The American Canal Society was founded on January 1st, 1972, by Captain Thomas F. Hahn, (U.S. Navy Retired) of Fort Meade Maryland. Hahn served as its president from 1972-1997.
The Canal Society was founded as a national organization to coordinate different local societies and serve local canal enthusiasts in places where such societies were lacking as a clearinghouse for information. It's early focus included creating a comprehensive list of American canals and surviving canal structures, the distribution of canal related literature, and the preservation and maintenance of canal-centric parks.
The collection includes Hahn's early correspondence as society president, records of advocacy with the National Park Service, flyers advertising canal publications, brochures for different canals, and documents relating to canal research as well as selected news clippings. A few whole and partial issues of the newsletter "Along the Towpath" are also included. There is also some graphical material depicting canals, canal boats, and structures, primarily in the form of prints.
[item identification], American Canal Society Records, MS284, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia.