Thomas P. Hughes

Thomas P. Hughes was one of the most influential historians of technology of the 20th century. As a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, he helped establish the academic study of large-scale technological systems—such as electric power networks, telecommunications, industrial production systems, and computing—as a central discipline within the history of science and engineering.

Hughes is best known for developing the concept of “technological systems,” emphasizing the interplay between technical components, institutions, economics, politics, and human actors. His books, including Networks of Power and Rescuing Prometheus, became foundational texts for understanding how complex technologies evolve and how they shape—and are shaped by—society.

His scholarship extended into computing and information technology, where he examined how innovation emerges from large organizations and long-term research programs. He advised engineers, policymakers, and historians internationally, helping connect technical history with public understanding of innovation.

Hughes’s work continues to influence historians, engineers, and technology leaders seeking to understand the deep roots of the systems that underpin modern computing and digital infrastructure.