Charles Alton Ellis
Charles Alton Ellis (1876–1949) was a professor, structural engineer and mathematician who was chiefly responsible for the structural design of the Golden Gate Bridge. Because of a dispute with Joseph Strauss, he was not recognized for his work when the bridge opened in 1937.
Ellis was born in Parkman, Maine in 1876 and earned a degree in mathematics from Wesleyan University and a graduate certificate in engineering (C.E.) from the University of Illinois.[1][2] During his career, he was a professor at the University of Michigan, the University of Illinois, and Purdue University.[3]
A dispute over the time it was taking to complete the design led Strauss to accuse Ellis of wasting time and money, and to dismiss him from the project.[4] The copy of the engineering drawings for the Golden Gate Bridge on file at the Library of Congress is signed by Ellis,[5] but the plaque placed on the bridge in 1937 did not give him any credit.[6]
As of May 10, 2007, Ellis was officially given recognition for his part in the designing process of the Golden Gate Bridge.[7]
Notes
- ^ Morris (2004), p. 4.
- ^ "Golden Gate Bridge" (2004).
- ^ Morris (2004), pp. 4–5.
- ^ Daniels (2004).
- ^ Morris (2004), p.13.
- ^ Morris (2004), p.5.
- ^ Nolte, Carl (May 11, 2007). "Golden Gate Bridge engineer finally gets recognition". The San Francisco Chronicle.
References
- Daniels, Maria (April 16, 2004). "People & Events: Charles Alton Ellis (1876–1949)". American Experience website. Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|trans_title=(help) - Longsworth, Laura, and Ben Loeterman (producers); Loeterman, Ben (writer, director); Rutenbeck, James (editor) (2004). "Golden Gate Bridge". American Experience. Public Broadcasting Service. yes.
{{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|city=and|seriesno=(help); External link in|transcripturl=|serieslink=ignored (|series-link=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|transcripturl=ignored (|transcript-url=suggested) (help) - Morris, Sammie (October 4, 2004). "A Guide to the Charles A. Ellis Papers" (PDF). Purdue University Libraries Archives and Special Collections. West Lafayette Indiana: Purdue University. pp. 4–5.
- van der Zee, John (2000). The Gate: The True Story of the Design and Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge. Backinprint.com. ISBN 978-0-595-09429-5.