Résumé

Carpenter, Greene County, IL, c. 1880. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Greene, Illinois; Roll: 209; Page: 1a; Enumeration District: 077, accessed 06/06/2025.)

Partner, Boring and Haas, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 1884-05/1886. Boring and Haas won a competition to design the Los Angeles City Hall #2 in 03/1886. (See “City Hall Plans,” Los Angeles Times, 03/24/1886, p. 4.)

Partner, Caukin, Haas and [William A.] Boring, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, 06/1886-1887. Caukin, Haas and Boring lasted about one year, from 1886 until 1887. A legal notice in the Los Angeles Herald appeared in 1886: "We, the undersigned, hereby certify that we are partners, transacting business as architects, in Los Angeles city and county, State of California, under the firm name and style of Caukin, Haas & Boring; that the full names ofthe partners are E.L. Caukin, S.I. Haas and W.A. Boring; that our places of residence are in the city and county of Los Angeles, State of California. In witness we have hereunto set our hands this first day of June, A.D., 1886." (See "State of California," Los Angeles Herald, vol. 25, no. 84, 06/10/1886, p. 4.)

Draftsman, McKim, Mead, and White, Architects, New York, NY, 1890-1891.

Partner, Boring and Tilton, Architects, New York, NY, 1891-1904.

Principal, William A. Boring, Architect, New York, NY, 1904- .

Teaching

Professor of Design / Director, Columbia University, School of Architecture, New York, NY, c. 1929. Boring was an Emeritus Professor at Columbia by 1934.

College

Coursework, Illinois Industrial University (renamed the University of Illinois in 1885), c. 1885. (See “The New York Dinner,” The Alumni Quarterly [University of Illinois], vol. 1, no. 1, 01/1907, p. 42.)

A.B., Columbia University, New York, NY, c. 1886-1887.

Coursework, École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, 1887-1890.

Relocation

William Alciphron Boring was born in Carlinville, IL, on 09/09/1859. The Boring family lived in Carlinville in 1860, where his father was a carpenter. At this time, the family consisted of his parents John and Mary, sisters Mary E., Oramanda and Mary M., as well as a lodger, James Gardner (born c. 1836 in IL), a carpenter, likely working with John. All of the males in William's immediate family worked in a field related to construction.

The 1870 US Census indicated that William, at age 12, remained in Carlinville with his parents and four sisters and one brother. In the ten-year span between 1860 and 1870, the Boring family's assets rose from $100 to $4,000 worth of land and $100 other. In 1870, the Borings lived nearby to the families of two other carpenters, Frederick Walkinstead (born c. 1820 in Braunschweig, Germany) and Harvey Phelps (born c. 1835 in CT). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Township 10 Range 7, Macoupin, Illinois; Roll: M653_206; Page: 252; Family History Library Film: 803206, accessed 06/06/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 10 Range 7, Macoupin, Illinois; Roll: M593_250; Page: 178B, accessed 06/06/2025.)

By 06/1880, when that year's decennial census was taken, the Borings lived in Greene County, IL, in an unnamed township populated primarily by farming families. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Greene, Illinois; Roll: 209; Page: 1a; Enumeration District: 077, accessed 06/06/2025.)

Boring's whole family likely relocated to CA just after 1880. Most of his immediate family lived in the state during the 1890s and early 1900s, and William resided in Los Angeles by about 1884. He lived in this city until c. 1885, when he attended courses in architecture at the University of Illinois. He transferred to Columbia University, graduating c. 1887. At this time he left the US to attend architectural school in France.

The architect likely attended clases for part of the year in Paris and returned periodically to the US. He, for example, arrived aboard the Inman Line's S.S. City of Berlin at the Port of New York from Europe on 06/21/1890. This ship's manifest listed Boring's home as being in "Cal." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897; Microfilm Serial or NAID: M237; RG Title: Records of the U.S. Customs Service; RG: 36, accessed 06/09/2025.)

