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."
