The Ralph Modjeski Biography is now available for purchase!

Now available, the biographical book: A Man Who Spanned Two Eras: The story of bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski published by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Kosciuszko Foundation. This book is a translation in an American edition of Prof. Jozef Glomb's book Czlowiek z pogranicza epok.

Click here to see Ralph Modjeski's resume.

It is 8.5 by 11 inches, 136 pages, soft color cover, over 70 b/w illustrations.

Price: $18.95 plus $4.50 shipping and handling. Libraries may request a complimentary copy on letterhead.

It may be ordered from:
Peter Obst, Philadelphia Chapter
67 Lower Orchard Drive,
Levittown, PA 19056-2722

Make checks payable to: Philadelphia Chapter of the KF

Our sincere thanks to all who helped to make this book project a reality!

Income from book sales benefits The Kosciuszko Foundation.

For information about Kosciuszko Foundation scholarship programs see:
Scholarship Information at The Kosciuszko Foundation
also see:
Scholarship Information at The American Council for Polish Culture

Ralph Modjeski (Rudolf Modrzejewski, 1861-1940) pencil sketch by Stanislaw Rembski

Ralph Modjeski (Rudolf Modrzejewski 1861-1940), son of actress Helena Modrzejewska, was one of America's great bridge builders. Educated at the famous Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees in Paris, he interned with George Morison, one of America's pioneering bridge engineers. Later, he started the firm of Modjeski and Masters going on to build some of the great bridges in the United States.

In the Philadelphia area he built the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, and two bridges on Henry Avenue. His other major projects included the Thebes Bridge at Thebes, Illinois; the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans. During a long career he introduced many advances in the design of long steel truss and suspension bridges, and was one of the first engineers in the United States to build large structures of reinforced concrete.

He received many awards for his work including the Franklin Institute Franklin Medal (1922), the John Fritz Medal (1930) and the Washington Award (1931) given for his contribution to transportation through superior skill and courage in bridge construction and design. The firm he founded continues to design and build bridges, maintaining the legacy he established.

Send a message to Peter J. Obst.