A few years ago, I was given a collection of canal research materials, and in all those boxes were neatly organized and bound newsletters of many canal societies. It is a remarkable collection. So this is a reminder that if you are conducting research on the history of any canal in North America, don’t overlook this invaluable wealth of information that has been presented in the journals, bulletins and newsletters of the state and regional canal societies and organizations.
To call these publications newsletters is often a disservice. The articles feature exploration and research conducted by dedicated volunteers who were engineers, academics and people who had spent a good deal of their lives researching the topics. And the subject matter is fairly wide ranging, from trip recaps to in-depth study into the workings of a lock or reservoir, or the biography of people who worked on the canals. The pages capture the loss of canal sites, the rise of the rail-to-trail movements and the preservation of canal remains. Many of these feature photos and maps drawn by the author. In short, they are as wide ranging as the membership tended to be. Most also carry some news and organizational business.
Most of the societies published on a two to four issues a year schedule. Beginning in the 2000s, some groups reduced their issues, and opted to use their website and blog space for content. Others, like the Canal Society of Indiana, went to the fully digital model, offering everything online and making their latest issue available to all, members and nonmembers alike. There continues to be a debate about the print verses digital model, but most of these groups continue to print and mail a newsletter at least once per year.
These publications were mailed to the membership and often to libraries and archives that might find them useful. Here is a listing of what is available and how to find them.
American Canal Society (ACS)
Name of publication – American Canals
Format / size – 8.5 by 11
Date of first issue- Spring 1972
Issues per year (currently) – 4
Publication History – American Canals was begun by Thomas Hahn with the purpose of providing and sharing information between the many state and regional canal groups. The issues carried reprints from other newsletters, and new research on canals and navigations in states that did not have canal societies.
Index available – Digital index on website
Digital copies available – All issues, except most recent, available as downloadable pdfs.
Repository / Archives – Currently at a private home.
Other Information- Over the years, eight Best From American Canals have been published as separate publications. These reprint many of the more in-depth articles that had appeared in the quarterly newsletter.
C&O Canal Association
Name of publication – Along the Towpath
Format / size – 8.5 by 11
Date of first issue – March 1970
Issues per year – Quarterly
Publication History – The first issue was published in March 1970 as Volume 1, Number 1. The Association had printed and mailed a few newsletters in the 1960 labeled as The Level Walker. These were printed “as needed,” and five issues were mailed. Since 1970, the Association has published on a quarterly schedule. The website notes that the newsletter contains information on upcoming events and current issues concerning the C&O Canal National Historical Park, as well as photographs and historical articles.
Index available – No, however, there is a index to the articles written by Dr. Karen Gray on the C&O Canal Association website.
Digital copies available – Yes, as pdf downloads
Repository / Archives –
Other Information – It should be noted that as a National Historical Park, there is an abundance of information available online. This listing is for the newsletter of the C&O Canal Association only.
Canal Society of Indiana (CSI)
Name of publication – The Tumble
Format / size – Digital
Date of first issue – October 1981
Issues per year – monthly
Publication History – From the 40th Anniversary Newsletter, we get this history. The first issue was published as Indiana Waterways, which was called Volume 1, Issue 1, October 1981. The name was changed in October, 1989, to Indiana Canals, which was then called Volume 1, Number 1. In 2002, Indiana Canals was combined with a monthly newsletter and rebranded as The Hoosier Packet, which was offered as a monthly publication. Then in 2017, the society elected to go to an all online format under the name The Tumble.
Index available – There is an online listing by subject, and the society has a index that is not online.
Digital copies available – All issues of The Tumble and the Hoosier Packet are available as pdf downloads. The 1986-2002 Newsletter and the 1981- 1988 Indiana Waterways will be online soon.
Repository / Archives – Contact the society by way of the website.
Canal Society of New Jersey (CSNJ)
Name of publication – On The Level
Format / size – 8.5 by 11
Date of first issue – September 1969
Issues per year – 2/3
Publication History – The Towpath Post was the first newsletter from the Canal Society. Volume 1, #1 is dated September 1969. The last issue of The Towpath Post was the Spring/Summer 1977. The first issue of On the Level was Spring/Summer 1978.
Index available – No
Digital copies available – Some digital copies are available. These date from 2007 to the present.
Repository / Archives – By appointment only. Use the contact form on the website.
Canal Society of New York State (CSNYS)
Name of publication – Bottoming Out
Format / size – 8.5 by 11
Date of first issue – October 1956
Issues per year – 1/2
Publication History – In 2011, a history of the publication noted that the first issue of the Bottoming Out was dated October, 1956. At that time, the format was 5 by 7, and the first issue ran 8 pages. The name at that time was; Bottoming Out, An informal record of study and exploration by members of the Canal Society of New York State. In Issue #3, which adopted the title used today Bottoming Out, Useful and Interesting Notes Collected For the Members of The Canal Society of New York State. Unfortunately, the publication of the newsletter has taken place with little regularity. From 1956 to 1960, Bottoming Out was published on a fairly regular schedule. Some of the issues were treated as double issues, July 1957 was numbered 3 – 4, and July 1958 was 7 – 8, as were others up to 1965. Some years were entirely missed, as was 1961, 1963 and 1964. After issue 23 – 24 in 1965, the BO was not published until 1986. One issue was put out in 1986 and 1987, when the BO went back into hibernation. In 1993, the newsletter was brought back with issue #27 and it was published on a regular schedule up through issue #42 in 2001. No issues were published from 2002 until the Spring of 2004. At that time, the format was changed to a 8.5 by 11 size, and the familiar yellow cover was gone. Instead a glossy white paper was used to highlight newer advances in the printing and publishing field. Issues were printed during 2004 and 2005. No issues were published in 2006. Issue #46 came out in 2007 and the publication has maintained a fairly regular schedule since then.
