Robert M. Vogel

Robert M. Vogel (born 1930) was an American historian of engineering and technology. He joined the Smithsonian Institution in 1957 and, before his retirement, served as curator in the Division of Mechanical and Civil Engineering at the National Museum of American History. He pioneered field-survey methods in industrial archaeology and has been called "the father of American industrial archaeology." Three of his works are included here, all focused on engineering history: a study of the elevator systems of the Eiffel Tower of 1889, an account of Wendel Bollman's engineering contributions, and a museum treatment of tunnel engineering. His writing is distinguished by close attention to technical detail and physical investigation, offering a solid model for the study of industrial heritage.