Search Results

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Lewis S. Rose  Search this

Min. Elevation:

152  Search this

Place:

San Francisco. Bernal Heights., San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

10 Mar 1938

Taxonomy:

Plantae Monocotyledonae Liliales Melanthiaceae

Published Name:

Toxicoscordion fremontii (Torr.) Rydb.

Barcode:

03928120

USNM Number:

1899513

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3543dceb5-3654-4478-a854-8ac16421e6bb

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_15723359

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

E. L. Sumner  Search this

Place:

Grassy hillsides, coast 5 miles South of San Francisco., San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

30 Apr 1930

Taxonomy:

Plantae Monocotyledonae Asparagales Asparagaceae Brodieaoideae

Published Name:

Dichelostemma capitatum (Benth.) Alph. Wood subsp. capitatum

Barcode:

03961754

USNM Number:

3509995

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3742c61fc-c6de-4e6b-a2b0-59705d1e8ccd

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_15727887

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

J. H. Thomas  Search this

Max. Elevation:

274  Search this

Min. Elevation:

259  Search this

Place:

San Francisco County. North peak, Twin Peaks., San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

6 Apr 1955

Taxonomy:

Plantae Monocotyledonae Asparagales Amaryllidaceae Brodieaoideae

Published Name:

Muilla maritima (Torr.) S. Watson

Barcode:

03960253

USNM Number:

2997681

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/38cbbf803-c876-4090-951c-a1007cfdb414

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_15729088

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Agnes Chase  Search this

Place:

Open rocky slope near summit of Mt Tamalpais. Vicinity of San Francisco. Marin Co., San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

25 Apr 1910 to 26 Apr 1910

Taxonomy:

Plantae Monocotyledonae Poales Poaceae Pooideae

Published Name:

Avena barbata Pott ex Link

Barcode:

04004846

USNM Number:

869720

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/33dbaf6bb-9687-4418-8715-1972e8dc0bed

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_15781279

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

H. N. Bolander  Search this

Place:

San Francisco., San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

186

Taxonomy:

Plantae Monocotyledonae Poales Poaceae Pooideae

Published Name:

Deschampsia elongata (Hook.) Munro

Barcode:

04039637

USNM Number:

864514

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3a5e71a9b-02bd-4227-9a90-5e1efcde99c4

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_15814773

Creator:

Modjeski and Masters  Search this

Collector:

National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of History of Technology  Search this

National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering  Search this

Names:

Masters, Frank, 1883-1974  Search this

Modjeski, Ralph, 1861-1940  Search this

Interviewer:

Vogel, Robert M.  Search this

Extent:

60 Cubic feet (140 boxes, 23 map folders)

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Oral history

Lantern slides

Photographs

Drawings

Contracts

Letterpress books

Correspondence

Place:

Harrisburg (Penn.)

Pennsylvania

Date:

1870-1979

bulk 1900-1940

Summary:

The records document the work of consulting engineers and bridge builders, Ralph Modjeski (1861-1940) and Frank Masters (1883-1974) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Scope and Contents:

This collection documents the civil engineering career of Ralph Modjeski (1861-1940) and Frank masters (1883-1974). The materials include bound volumes and loose photographs of bridge work-in-progress; printed reports; articles, pamphlets; drawings, blue prints and tracings of bridges; letterpress books of correspondence; contracts; reports; studies of bridge materials; and glass plate negatives and lantern slides depicting bridges.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into ten series.

Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1915-1986

Series 2: Letter Press Books, 1898-1906

Series 3: Photographs, 1878-1979

Series 4: Contracts, 1895-1960

Series 5: Printed Materials, 1862-1969

Series 6: Newspaper Clippings, 1924-1941

Series 7: Lantern Slides, undated

Series 8: Glass Plate Negatives, 1906-1926

Series 9: Film Negatives, 1924, undated

Series 10: Drawings, 1901-1952

Biographical / Historical:

Rudolphe Modrzejewski was born to Helena Jadwiga Opid (d.1909) and Gustav Sinnmayer Modrzejewski (d. 1901) on January 27, 1861, in Cracow, Poland. His mother was an internationally known stage actress who went by the name Helena Modrzejewska. In 1868, Helena married Count Karol Bożenta Chłapowski. In July 1876, Helena and Rudolphe emigrated to America, where, for purposes of American citizenship, the Polish form of their surname was later changed to Modjeski (feminine form Modjeska). Modjeski became a naturalized citizen in 1883 in San Francisco, California.