According to a 06/10/1921 US passport application, Boring spent between 1887 and 1896 in France, attending the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. This does not seem to be entirely accurate, as the architect was known to have worked for McKim, Mead and White in New York, NY, by 1891. This passport application indciated that Boring also spent time in Europe just after the cessation of World War I, between 12/1918 and 01/1919. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 1658; Volume #: Roll 1658 - Certificates: 53250-53625, 14 Jun 1921-15 Jun 1921, accessed 06/06/2025.)

In 1900, Boring, his wife, two daughters and a servant, Bessie Horton (born on an unknown date in NC), lived at 148 East 36th Street in New York City's Murray Hill neighborhood. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Roll: 1105; Page: 17; Enumeration District: 0509, accessed 06/09/2025.)

Boring traveled an extraordinary amount during his adult life, and may have lived abroad during sabbaticals and other breaks from teaching at Columbia University. According to a 06/03/1922 US passport application of his daughter Ruth, she lived in Paris between 09/1905 and 07/1907. The family's likely returned to New York City after 07/1907. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 1930; Volume #: Roll 1930 - Certificates: 155100-155475, 26 Apr 1922-27 Apr 1922, accessed 06/09/2025.) William and his daughters Louise and Ruth Boring returned to New York from Paris on 09/04/1907 via Glasgow, Scotland, aboard the Anchor Liner, S.S. Columbia. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/09/2025.)

Boring lived with his family in Stamford, CT, at 707 Main Street, as per the 1910 US Cenus. The household included his wife Florence, their daughter Ruth, son Benson, and three servants, Dillia Egen (a cook, born c. 1882 in Ireland), Augusta Mankus (a server, born 1893 in Norway) and Samuel Friebark (a laborer, born c. 1876 in Sweden). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Stamford Ward 4, Fairfield, Connecticut; Roll: T624_130; Page: 1a; Enumeration District: 0118; FHL microfilm: 1374143, accessed 06/06/2025.) By 1916, the Borings resided in New Canaan, CT, where Florence's mother passed away in that year.

In 06/1921, Boring resided at 145 East 45th Street in New York, NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 1658; Volume #: Roll 1658 - Certificates: 53250-53625, 14 Jun 1921-15 Jun 1921, accessed 06/06/2025.) In 1922, the Borings resided at 440 Riverside Drive in New York City. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 1930; Volume #: Roll 1930 - Certificates: 155100-155475, 26 Apr 1922-27 Apr 1922, accessed 06/09/2025.)

Boring dwelled at 29 Claremont Avenue in New York City's Morningside Heights neighborhood (near Columbia University) between at least 1926 and 1930, according to steamship manifests of those two years. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/09/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/062025.)

Parents

His father was John Melvin Boring (born c. 1823 in Knoxville, TN-d. 1893 in San Diego, CA), who, in 1860 and 1870, worked as a carpenter in Carlinville, IL. John may have wed twice, once in the mid-1840s, perhaps in KY. He then married Mary Adeline Bailey (born 1832 in Shelby County, KY-d. 1901 in San Diego, CA) on 11/24/1853 in Macoupin County, IL, the seat of which is Carlinville.

Mary managed the household that included nine children. William's one half-sibling and seven siblings included: Mary E. Boring (born c. 1847 in KY), Oramanda "Ora" Boring (born 10/12/1854 in IL-d. 1934 in Palo Alto, CA), Myrtle Mary Boring Strachan (born c. 1857 in IL-d. 06/18/1930 in Santa Clara County, CA), Ella Louise Boring Brian (born 03/12/1861 in Carlinville, IL-d. 10/20/1919 in IL), Lewis H. Boring (born c. 1864 in IL), Blanche Boring Snow (born 1869 in IL-d. 1962 in Bucksport, ME), Frank Henry Boring (born 11/09/1872 in IL-d. 02/16/1952 in San Mateo County, CA) and Florence Augusta Boring Jourdin (born 08/15/1875 in Greenfield, IL-d. 09/02/1954 in Santa Clara County, CA).

In 1880, Ora and Mary M. Boring both worked as a schoolteachers in Greene County, IL.

Ora became a significant educational administrator working throughout CA. In 1930, she listed a personal address of 64 Riverside Drive, in New York, NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/062025.)

