collection - Thomas Langan fonds

Thomas Langan (March 20, 1929 - May 25, 2012) was born in the United States in St. Louis, Missouri. He immigrated to Canada in 1968 but maintained his U.S. citizenship. He received his bachelor’s in philosophy from St. Louis University in 1951 and his Masters in 1952. He then went on to receive his PH.D. in philosophy from Institut Catholique de Paris in 1956. Before his PH.D. education Langan also served in the United States Air Force as a 1st Lieutenant from 1952-1954.

Langan was a teacher and academic for his entire career. He began teaching at St. Louis University in 1956 as an instructor and moved his way up to Assistant Professor and Associate Director until 1960. Langan then taught at Indiana University from 1960 until 1967 as both a professor and Chairman of the Philosophy Department. He began his time at St. Michael’s College in 1967 as a visiting professor before becoming a full-time faculty member the following year. Langan was cross appointed to St. Michael’s College, Trinity College and New College between 1975 to 1978. He was a teacher in the Philosophy and Christianity & Culture programs. His wife Janine Langan was also an Associate Professor at St. Michael’s College and the founder of the Christianity and Culture program.

A prolific academic, Langan wrote well over seventy published articles in his lifetime and published eight books. Additionally, Langan was a part of a great number of committees, such as the Committee for Superior Education, and was on the editorial boards of several journal publications including Communio and New Scholasticism. He participated in many community organizations, serving on multiple Archdiocese of Toronto committees and co-founding the Catholic Civil Rights League in 1985. Langan received an Alumni Merit Award from St. Louis University in 1982. Langan was also elected to the Catholic Commission on Cultural Affairs in 1984.

Thomas Langan retired in 1994 but continued to be an active member of many community and academic organizations.

In 2006 the Archdiocese of Toronto honoured Langan as a Knight of St. Sylvester for his exemplary professional and societal service.