Robert Blum Olney was born September 20, 1870 at Charleston, South Carolina and died at San Antonia, Texas March 4, 1903. He was the son of Clarence Crosby and Louisa Blum Olney. His father was the Charleston, S.C. agent for the Northeastern Railroad. From January to August 1888 Robert Olney was employed in the office of the Chief Engineer for the Savannah, Florida and Western Railroad. In 1888, he entered Lehigh University’s civil engineering department and graduated June 1892. Professor Mansfield Merriman was his instructor and advisor and stated that Olney was always reliable and trustworthy. His thesis was titled “Plans and Specifications for a Locomotive Round House.” Professor Merriman considered the subject well treated throughout. After graduation Olney was hired by the Norfolk and Western Railroad. Later he was employed by the City of Charleston, South Carolina as City Engineer. He began employment with the American Pipe Manufacturing Company in 1901 working on a sewerage disposal plant for Burlington, New Jersey. Upon completion of that job he returns to Charleston but on account of failing health he left for the Southwest in 1903. He stopped in San Antonio, Texas where he died of tuberculosis apparently acquired during the winter of 1901-1902 while in New Jersey. The examples of Olney’s student work in the Lehigh Special Collections indicate that he was an especially capable student in his professional approach to his chosen career as civil engineer. His assignments are complete and thorough analyzing every aspect of the civil engineering problems requested of him by Professor Merriman.

October 1891 to May 1892.

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