In 1882, Modjeski returned to Europe to study at the Ecole Des Ponts et Chaussees and graduated in 1885 with a degree in civil engineering. Modjeski worked with prominent civil engineer and "Father of American Bridge Building," George S. Morison, on the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge over the Missouri River at Omaha as an assistant engineer. He remained with Morison from 1885 to 1892. Some of his assignments included working in the shops which produced steel sections; the design office where he advanced to chief draftsman; and as an inspector of quality control in shops that fabricated steel elements. Modjeski worked with Morison on his Willamette, Nebraska City, Sioux City, Winona, Cairo, and Memphis bridges across the Mississippi River. The Memphis bridge was the longest span cantilever in the country at the time.

In 1893, Modjeski opened a civil engineering practice in Chicago with S. Nicholson. After some financial difficulties, Nicholson and Modjeski dissolved their partnership. Modjeski's first individual large commission was the bridge at Rock Island, Illinois (1895) across the Mississippi River where he designed and supervised the construction of the bridge for the federal government and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company.

In 1902, Modjeski went into partnership with fellow civil engineer, Alfred Noble (1844-1914) forming the firm of Noble and Modjeski. He went into partnership with Walter Angier, under the name Modjeski and Angier, civil and inspecting engineers, between 1912 and 1924 with several offices around the United States. Angiers had worked with him beginning in 1902 on the bridge across the Mississippi at Thebes, Illinois. Modjeski partnered, in 1924, with Frank Masters (1883-1974), who had worked with him and Angiers between 1904 and 1914 on the Memphis and Louisville Bridges, forming Modjeski and Masters. Clement E. Chase and Montgomery B. Case later joined the firm as partners. In 1937, Masters assumed full control and ownership of the firm which specialized in the design and construction supervision of large bridges and other structures, rehabilitation and reconstruction of existing bridges, the design of highways and expressways, subways and wharves, the design of large and complex foundations, inspection of construction materials, and the creation of surveys, investigations and reports.

Modjeski built and/or consulted on over forty bridges in his lifetime. He built truss, steel arch, and suspension bridges. He introduced steel tower pylons in place of masonry towers and he used better grades of steel, such as new steel alloys with improved strength and durability. He also introduced advancements in the design of cable configurations and deck-stiffening beams. Some of his major projects included: the Columbia River and Willamette bridges, McKinley Bridge at St. Louis; the Celilo Railroad Bridge at Celilo, Ohio; the Thebes Bridge over the Mississippi; the Quebec Bridge over the St. Lawrence River; the Delaware River Bridge; the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Mid-Hudson Bridge.

On December 28, 1885, Modjeski married Felicie Benda (d. 1936) in New York and the couple had three children: Felix Bozenta Modjeski (1887); Marylka Stuart Modjeski (1894) and Charles Emmanuel John Modjeski (1896-1944). Ralph and Felicie divorced in 1931. He later married Virginia Giblyn on July 7, 1931. Modjeski died in Los Angles on June 26, 1940.

Related Materials:

Materials in the Archives Center

Bollman Truss Bridge Collection, 1852-1986 (AC1064)

Canadian Bridges Photograph Albums, 1873-1911 (AC1025)

Victor C. Darnell Bridge Construction Photographs, 1911-1913 and undated (AC1018)

Beata Drake Covered Bridge Collection, 1954-1981 (AC0998)

Ben Franklin Bridge Photograph Album, 1922-1926 (AC1029)

Hartford, Connecticut Bridge Collection, 1903-1905 (AC1066)

Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Bridge Profiles, 1877-1896 (AC1073)

Richard H. Miller Bridge Collection : postcards and slides, circa 1950-1988 and undated, #950

George S. Morison Collection, 1846-1903 (AC0978)

