had brought to the campus a man with eleven years experience as a practicing engineer and sixteen years experince as a professor in engineering instruction. What more could he ask in a man expected to build up an infant department into the center of engineering learning it has become today.'' "In 1935 when Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines became the University of Alaska, Professor Duckering, in addition to his duties, was selected as the first Dean of Faculty. His was the task of developing the brand-new university into something more than just "a good mining school" which had been its main purpose and objective in its earlier years.'
'"To accomplish this objective, his first efforts were concentrated on obtaining general accreditation for the university as a whole and the special accreditation by the E.C.P.O. - Engineering Council for the Professional Development - for the various engineering curriculum. Under his leadership and driving insistence, the faculty prepared the necessary records and the desired accreditation was acquired - that from the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Education in 1945: that from the Engineering Council for Professional Development in 1941. The University retains that accreditation today and its students benefit from its advantages.'
'"Many engineers and educators are presently concerned over the trend toward specialization and research prevalent in many of our universities and colleges today. Dean Duckering was concerned over this possibility some thirty years ago. It was his thought that a student, to become a useful member of society, must have a well-rounded education. To accomplish this, he recommeded to the Board of Regents the five-year programs in engineering fields. The curriculums so set up that in the first four years a liberal number of courses in the basic sciences and the liberal arts were listed together with many courses in engineering common to the various fields. The fifth year was reserved for specialization in the chosen field. Considerable thought is today being given to the establishmentof the five-year engineering curriculums to accomplish a broad education. I am happy to learn that the present administration of this University have seen fit to re-establish the five-year curriculum in engineering after it had been allowed to lapse in the early 1950s.'' "In 1944 Dean Duckering was granted the title Dean of the University in recognition of his increased responsibilities and in 1949 the Regents bestowed on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering - a most fitting tribute to a man who had devoted four decades to the practice of engineering and to the furtherance of engineering education.'
'"I believe it would be most fitting at this time if I were to read to you a portion of the address written and delivered on that occassion by Dr. Charles E. Bunnell, then President of the University of Alaska;
"'But, Mr President, my recommendation was based for the most part upon what I personally know of him and his services to this institution. He came to us in 1932 as head of our department of civil engineering and mathematics. Added to his duties were Dean of the Fcaulty during the period 1935 - 1944, and from that date as Dean of the University he has been principal assistant to the President in academic matters, coordinating courses of study, faculty and student personnel.' '"Where ever you turn the pages of the record of this educator and engineer, you find a loyalty of service and devotion to duty out standing and justly entitling him to the honor about to be conferred upon him. This institution has been fortunate indeed to have the benefit of his services in helping to build a solid foundation. Its high standing among institutions of higher learning tells the kind of material he selects for the structure he is engaged in building, and the long line of students who have been privileged to conact him in the several capcities in which he served them bear witness to his worth as an educator and engineer. This is the 400th degree to be granted by this institution. I was greatly pleased that the Board of Regents by unanimous vote accepted my recommendation. It is a pleasure and a privilege to present William Elmhirst Duckering to receive the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering.'
'"As a graduate of the University of Alaska, and a former assoicate of Dean Duckering, it gives me great pleasure to witness this further recognition by the Board of Regents in the naming of this beautiful and functional engineering building for William Elmhirst Duckering.'"

Reprinted from: College Hill Chronicles, by Neil Davis. ”One of the few pleasant duties of the board of regents at that October 1950 meeting was to reward Elmhirst Duckering. Duckering, who had served the campus long and well, was now approaching 70, the mandatory retirement age for teachers under territorial law. He knew he faced a difficult future financially because he would draw meager retirement pay, unless the board of regents did something special."

"The board chose to do something special. Just before the noon recess on October 5, the board agreed to name Duckering dean emeritus and to ask the legislature to award him an annuity of $7,200. As the board broke for lunch, it informed Duckering of the action. He was so elated with the news that he ran home to tell his wife. Arriving there, he collapsed on the living room couch and died."3703

William Elmhirst Duckering
Engr., professor, ed. administrator. Born Kirton-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, Eng., Jan. 31, 1882; son of William and Anne Mary (Rollett) Duckering, Ed.: Olympia (Wash.) High sch, 1899; A.B., U. of Wash., 1903; B.S. in civil engin., 1909, C.E., 1916. Married Grace Smith, 1906; married 2nd, Elisabeth Voute, 1933; children - Charles Elmhirst, Margaret Grace. Engaged in railroad engin. in Ida., Ore., Wyo., Utah, for Ore. Short Line R.R., 1903-13, beginning as subengr., 1903-05, asst. engr. Ida. div. constr. location, maintenance, 1905-08, and prin. asst. engr. Ida. div., 1908-13; bridge design engr., King Co., Wash., 1914; instr. civil engin., 1914-17, and asst. prof. civil engin., 1917-18, U. of Wash.; prof. engin. problems, Ia. State Coll., 1919-23; pror, of civil engin., head of dept., U. of B.C., 1923-30; asso. with U. of, Alaska since 1932 all prof. of civil engin., head of dept. civil engin. and math., 1932-46, dean of faculty, 1935-45, and dean of the Univ. since 1945. 1st lt., later capt., Engrs., U.S. Army, assigned to teaching staff, engr, sch., Camp A. A. Humphreys, Va., 1918-19. While at U. of B.C. was memo Council of Professional Engrs. of B.C., memo Council Assn. of Architects of B.C. and memo Senate, U. of B.C. Has been identified with progressive steps in engin. ed. since 1914, when in collaboration with Prof, C. C. More, developed engine problem type of instruction which was approved at U. of Wash., 1917, at U.S. Army's Camp Humphreys, 1918, at Ia. State Coll, 1919-23; as head of dept. civil engin., U. of B.C., revised content and method in all 5 yr. engin. courses; instituted similar 5-yr. courses at U. of Alaska, 1935. Ent. Alaska at Nome 1900, at College, 1932. Mem. Am. Soc. Civil Engrs., Soc. Promotion Engin. Ed., A.A.A.S., Soc. for Advancement of Ed., Soc. Am. Mil. Engrs., Highway Research Bd., Nat. Research Council, Am. Legion, Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi. Mason. Home: U. of Alaska, College; also Eastsound, Wash.
Tewkesbury Who's Who In Alaska 1947, Submitted by CDDD