Marie Luhring

Luhring’s transition to formal technical education came after her artistic work drew the attention of mentors. MotorCities reports that Edward Hewitt, an instructor, advised her to enroll at the Cooper Union Drawing School, a prestigious institution known for rigorous training in mechanical and architectural drawing.[2] She did so and, according to MotorCities, graduated with very high honors in architecture and mechanical drawing.[2] The New York Times obituary adds that she completed a degree and later earned a master’s degree in engineering from Cooper Union, though it does not provide precise dates.[3] These overlapping accounts, while differing in detail, agree that Luhring received substantial technical education, equipping her for engineering work at a time when few women could access such training.

Career Beginnings in Engineering

Luhring’s entry into professional engineering occurred during World War I, a period when industrial firms faced acute labor shortages. In 1918, the International Motors Company—later known as the International‑Plainfield Motor Car Company, a subsidiary of Mack Trucks—responded to a shortage of male engineers by recruiting a cohort of women.[1][3] The New York Times obituary notes that the firm hired approximately twenty‑five women engineers, and that Marie Luhring was among them.[3] This initiative was unusual for the era: although women had worked in factories and offices, employing them explicitly as mechanical engineers was rare.

Sources agree on the year of Luhring’s hiring but do not specify the exact month and day; historians therefore treat 1918 as a year marker for her start at International Motors.[1][3] Once employed, she joined the company’s engineering and design staff, applying her advanced skills in mechanical drawing and architecture to the design of vehicles and components. She would remain with the company for twenty‑one years, until her death in 1939.[3]

Her early years at International Motors coincided with rapid expansion in the commercial vehicle sector. Trucks were increasingly used for freight transport, construction, and municipal services. Within this context, Luhring contributed to the design and refinement of truck bodies and mechanical systems. MotorCities and other later accounts emphasize that she quickly distinguished herself as an especially talented designer, with colleagues and supervisors recognizing both her creativity and work ethic.[2][7]

Major Works, Accomplishments, and "Firsts"

The most widely documented milestone in Luhring’s career is her admission, in 1920, as an associate member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).[1] SAE, founded in 1905, was the leading professional organization for automotive engineers in the United States, and membership provided access to technical papers, standards, and professional networks. In 1920, Luhring became the first female member of SAE.[1][2][5]

Her admission was based on her engineering qualifications and practical experience at International Motors, as well as her strong background in mechanical drawing from Cooper Union and earlier schools.[1][2][3] MotorCities reports that a Cooper Union instructor had encouraged her to seek membership in SAE and that she was the first woman offered such a recommendation.[2] Later summaries of American women’s "firsts" list her as the first woman in America to become an automotive engineer, a claim that reflects the recognition conferred by SAE membership.[1]

Luhring’s entry into SAE, however, was not universally welcomed. MotorCities notes that her joining "brought much opposition from men in the organization," indicating that some members objected to a woman crossing what had previously been an all‑male professional boundary.[5] Her successful admission, despite such resistance, marked a significant barrier‑breaking moment for women in engineering.

In addition to her professional society breakthrough, Luhring is credited with being among the first female truck designers in the United States. Both MotorCities and later articles describe her as the first female truck designer and one of the top designers in the country during the early 1920s.[2][5][7] At International Motors and in work affiliated with Mack Trucks, she contributed to the design of heavy vehicles, a field that demanded attention to structural strength, weight distribution, manufacturability, and performance.

While specific models or patents tied solely to her name have not been documented in available sources, her role in truck design is repeatedly affirmed. MotorCities notes that she was hired as a designer by Mack Truck operations and that her design work was highly regarded within the company.[2] Later accounts suggest that she may also have been associated with REO truck design operations, but details are limited and not independently corroborated by primary records.[5]

In the late 1920s, Luhring’s work extended beyond trucks to railway technology. Wikipedia reports that she was involved in the development of a gas‑electric locomotive during this period.[1] Gas‑electric locomotives combined internal combustion engines with electrical transmission, offering potential advantages in efficiency and control. Her role in such a project indicates that she was trusted to participate in complex, cutting‑edge engineering work, further underscoring her technical capabilities.

Throughout her career, colleagues and observers described Luhring in highly positive terms. Wikipedia cites contemporary remarks that she was considered "a marvelous person, a marvelous worker," reflecting both her professional competence and interpersonal qualities.[1] In a male‑dominated industry, such praise carried particular weight, signaling that she had earned respect through sustained contributions rather than being treated merely as a wartime novelty.

Awards, Honors, and Professional Recognition

Formal awards specifically presented to Luhring have not been extensively documented in surviving sources, but her SAE membership itself functioned as a form of professional recognition. Being accepted into SAE as the first female member in 1920 represented a validation of her qualifications and an acknowledgment by the engineering community that she met the organization’s standards.[1][2]

Within International‑Plainfield Motor Car Company, her long tenure and responsibilities suggest that she enjoyed internal recognition. The New York Times obituary notes that she had worked for the company for twenty‑one years, which indicates sustained trust in her abilities.[3] MotorCities and related accounts describe her as one of the best designers in the field, implying that she was informally honored through reputation and the esteem of peers.[2][5]

Beyond her lifetime, Luhring’s historical significance has increasingly been recognized by automotive historians and women’s history scholars. She is featured in lists of American women’s firsts as an early woman automotive engineer and the first female member of SAE.[1] MotorCities.org has highlighted her as a "Story of the Week," aiming to bring greater visibility to her contributions.[2][5] These retrospective recognitions help locate her career within the broader narrative of women’s entry into engineering professions.

Personal Life

Information about Luhring’s personal life outside of her education and career is limited. The New York Times obituary identifies her as Miss Marie E. Luhring and does not mention a husband or children, suggesting that she did not marry.[3] It notes that at the time of her death she resided in Plainfield, New Jersey

No surviving mainstream sources provide details about her hobbies, community involvement, or social networks beyond professional circles. The available biographical accounts focus primarily on her training and contributions to engineering. In the absence of reliable evidence, it is not possible to reconstruct a fuller picture of her private life without speculation. What can be said with confidence is that she dedicated a substantial portion of her adult years to industrial design and engineering work.