Index available – No
Digital copies available – No, but the society plans to begin this service in the future.
Repository / Archives – The Samuel Center, 38 Rochester St., Port Byron, NY
Canal Society of Ohio (CSO)
Name of publications- Towpaths, Society Newsletter
Format / size- Towpaths is a 5 by 8 booklet, while the newsletter is 8.5 x 11.
Date of first issue- 1972
Issues per year- 2
Publication History- The Society prints both a newsletter and a journal. The newsletter carries recent news, society and trip information, board news and such, while the journal is more of a scholarly publication with in-depth research. Both are mailed to the membership at the same time. At what point they began this practice is not known as the Newsletters are not assigned a issue or volume number. The first issue in the ACS archives is from October 1985.
Towpaths first appeared as a mimeographed newsletter in August 1961. A total of eight mimeographed newsletters were issued up to November of 1962. Few of the issues were numbered or dated. The first offset printed eight-page bulletin appeared in January 1963. Publication has continued uninterrupted since. The issues of 1963, 1964, 1965 and Number One of 1966 are without volume number, identified only by issue number and year date. With issue Two, 1966, volume numbering was adopted and page numbering was carried through the year’s issues. The 1966 issues were designated Volume IV, recognizing the previous three years issuance of the bulletin. Towpaths has been expanded to twelve and occasionally to sixteen pages, as material available warranted.
The Society Newsletter, which is simply called the “Newsletter,” also includes information that shouldn’t be overlooked by the researcher.
Index available- Yes, 1963-2015 is available as a pdf file.
Digital copies available- No, although the newsletter, 2012-2015, can be found on the old CSO website by using the Wayback Machine.
Repository / Archives- The CSO website notes that they use the University of Akron as their repository. An online finding guide to all the CSO materials in the collection is available on the University’s website, The Towpaths issues that are available are between 1961 and 2011. This collection also lists a Table of Contents 1961-2003.
Other Information- An 50th anniversary edition of Towpaths was printed in 2011 as a separate publication in a large 8.5 by 11 format.
Middlesex Canal Association (MCA)
Name of publication- Towpath Topics
Format / size- 5 by 8 booklet
Date of first issue- October 1963
Issues per year- 2
Publication History- The website notes that first issue of the Middlesex Canal Association newsletter was published in October 1963. Originally named Canal News, the first issue featured a contest to name the newsletter. A year later, the newsletter was renamed Towpath Topics. The number of issues per year has varied. In the years 1963 – 1982, typically 3 times per year; 1983 –2008, typically 2 times per year; 2009 — present, 3 times per year. The intent of publication timing has usually been to have the publication in readers hands two weeks prior to the beginning of the Winter, Spring and Fall meetings, canal section walks and full canal-length bike rides.
Index available- A Table of Contents is available online at the website, which lists the subject matter by issue. The page is searchable by using the “ctrl-F” feature and entering a search term.
Digital copies available- All issues are available as pdf downloads. Since 2019, the pdf’s graphics are offered in color or in black and white.
Repository / Archives- Middlesex Canal Association museum, North Billerica, Massachusetts. Contact robert@middlesexcanal.org
Pennsylvania Canal Society (PCS)
Name of publication – Canal Currents
Format / size – 8.5 by 11
Date of first issue – Winter 1968
Issues per year – 4
Publication History – The first issue of Canal Currents is labeled as Issue 3. Issues 1 and 2 were simple organizational newsletters titled Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Canal Society. The new name was introduced in Issue 3 and has remained so since. The issues were printed on glossy paper stock which gives great clarity to the images.
Index available – The Fall 1987, Issue 80, of Canal Currents has a subject, author and title index for all the issues 1- 79. The society is reportedly working to update this.
Digital copies available – No
Repository / Archives – The PCS uses the National Canal Museum in Easton as their archives. Wendi Blewett, museum collections manager 484-215-6235, Martha Capwell Fox, historian 610-923-3548. email: archives@delawareandlehigh.org
Canadian Canal Society
Name of publication- Canals Canada
Format / size- 8.5 by 11
Date of first issue- January 1983
Date of last issue- Spring 2017
Issues per year- 2
Publication History-The Canadian Canal Society was active between 1982 and 2017. Canals Canada was published twice a year, mostly in the spring and fall. Some years, only a single issue was published and the years of 2010 and 2011 were skipped entirely.
Index available- none available
Digital copies available- No, although digital copies will be on file at Brock University.
Repository / Archives- Brock University Library –archives@brocku.ca
Other Information- The Canadian Canal Society dissolved effective October 29, 2020.
Virginia Canals and Navigation Society (VC&NS)
Name of publication- The Tiller
Format / size- 8.5 by 11
Date of first issue- Spring 1980
Issues per year- 1
Publication History- The Tiller has been published on a varied schedule. From 1980 to 1989, there were 3 issues per year. Beginning in 1990, the journal was published quarterly until 2011. During this time period, some issues were printed as “double issues.” Beginning in 2013, the schedule was reduced to one issue per year.
Index available- Indexes available for 1980 – 1995
Digital copies available- No
Repository / Archives- 3806 S. Amherst Hwy, Madison Heights, VA 24572
In Conclusion
This is a listing of the larger statewide canal groups. There are also local and regional groups that should not be overlooked if you happen to be conducting a “deep dive” into a specific canal. The editor would be happy to add the information about any group that has published newsletters that might be of assistance to the canal researcher.