Duckworth-Ford Philippine Constabulary collection

Collection

Identifier: Coll 479

Scope and Contents

The papers of Robert Alexander Duckworth-Ford document his work as a member of the Philippine Constabulary, and include biographical material, correspondence, a portion of a diary, financial papers, publications, writings, scrapbooks, clippings, artifacts, and photographs.

Much of the Biographical Material in the collection was collected and/or created by Alex Ford, and includes both original documents (Constabulary efficiency reports, death certificate, etc.) and photocopied material. Duckworth-Ford's correspondence is both professional and personal in nature, and includes typed excerpts from letters sent and received during his time in Nigeria. A typed, partial transcript of a diary documents Duckworth-Ford's time in Manila while serving as a member of the Philippine Constabulary. The photographs included in the collection are primarily black-and-white, and include both photocopies and original prints.

Dates

1903-2012

Creator

Duckworth-Ford, R. A. (Robert A.) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

Robert Geoffrey Alexander Duckworth-Ford was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) in 1877. Educated in England and Scotland, he joined the Armed Services in 1896. Duckworth-Ford served with the British Mounted Police in Rhodesia (1896-1897), before traveling to the Philippines in 1901. From 1903 to 1914, he served with the Philippine Constabulary, a post he left to fight with the British and U.S. Armies in World War I. During World War I Duckworth-Ford served with the 14th Battalion Royal Fusiliers and the 1st Battalion Nigerian Regiment; he transferred to the U.S. Army in 1917, and rejoined the Philippine Constabulary in 1922.

Duckworth-Ford quickly worked his way up the ranks of the Constabulary. He was appointed Inspector General in 1927, and then Superintendent of the Philippine Constabulary Academy with the rank of a colonel in 1928, a position he held until his retirement in 1932. During his tenure at the Philippine Constabulary Academy, Duckworth-Ford also wrote poetry, a collection of which was published under the title “The Bamboo Brigade, and Other Verses.” Duckworth-Ford died April 19th, 1949.

Extent

3.5 linear feet (6 containers)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

Material within this collection is physically and intellectually arranged by record type. Any arrangement is derived either from the records' creators or custodians, or from staff at the time of processing.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Alex Ford.

Related Materials

Other collections relating to the Philippine Constabulary at Special Collections and University Archives include: the John R. White papers, Ax 192.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Rachel Lilley and Anna Fleming.

This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.