Niagara Falls Bridge Commission Records, 1848-1946 (bulk 1890-1929) (AC1060)

Northern Pacific Railroad Bridge Construction Photograph Album, 1883-1884 (AC1030)

David Plowden North American Bridge Photographs, 1970-1976 (AC1019)

Quebec Bridge Photograph Collection, 1905-1986 (bulk 1905-1916) (AC1026)

Railroad Bridges Construction Photograph Album, circa 1905-1914 (AC1024)

Samuel Reed Bridge Collection, 1947-1964 (AC1001)

Rip Van Winkle Bridge Photographs, 1933-1935 (AC1027)

John A. Roebling Collection,1836-1975 (bulk 1930-1950) (AC0981)

Holton Duncan Robinson Papers, 1889-1938 (AC0963)

Lucinda Rudell Covered Bridges Collection, 1942-1979 (AC1028)

Lester Shanks Collection of Covered Bridge Photographs and Ephemera, 1876-2010 (bulk 1973-2008) (AC1244)

Washington, D.C. Bridges Collection, 1900-1905 (AC01095)

Raymond E. Wilson Covered Bridge Collection, 1958-1974 (AC0999)

Materials at Other Organizations

Southern Illinois University, Morris Library Special Collections

Walter E. Angier photograph collection, 1901-1915

Walter E. Angier Vertical File Manuscript, 1924

Michigan Historical Collections, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan

Alfred Noble Papers, 1862-1922

Provenance:

The collection was donated by Modejeski and Masters Consulting Engineers, through Joseph J. Scherrer, October 2, 1990.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Civil engineering  Search this

Bridge failures  Search this

Bridges  Search this

Genre/Form:

Oral history -- 1950-1970

Lantern slides

Photographs -- Black-and-white negatives -- Glass

Drawings

Contracts

Letterpress books

Photographs -- 19th century

Correspondence

Citation:

Modjeski and Masters Company Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.0976

See more items in:

Modjeski and Masters Company Records

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep827750b46-05ec-4519-8a2c-dddf6ab57d6e

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0976

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

J. H. Thomas  Search this

Min. Elevation:

152  Search this

Place:

San Mateo County. Vicinity of Pilarcitos Stone Dam on Pilarcitos Creek. San Francisco Watershed Reserve., San Mateo, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

14 May 1961

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Boraginales Boraginaceae Cynoglossoideae

Published Name:

Myosotis latifolia Poir.

Barcode:

02910959

USNM Number:

2998217

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3c5396f5d-9e72-48fe-af36-5e0fab77708c

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_14199513

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

J. H. Thomas  Search this

Min. Elevation:

152  Search this

Place:

San Mateo County. Vicinity of Pilarcitos Stone Dam on Pilarcitos Creek. San Francisco Watershed Reserve., San Mateo, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

14 May 1961

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Boraginales Boraginaceae Cynoglossoideae

Published Name:

Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia (Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Ganders

Barcode:

02909239

USNM Number:

2997979

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/37f379e9b-6d09-4f8c-81b6-573755f6ab6d

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_14209873

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Wilkes Explor. Exped.  Search this

Expedition:

United States Exploring Expedition  Search this

Place:

San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

1838 to 1842

Taxonomy:

Plantae Monocotyledonae Poales Juncaceae

Published Name:

Juncus effusus L.

Barcode:

00756289

USNM Number:

79793

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Wilkes Exploring Expedition

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3c037e788-317e-4175-a595-717a6676671f

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_10054360

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Wilkes Explor. Exped.  Search this

Expedition:

United States Exploring Expedition  Search this

Place:

San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

1838 to 1842

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Rosales Urticaceae

Published Name:

Urtica dioica L.

