Emily Warren Roebling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emily Warren Roebling
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Portrait of Emily Warren Roebling by Carolus-Duran, Brooklyn Museum
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| Born | 23 September 1843 Cold Spring, New York, U.S.
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| Died | 28 February 1903 (aged 59) |
| Known for | contribution to completion of the Brooklyn Bridge |
| Spouse(s) | Washington Roebling |
Emily Warren Roebling (September 23, 1843 – February 28, 1903) was a remarkable woman who played a huge part in finishing the famous Brooklyn Bridge. Her husband, Washington Roebling, was the chief engineer for the bridge. But he became very sick with a condition called caisson disease. Emily then stepped in to help. For over 10 years, she worked as a go-between. She shared messages between her husband and the workers on site. This way, she helped make sure the bridge got built.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Emily was born on September 23, 1843, in Cold Spring, New York. Her parents were Sylvanus and Phebe Warren. She was one of twelve children. Emily loved learning, and her older brother, Major General Gouverneur K. Warren, really supported her. They had a very close bond. Emily went to school at the Georgetown Visitation Academy in Washington, DC. Today, it is known as Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School.
Meeting Washington Roebling
In 1864, during the American Civil War, Emily visited her brother Gouverneur. He was leading the Fifth Army Corps. At a party for soldiers, she met Washington Roebling. He was the son of John A. Roebling, who designed the Brooklyn Bridge. Washington was also a civil engineer. He worked with Emily's brother Gouverneur Warren.
Emily and Washington got married on January 18, 1865. Their wedding was in Cold Spring. It was a double wedding with another one of Emily's siblings.
Studies in Europe
Before the Brooklyn Bridge project began, John Roebling started his early work. Emily and Washington traveled to Europe. They went to study how to use large, watertight boxes called caissons. These were important for building the bridge's foundations underwater. In November 1867, while in Germany, Emily gave birth to their only child, John A. Roebling II.
Building the Brooklyn Bridge
After they returned from Europe, a sad event happened. Washington's father, John Roebling, died in 1869. He got tetanus after an accident at the bridge site. Washington Roebling then became the chief engineer for the Brooklyn Bridge. He worked very hard on the project.
Washington's Illness
Washington often went deep underwater to check on the caissons. He did not rise to the surface slowly enough. This caused him to get decompression sickness. People at the time called it "caisson disease." He became so sick that he had to stay in bed.
Emily's Vital Role
Emily Roebling was the only person who could visit her husband during his illness. She became the link between Washington and his team. She would tell his assistants what he needed. Then, she would report back to him about the work's progress. Washington taught her a lot about engineering. She learned about the strength of materials, how to analyze stress, how to build cables, and how to calculate catenary curves. She already knew a lot about the bridge's construction. This was because she had studied it when her husband became chief engineer.
For ten years, while Washington was sick, Emily worked tirelessly. She took on many of the chief engineer's duties. This included managing the project every day. Emily and her husband planned the bridge's construction together. She talked with politicians, other engineers, and everyone involved. People even started to think she had designed the bridge herself!
Defending Her Husband's Position
In 1882, Washington's job as chief engineer was at risk. This was because of his long illness. Emily worked hard to keep him in his position. She met with engineers and politicians. She explained her husband's work and defended him. Luckily, the politicians listened. They allowed Washington to stay as chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Bridge Completion and Recognition
The Brooklyn Bridge was finished in 1883. Before the official opening, Emily Roebling was the first person to cross it by carriage. She carried a rooster, which was a sign of victory. At the opening ceremony, Abram Stevens Hewitt gave a speech. He praised Emily, saying the bridge was:
...an everlasting monument to the sacrificing devotion of a woman and of her capacity for that higher education from which she has been too long disbarred.
Later Life and Achievements
After the Brooklyn Bridge was done, Emily Roebling started helping many women's causes. She joined groups like the Committee on Statistics for New Jersey's Board of Lady Managers for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. She also worked with the Committee of Sorosis, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the George Washington Memorial Association. These groups focused on historical issues in the U.S. She also supported Evelyn College for Women. The Roebling family had moved to Trenton, New Jersey, which was a busy center for these activities.
Emily also took part in social groups, like the Relief Society during the Spanish–American War. She traveled a lot. In 1896, she met Queen Victoria in the United Kingdom. She also went to St. Petersburg, Russia, for the crowning of Tsar Nicholas II. Emily continued her education and earned a law certificate from New York University.
Emily Roebling is also known for her important essay, "A Wife's Disabilities" (1899). It was published in the Albany Law Journal. This essay was highly praised and won awards. In it, she argued for more rights for women. She spoke out against unfair practices that targeted women. She signed the essay with her husband's initials, W.A.R. Emily Roebling passed away on February 28, 1903. She spent her last years with her family and stayed active.
Tributes
Today, a plaque on the Brooklyn Bridge honors Emily Warren Roebling. It also remembers her husband Washington Roebling and her father-in-law John A. Roebling.
In 2018, The New York Times published a special obituary for Emily Roebling. This was part of a series for women and minorities whose amazing achievements had been overlooked when they died.
Works
- "Notes on the Warren Family", in The Journal of the Reverend Silas Constant. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1903; Appendix, Page 466
See also
In Spanish: Emily Warren Roebling para niños