Myrtle Boring married Ernest Strachan (born c 1860 in NSW, Australia-d. 05/15/1903 in San Diego, CA) in Pasadena, CA, at about the time that William A. Boring lived and worked in Los Angeles. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 06/06/2025.) She lived in Palo Alto, CA, at 422 Tasso Street, in 1930, likely near her elder sister. (See R.L. Polk and Company's Palo Alto, California, City Directory, 1930, p. 260.)

Frank Boring resided in San Mateo, CA, and worked as a building contractor in 1929. (See San Mateo, California, City Directory, 1929, p. 126.)

Lewis Boring also worked as a carpenter in Mesa Grande, San Diego County, CA, in 1894. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 40; FHL Roll Number: 977095 Source Information: California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 06/06/2025.)

Spouse

Boring married Florence Elizabeth "Fanny" Kimball (born c. 1867 in IL) on 10/23/1894 in Saint Paul, MN. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Minnesota, U.S., Marriages Index, 1849-1950 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, accessed 06/06/2025.) In 1880,

Florence was one of five children had by Henry Martyn Kimball (born 02/1833 in MA), a printer and newspaper editor, and Mary Francis "Fannie" Palmer (born 12/1842 in IL). Henry graduated from Dartmouth College in 1854.

Children

The US Census of 1910 indicated that Florence Boring had had three children, two of whom survived in that year. William and Florence's surviving children were Ruth Boring Thomas (born 01/08/1896 in New York, NY-d. 05/1992 in CO) and Benson Boring (born 06/16/1909 in New York, NY-d. 12/25/1929 in New York, NY). One child Louise Boring (born 10/24/1897 in New York, NY-d. 10/16/1907 in New York, NY). Louise just before her 10th birthday about one month after the family returned from Europe.

Ruth Boring graduated from Vassar College in 1918. (See Vassar College, Vassarian Yearbook, 1918, p. 277.)

Ruth Boring Thomas wed William Benjamin Sylvester Thomas (born 08/17/1895 in Knox, IN-d. 08/17/1978), a physician and surgeon born to English-born parents, in Bellingham, WA, on 04/12/1927. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013, accessed 06/06/2025.) Ruth also became a physician and surgeon, who worked for the American Social Hygiene Association (founded in 1913) by the late 1920s and early 1930s, researching the spread of venereal diseases. This marriage ended in divorce sometime between 1940 and 1947.

She remarried to Edward Whitney Howard (born 08/10/1922 in Dover-Foxcroft, ME), 26 years younger, on 05/06/1947 in Manatee County, FL. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation State Archive, Tallahassee and Clerk of Courts; Various Counties; County Marriages, 1946-1950, accessed 06/06/2025.)

By the mid-1950s, Ruth had become the Chief of the Maternal and Child Health and Crippled Children Section, Colorado State Department of Public Health, Denver, CO, studying ways of improving healthcare for the children of migrant workers. (See Ruth Boring, “How Teamwork between the State and Local Communities is Striving for Better Health for Colorado’s Migrant Children,” Children, vol. 3, no. 2, 03-04/1956.)

Benson Boring attended the Salisbury School of Salisbury, CT, before entering Harvard University. He died at age 20 when he fell out of the window of the Boring's 11th floor apartment in the early hours of 12/25/1929. (See New York Times.com, "Prof. Boring's Son Falls to His Death," published 12/26/1929, accessed 06/06/2025.)

Biographical Notes

As noted above, William A. Boring went abroad extensively during his lifetime, visiting architectural sites as well as traveling for academic purposes.

Twice during 1906, Boring traveled by himself between New York, NY, and Havana, Cuba, both times aboard the S.S. Morro Castle. He landing in New York on 01/30/1906 and on 06/03/1906. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/06/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/06/2025.)

The architect returned to New York from Cherbourg, France aboard the American Liner S.S. New York, between 01/26/1907 and 02/02/1907. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/09/2025.)

Boring sailed aboard the Norddeutscher Lloyd Linien's S.S. Berlin between Naples, Italy and New York, NY, beginning on 12/09/1910. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/06/2025.)

