The Thomas Hahn Chesapeake and Ohio Canal collection
Collection Scope and Content
This Collection contains materials related to Thomas Hahn's involvement in the C&O Canal Association, as well as other canals related to the C&O, and canals in general.
A large part of the collection consists of photographic negatives, slides and prints of the C&O Canal. Most of these photographs, negatives, and slides relate to illustrations in publications that he authored or co-authored. Other items include reference material for his books, correspondence, and maps.
Please note: many of the images, especially those in boxes 21-25, are not in order and may require additional time to use for research.
The collection covers the years from 1939-1993 and is housed in 31 boxes, or approximately 10 linear feet.
Dates
- 1939-1993
Creator
- Hahn, Thomas F. (Person)
Restrictions on Access
Some records may be restricted.
Restrictions on Use
Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.
Biographical Note
Thomas Hahn (1926-2007) was a professional industrial archaeologist, a college professor and a bona fide Indian medicine man. He was born in November 1926, in Topeka, Kansas. After retiring from the Navy following a 28 year career, Hahn earned several degrees including a Masters degree in History and a PhD in Industrial Archeology. He spoke five language and was closely connected with his Native American heritage, at one point serving as Chief of the Kansas Delawares Nation.
Hahn had a 28-year career in the Navy that spanned three wars, beginning in 1944 as a seaman second class and ended in retirement in 1972 with a captain's rank.
Hahn wrote 30 volumes on the C&O Canal for the National Park Service, as well as historical books, essays and brochures. He was the field archaeologist on two major canal restoration projects; one in Havre de Grace, Md., the other in Alexandria, Va. Hahn founded national and international canal societies as a way of sharing information. He was president and founder of the 25-member Eastern West Virginia Archeology Society and served as president of the American Canal Association from 1972-97.
Hahn died on May 23, 2007.
Extent
10 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Collection contains materials related to Thomas Hahn's involvement in the C&O Canal Association, as well as other canals related to the C&O, and canals in general. A large part of the collection consists of photographic negatives, slides and prints of the C&O Canal. Most of these photographs, negatives, and slides relate to illustrations in publications that he authored or co-authored. Other items include reference material for his books, correspondence, and maps.
General Physical Description note
10 Linear feet (30 boxes)
Processing Information
This finding aid was revised in 2022 to address harmful descriptive language. During that revision staff edited the description in the Biographical/Historical Note. To see the description prior to revisions, please view the previous version of The Thomas Hahn Chesapeake and Ohio Canal collection finding aid.
- Alexandria (Va.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Black-and-white slides Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Canals Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Association
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (Md. and Washington, D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (Agency : U.S.)
- Color slides Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Hahn, Thomas F.
- Havre de Grace (Md.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Maps Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Washington (D.C.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Preliminary Guide to The Thomas Hahn Chesapeake and Ohio Canal collection, 1939-1993
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
- Date
- 2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository