One of the oldest and most famous suspension bridges in the United States is the Brooklyn Bridge, which spans New York's East River and connects Brooklyn to Manhattan. The driving force behind the construction of this iconic landmark is a pioneering female engineer named Emily Warren Roebling. Emily was born on September 23, 1843 in Cold Spring, New York, to an upper-middle-class family. She was the second youngest of twelve children, but was especially close to her older brother, Kemble Warren, who enrolled her in a convent school in Washington, D.C. to further her education when she was 15. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Emily met her husband, Washington Roebling, in a military camp in 1864 and they married a year later. His father-in-law, John A. Roebling, was the principal designer of the Brooklyn Bridge, but died of tetanus before the project could be completed, leaving his son Washington to assume the role of chief engineer. During the construction of the bridge, Washington became ill with decompression sickness and was physically unable to continue working on the project. As a result, Emily took on much of the project responsibilities and acted as a liaison between her husband and the engineering team. She regularly went on site to pass on her husband's instructions to the workers and to answer their questions. Additionally, he began to learn about the technical aspects of bridge design by studying topics such as material strength, stress analysis, and cable construction. She gained extensive knowledge of bridge engineering and became so skilled in managing project tasks that many people suspected that she was the real mastermind behind the bridge's construction. She also served as her husband's spokesperson and represented him at important social functions. Emily's tenacity and dedication to the project made the completion of the bridge possible, despite her husband's failing health. Emily's contribution to the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge was recognized by Congressman Abram S. Hewitt when the bridge was officially opened in 1883. As a commendation for her efforts, she was given the honor of being the first person to cross the bridge after its opening. She also took great care to ensure that her husband retained his position as chief engineer. When her title was jeopardized due to her illness, Emily frequently met with politicians and officials and convinced them to let her husband remain the project's chief engineer. After the bridge's completion, Emily and her husband moved to Trenton, New Jersey, where she oversaw the construction of the Roebling family mansion. Although she is best known for her work on the Brooklyn Bridge, Emily accomplished much more throughout her life. She played an active role in various social and philanthropic organizations, such as the Huguenot Society and the Daughters of the American Revolution. He also continued his education in recent years and earned a bachelor's degree in business law from New York University. She traveled extensively and remained socially and academically active until her death in February 1903. Emily Warren Roebling was an extraordinary person whose dedication and tireless efforts made the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge a reality. In an era where women were expected to simply handle household affairs, she proved that regardless of gender, anything can be achieved with hard work and determination. She was a shining example of the skills and brilliance of women. I selected Emily Roebling for these reasons and because she has, 42(3), 365-380.
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