A US Passport application of 12/06/1918 indicated that he would imminently make a trip abroad to France, Great Britain and Italy, just after the cessation of World War I. His reason for traveling to Italy was that he was to be part of a "Red Cross Executive Italian Hospital" according the passport application. This was likely a post-war relief effort by the American Red Cross, perhaps to build a new hospital in Italy. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 653; Volume #: Roll 0653 - Certificates: 51500-51749, 10 Dec 1918-12 Dec 1918, accessed 06/09/2025.)

He made a trip from Bordeaux, France to New York, NY, on board the S.S. Lorraine during the 01/19/1919 and about 01/26/1919. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/09/2025.)

In 1921, Boring intended to spend time in France assisting with wartime reconstruction, and traveling to Rome on “affairs of [the] American Academy.” He also planned to tour the British Isles, Switzerland and Belgium. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 1658; Volume #: Roll 1658 - Certificates: 53250-53625, 14 Jun 1921-15 Jun 1921, accessed 06/06/2025.)

Boring departed aboard the famed Cunard Liner S.S. Mauretania from New York, NY, to Southampton, England, arriving on 04/02/1923. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; London, England, UK; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Inwards Passenger Lists; Class: Bt26; Piece: 748; Item: 11, accessed 06/06/2025.) He may have been accompanied by his wife and daughter on this voyage, although their names did not appear in the Mauretania's passenger manifest.

He returned to New York, NY, from Greenock, Scotland, aboard the Cunard liner S.S. Orduna between 08/22/1924 and 09/01/1924. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/06/2025.)

In 1926, he sailed on his own aboard the White Star Liner R.M.S. Cedric between Liverpool, England and New York, arriving in the latter on 09/06/1926.

He made a voyage with his elder sister Ora aboard the S.S. Saturnia from Naples, Italy to New York, NY, between 05/16/1930 and 05/26/1930. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/062025.)

Boring and his wife ventured aboard the Anchor Line's S.S. California from Glasgow, Scotland, to New York, NY, between 09/04/1931 and 09/14/1931. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accesssed 06/06/2025.)

Leaving on 06/04/1932, Prof. Boring sailed for New York from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, aboard the Holland America Liner, S.S. Rotterdam. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Stadsarchief Rotterdam; Rotterdam, Nederland; Archieven van de Holland Amerika Lijn (HAL): Passage A; URL: https://stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/zoek-en-ontdek/, accessed 06/09/2025.)

William and Florence arrived in Plymouth, England from New York aboard the American Merchant Liner S.S. American Merchant, on 04/10/1934. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; London, England, UK; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Inwards Passenger Lists; Class: Bt26; Piece: 1044; Item: 57, accessed 06/06/2025.)

At age 76, Boring sailed aboard the S.S. President Polk between New York City and Los Angeles, CA, during 05/30/1935 and 06/16/1935. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 06/06/2025.)

He made a solo voyage from Mumbai, India, to New York, NY, aboard the S.S. President Garfield, landing on 12/18/1935. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, accessed 06/06/2025.)

Boring remained a lifelong Republican voter, as he registered for this party in elections of 1916, 1927 and 1934, to name a few. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York City Municipal Archives; New York, NY, USA; Manhattan Voter Registers; Record Group Number: RG 004. Board of Elections; Registration Year: 1916; Assembly District: AD 13; Electoral District: ED 004; Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York City Municipal Archives; New York, NY, USA; Manhattan Voter Registers; Record Group Number: RG 004. Board of Elections; Registration Year: 1927; Assembly District: AD 13; Electoral District: ED 002, accessed 06/09/2025; and Ancestry.com, Source Citation New York City Municipal Archives; New York, NY, USA; Manhattan Voter Registers; Record Group Number: RG 004. Board of Elections; Registration Year: 1934; Assembly District: AD 13; Electoral District: ED 001, accessed 06/06/2025.)

The architect should not be confused with the shorter-lived William Edward Andrew Boring (born 04/04.1887 in PA-d. 09/01/1917 in Sparta, NY), not a known relation.

• Carlinville, IL (Architect's Birth)
  Carlinville, IL

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• Manhattan, New York, NY (Architect's Death)
  Manhattan, New York, NY

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