Hahn, Thomas F.

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 and at one point in his life served 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. He wrote 30 volumes on the C&O Canal for the National Park Service, as well as historical books, essays and brochures. He was considered one of the world's foremost expert on the C&O Canal. 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.