Brooklyn Bridge construction records
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Abstract
This collection consists of notes, letters, engineering computations, reports, specifications, inventories, and clippings relating to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. The correspondence includes notes to Washington Roebling, as well as some items in his hand.
Historical note
The Brooklyn Bridge is a steel suspension bridge that spans the East River connecting the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City. Completed in 1883, the bridge was called both the East River Bridge and the New York and Brooklyn Bridge until 1915 when the name was officially changed to the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964 and was further designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1972. The original designer of the bridge was John Augustus Roebling (1806-1869), a German engineer who immigrated to the United States in 1831. Roebling invented the wire cable which he would eventually incorporate into the design of the Brooklyn Bridge. Roebling's son, Washington Augustus Roebling (1837-1926), also an engineer, took over as chief engineer of construction following the sudden death of his father in 1869. In 1872, Washington Roebling fell ill with decompression sickness, acquired during the construction of the bridge, and never fully recovered. His wife, Emily Warren Roebling (1843-1903), was instrumental in seeing through the construction and completion of the bridge.
Sources:
- Fletcher, Ellen. "John Augustus Roebling." In The Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson, 1017. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press; New York: New-York Historical Society, 1995.
- Fletcher, Ellen. "Washington Augustus Roebling." In The Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson, 1017. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press; New York: New-York Historical Society, 1995.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of notes, letters, engineering computations, reports, specifications, inventories, and clippings relating to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. The correspondence includes notes to Washington Roebling, as well as some items in his hand. The clippings and notes include information about other engineering projects, including in Virginia, as well as general scientific information related to the bridge's construction.
Subjects
Organizations
Genres
People
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Donors
Conditions Governing Access
Open to users without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
The materials in this collection are in the public domain. While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Brooklyn Bridge construction records, 1977.259, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of John Dunn, 1966. Dunn collected these materials from the trash during the demolition of a city-owned building where he was a workman.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This collection was inventoried to the folder level by Harriet Stryker-Rodda upon acquisition in 1966. It was originally titled the Washington Roebling-Brooklyn Bridge collection. That inventory was made into a PDF document in 2006 by Quinn Lai under the supervision of Marilyn Petit. The collection was then described at the collection level in 2011 as part of a grant project.
In 2024, the collection was rehoused and reprocessed by Dee Bowers. At that time, the collection was foldered with typed labels and it is not known if the labels were applied by staff at the Long Island Historical Society or if they indicate original arrangement. The labels were photocopied and the originals discarded. The photocopies were filed alongside the folders' original contents to preserve them for researcher reference, but the materials were rearranged for clarity. Clippings were also photocopied and the originals discarded.
Sponsor Note
Repository
Series 1: Documents
Sub-series 1.1: Washington A. Roebling correspondence and papers
Roebling, Washington A., notes re Brooklyn anchorage, 1873
Sellers, George H. to Col. W.A. Roebling, 1878
Sellers, George H., Wilmington, DE to Col. W. A. Roebling, 1878
Roebling, W.A. per EWH to Col. Paine, 1878
Sub-series 1.2: William H. Paine correspondence and papers
Biographical note
Originally from New Hampshire, Colonel William Paine was an experienced surveyor hired to work on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1869. He was self-taught in engineering, and had previously surveyed the Johnson Route of the Union Pacific railroad. During the Civil War, President Lincoln had named him a captain of engineers on the staff of a major general after he snuck into Confederate territory and mapped every destroyed bridge between Washington and Richmond. By the war's end, he was supposedly known as one of the Union Army's best topographical engineers.
Source:
- McCullough, David. The Great Bridge. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, 1972. p. 86.
Murphy, Henry C. to Col., 1879
Macdonald, Charles to Col. Paine, 1878
Linville, J.H. to Col. Paine, 1878
Scope and Contents
Telegram via Western Union from Linville, J. H., Philadelphia to Col. W.H. Paine.
Sellers, George H., Wilmington, D.E. to Col. Paine, 1878
Mulqueen, John H. Note re inventory of coils to Col. Paine, 1878
Linville, J.H., Philadelphia, PA to W.H. Paine, 1878
Notes, lists, letters re wire tests to Col. W.H. Paine from Robb Mackie, C.H. Platt, 1878
Sub-series 1.3: Pipe coupling suit correspondence and documents
Letters and notes from Chas. F. Blake, N. Y., to Wm. H. Paine, 1878-1879, inclusive
Allison, W.C.: letters, sketches and notes re claim re pipe coupling, 1877-1879, inclusive
Abbott, A.V. to Col. Paine, circa 1870s, inclusive
Sub-series 1.4: Charles Cyril Martin correspondence
Biographical note
Charles Cyril (C.C.) Martin was an assistant engineer on the Roeblings' engineering staff, second only to the Roeblings themselves. He was a graduate of Rensselaer and had worked on three reservoir projects with William Kingsley, as well as having laid one of Brooklyn's water mains and serving as head engineer in the building of Prospect Park. Martin was named Chief Engineer on July 9, 1883 after Washington Roebling submitted his resignation, and held the title until 1902.
Source:
- McCullough, David. The Great Bridge. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. pp. 146, 545.
Telegram via Western Union from Roeblings Sons Co., Trenton, N.J. to Col. C.C. Martin, 1878
Martin, Col. C.C., Brooklyn to Col. Paine, 1878
Abbott, Arthur V., Brooklyn to Martin, C.C., 1878
Sub-series 1.5: Specifications for work and materials
Report on comparative processes for making iron eye bars, 1873-1874, inclusive
Edge Moor Iron Co. reports of tests of iron, 1878
Mayor Cooper notes for suggested revision of specifications, 1879
Specifications and statements re quality of materials, circa 1879
Specifications for the iron work, 1878
Specifications for the steel and iron work with amendments by Mayor Cooper, 1879
Specifications for steel and iron work office work sheets, 1878-1879, inclusive
Specifications for Steel Cable Wire and note, 1876, 1878, inclusive
Scope and Contents
5 copies of printed specifications, 1876. Also includes handwritten note from Robb Mackie to Col. Paine, 1878.
List of names and addresses to which copies of specifications were sent, 1876
Sub-series 1.6: Reports, notes, and administrative documents
King Iron Bridge Co. diagram of strains for iron truss bridge, circa 1870s, inclusive
Wire test analysis sheet, 1877
Paine, W.H. to Martin, C.C. re wire testing, circa 1870s, inclusive
Estimate of "cheapest viaduct" building costs, 1878
Test reports with some specifications for cable and wire, circa 1870s, inclusive
Fords, Ferry and Bridges of the Potomac, circa 1860s-1870s, inclusive
Fords, Roads and Mileages of Virginia notebook, circa 1863
Chronology of proceedings re contracts for superstructure, 1878-1880, inclusive
Contract forms, 1878
Wire record signed by Farrington, F.D., 1878
Inventory of wire signed by F.D. Farrington, 1878
Sub-series 1.7: Clippings and ephemera, circa 1870s, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Clippings from technical magazines and newspapers re construction and engineering problems; business card of William H. Wallace & Co., Iron Merchants, N.Y.; U.S. Centennial Exposition pamphlets describing exhibits there of the American Bridge Co. and Keystone Bridge Co.; blueprint marked "Suspension."
Series 2: Publications
New York Bridge Company, Reports of the Executive Committee and Treasurer of the New York Bridge Co. Brooklyn, 1872
Trustees of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, Communication to The Board of Aldermen of the City of New York by the President of the Trustees, 1876
Prentice, John H. Report of the Treasurer of the New York and Brooklyn Bridge, 1877-1878, inclusive
Engineers Day books recording tests conducted, 1877-1878, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Two leatherbound volumes numbered 6 and 66. A third numbered 46 is missing as of 2024.