Barcode:

00755953

USNM Number:

41739

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Wilkes Exploring Expedition

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/35454d9a9-6e46-4f46-aef1-e8f6b9bc6515

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_10057270

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Wilkes Explor. Exped.  Search this

Expedition:

United States Exploring Expedition  Search this

Place:

San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

1838 to 1842

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Caryophyllales Polygonaceae Eriogonoideae

Published Name:

Eriogonum caninum (Greene) Munz

Barcode:

00898620

USNM Number:

95962

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Wilkes Exploring Expedition

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/38ad53c7a-7880-45b3-84eb-79ee0e14d55d

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_10057870

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Wilkes Explor. Exped.  Search this

Expedition:

United States Exploring Expedition  Search this

Place:

Bay of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

1838 to 1842

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Caryophyllales Amaranthaceae Chenopodioideae

Published Name:

Atriplex subspicata (Nutt.) Rydb.

Barcode:

00899258

USNM Number:

96020

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Wilkes Exploring Expedition

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/36e734cc8-e721-4a8f-998c-32cd3d1fe25e

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_10058017

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Wilkes Explor. Exped.  Search this

Expedition:

United States Exploring Expedition  Search this

Place:

near San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

1838 to 1842

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Dipsacales Caprifoliaceae Caprifolioideae

Published Name:

Lonicera hispidula var. californica

Barcode:

00960561

USNM Number:

96520

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Wilkes Exploring Expedition

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/303fd9568-2f83-42a8-ad4d-dd44b1cfc67c

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_10063116

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Wilkes Explor. Exped.  Search this

Expedition:

United States Exploring Expedition  Search this

Place:

San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

1838 to 1842

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Asterales Asteraceae Asteroideae

Published Name:

Solidago canadensis var. salebrosa (Piper) M.E. Jones

Barcode:

00829007

USNM Number:

95400

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Wilkes Exploring Expedition

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/34eabd945-3405-49c2-b3af-98f55f20dbe7

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_10063246

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Charles F. Baker  Search this

Place:

The Pacific Coast. San Bruno hills, San Francisco., San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

6 Apr 1903

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Boraginales Hydrophyllaceae

Published Name:

Nemophila menziesii Hook. & Arn.

Barcode:

03183631

USNM Number:

440703

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3b66f6874-da6f-4e79-a590-fbae713193ad

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_14715784

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Nathaniel L. Gardner  Search this

Place:

Vicinity of Lake Merced, San Francisco Peninsula., San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

May 1903

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Boraginales Hydrophyllaceae

Published Name:

Nemophila pedunculata

Barcode:

03183686

USNM Number:

466772

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/31cb482b7-ed8e-433b-a5d6-f396d991e347

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_14723104

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southwestern U.S.A.76 - Southweste  Search this

Collector:

Nathaniel L. Gardner  Search this

Place:

San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Taxonomy:

Eubacteria Cyanobacteria Oscillatoriales Microcoleaceae

Published Name:

Microcoleus lyngbyaceus Kütz. ex Forti

Barcode:

02623051

USNM Number:

117298

See more items in:

Botany

Algae

Collection of Francis Drouet

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/389544525-7ffa-4714-94d5-76291dc3f2ca

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_2381437

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Alice Eastwood  Search this

Place:

Lake Merced, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

6 Aug 1913

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Asterales Asteraceae Asteroideae

Published Name:

Lessingia germanorum

Barcode:

01577543

USNM Number:

880325

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3540aee28-51bf-4cec-bd33-1b2396bf7d30

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_12732882

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

Sydney F. Blake  Search this

Place:

Sand dunes and sand hills, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

3 Jul 1927

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Asterales Asteraceae Asteroideae

Published Name:

Baccharis pilularis DC.

Barcode:

01718991

USNM Number:

1582030

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/38cf995e6-8e51-463d-99f1-1256da3b6d7c

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_12748145

Biogeographical Region:

76 - Southwestern U.S.A.  Search this

Collector:

E. L. Sumner  Search this

Place:

East near South San Francisco Airport., San Francisco, California, United States, North America

Collection Date:

20 Apr 1930

Taxonomy:

Plantae Dicotyledonae Asterales Asteraceae Asteroideae

Published Name:

Erigeron glaucus Ker Gawl.

Barcode:

01712896

USNM Number:

3511634

See more items in:

Botany

Flowering plants and ferns

Data Source:

NMNH - Botany Dept.

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3fe8a6cc2-3a1f-4d1d-b11c-d1e60e886e53

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmnhbotany_12749694