Roebling Collection, 1830-1926 1844-1883.

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Roebling Collection, 1830-1926 1844-1883.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/123904731

The Roebling Collection documents the personal and professional activities of John A. Roebling and Washington A. Roebling, and the business activities of the John A. Roebling's Sons Company. The material dates from 1830 to 1926, the bulk of which dates from 1844 to 1883, the period of time when John A. Roebling and Washington A. Roebling were active in the design and construction of suspension bridges and the manufacture of wire rope. The collection consists of manuscript correspondence, technical notes, design drawings, notebooks, account books, reports, legal documents, patents, maps, newspaper and magazine clippings, published items, photographs and lithographs. Especially significant are the extensive records documenting the planning and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1883. Documents include correspondence of both John and Washington Roebling, small and oversize drawings of construction plans and machinery, specifications of work to be done, and reports on construction progress and the completed structure. Also in the collection are smaller quantities of similar records for other bridges built by the Roeblings including the Allegheny Aqueduct, Niagara Railroad Suspension Bridge, Covington & Cincinnati Bridge, and the Delaware and Hudson Canal Aqueduct. Records for bridges proposed, but not built, by the Roeblings include the Kentucky River Bridge, Tripartite Bridge, and the St. Louis River Bridge. Records of John A. Roebling's wire rope manufacturing business (eventually named the John A. Roebling's Sons Company or JARSCO) include drawings of wire rope machines designed by John A. Roebling. Pocket notebooks contain rough sketches and field notes on many of the engineering projects and on business and personal matters. Several design notebooks contain similar information in greater detail, as well as cost estimates and copies of related correspondence. The 151 notebooks, which often contain multiple subjects, have been numbered and arranged in the most relevant series. A small amount of personal records include John A. Roebling's notes on spiritualism, financial and legal records, and his will. Washington A. Roebling's personal papers document his interest in the First World War and include a collection of tourist maps. A small amount of material belonging to Emily Warren Roebling, Charles G. Roebling, and Gouverneur Warren are also included in this collection. Scrapbooks kept by Emily Roebling chronicle the building of the Brooklyn Bridge and an additional book documents her interest in theater and opera.

55 linear ft. (35 manuscript boxes, 30 oversize flat boxes, 8 mapcase drawers, 16 oversize rolls)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rensselaer Libraries

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6816068

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rensselaer Libraries

Related Entities

There are 9 Entities related to this resource.

Warren, G. K. (Gouverneur Kemble), 1830-1882

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f00zk2 (person)

Warren was born in Cold Spring, Putnam County, New York, and named for Gouverneur Kemble, a prominent local Congressman, diplomat, industrialist, and owner of the West Point Foundry. His sister, Emily Warren Roebling, would later play a significant role in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. He entered the United States Military Academy across the Hudson River from his hometown at age 16 and graduated second in his class of 44 cadets in 1850. He was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in th...

Roebling, John Augustus, 1806-1869

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64q7wg0 (person)

John A. Roebling emigrated to New Jersey from Germany in 1831, abandoned farming, and returned to his profession of engineering. He moved to Trenton, N.J., in about 1848 and built a steel wire plant, operated as John A. Roebling's Sons Company. John A. Roebling designed many bridges and was the chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge. From the description of John A. Roebling letter to Elias Calkin & Co., 1850 May 25. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 73...

John A. Roebling's Sons Company

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hx57dz (corporateBody)

Roebling, Charles G. (Charles Gustavus), 1849-1918

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bz68gf (person)

Roebling, Emily Warren, 1843-1903

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ws8wn4 (person)

Emily was born to Sylvanus and Phebe Warren at Cold Spring, New York, on September 23, 1843. She was the second-youngest of twelve children. Emily's interest in pursuing education was supported by her older brother Gouverneur K. Warren. The two siblings always held a close relationship. She attended school at the Georgetown Visitation Academy in Washington, DC. In 1864, during the American Civil War, Emily visited her brother, who was commanding the Fifth Army Corps at his headquarters. At a ...

New York (N.Y.). Board of Trustees of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qc40fg (corporateBody)

Collingwood, Francis, 1834-1911

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6222xbj (person)

Martin, Charles Cyril, 1831-1903

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vh5r0r (person)

Roebling, Washington Augustus, 1837-1926

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6542qvd (person)

The oldest son of John Roebling, Washington was born in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, a town co-founded by his father and his uncle, Carl Roebling. His early schooling consisted of tutoring by Riedel and under Henne in Pittsburgh. He was also sent to stay with Professor Lemuel Stephens of the Western University of Pennsylvania (now known as the University of Pittsburgh) where Roebling also attended some classes. He eventually attended the Trenton Academy and acquired further education at the Renssela...