The Celine Dion of Engineering: Emily Warren Roebling

Dear JAMMers,

Emily Warren Roebling.  Have you heard the name?

Brooklyn Bridge - have you heard of that?

This engineering and architectural accomplishment would not be possible without Emily Warren Roebling. 

According to biographer Hamilton Schuyler, Emily had an “almost masculine intellect.”*  Are you effing joking me, Hamilton?  I am sure at the time your writing was published, 1931, this was seen as a compliment. But dear lord. Let’s do better at lifting women’s contributions than describing them as masculine.  I have many powerful, assertive women in my life.  Often, the men around them joke that they act or think “like a man.”  I truly hope millennials and future generations will continue to raise men who dismantle these societal messages.

(Cue the amazing Like a Girl Always campaign)

Anyway, back to the story -

Engineering and crafting the Brooklyn Bridge was a herculean task.  Building began in 1869.  However, Mr. John Roebling - the designer of the bridge - was injured on site only a few days into building.  Unfortunately, he contracted tetanus which caused an extremely rapid decline; he died just 30 days later.  So at this time in society, who would take over for a father? His son. Washington Roebling stepped in as Chief Engineer.  Three years later, another unfortunate illness fell upon the family.  Washington became physically incapacitated from "the bends" but remained cognitively intact.**  Enter his wife, Emily.

Remember, beyond the general miracle this bridge’s execution was, this woman achieved it after losing her Father-in-law quickly and watching her husband fall very ill.  Resilience and perseverance are personified in this woman.  At first, she began as a secretary and shortly moved on to negotiating contracts and liaisoning with the board of trustees.  She oversaw 11 years of the 14-year construction, as her husband watched and advised from their Brooklyn Heights window.

And no one told me about this story before a drunk man on my TV?! Ugh.

She brought this marvel to the finish line and allegedly took a carriage across the bridge holding a rooster when it first opened in 1883.  Icon behavior.

Let’s sing out loud for more unsung heroes of history.

No worries,

Jaclyn

*Source: The New York Times, Overlooked: Emily Warren Roebling

**Source: History Channel Online, How Emily Roebling Saved the Brooklyn Bridge