Taught herself stress analysis, cable construction and catenary curves. Ran the daily supervision of one of the biggest engineering works of her century for eleven years. Some people on site thought she was the chief engineer. On paper she was the chief engineer’s wife.
The Brooklyn Bridge was designed by her father-in-law, John A. Roebling, who died of tetanus in 1869 before construction really began. His son Washington Roebling took over as chief engineer, until decompression sickness from working in the caissons left him bedridden.
From 1872 to 1883 Emily was the link between the bed and the bridge: she carried his instructions, dealt with officials and contractors, and learned enough engineering to run the project day to day.
In 1883 she was the first person to cross the finished bridge, in a carriage, holding a rooster as a symbol of victory. Later she studied law at New York University and wrote an essay on women’s rights, A Wife’s Disabilities.
A plaque on the bridge now names her alongside the two men.
Her name was Emily Warren Roebling (1843 to 1903).
What a woman.