Washington Roebling's Father : A Memoir of John A. Roebling

The Roeblings are arguably the most legendary engineering family in the United States. John A. Roebling was trained as an engineer in Germany and emigrated to the United States in 1831. His early engineering work involved the design and construction of aqueducts for the expanding canal system. He went on to achieve renown as a bridge designer and inventor of wire rope - a technology that makes possible modern suspension bridges, high-rise elevators, construction cranes, and cable cars. While all four of John's sons followed him into the family business, it was the eldest, Washington, who staked his own claim to fame for work on bridges, most notably the classic Brooklyn Bridge.Between 1893 and 1907, Washington Roebling wrote the story of his father's life and career. Part biography, part memoir, Washington Roebling's ""Father"" makes available, for the first time, the text of Washington's handwritten manuscript. Washington describes his father's life, character, career, and achievements with candor and intimate details. Donald Sayenga, an internationally recognized authority on the history of wire rope, has pain-stakingly transcribed the original manuscript and tracked down annotations for hundreds of people, places, events, and technologies.Washington Roebling's ""Father: A Memoir of John A. Roebling"" is both an accurate and complete biography of John and a frank narrative recounting Washington's memories and inner life. As a rare glimpse into the genius and failings of two towering figures, this book is a must-read for civil engineers, bridge enthusiasts, and industrial historians.