Thomas Balch Library

The Thomas Balch Library is a history and genealogy library located in Leesburg, Virginia.[1][2] The library, owned and operated by the town of Leesburg, serves as a designated Underground Railroad research site and has an active research program.[1][3][4]

Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library
General information
Address208 West Market Street
Town or cityLeesburg, VA
Coordinates39.1167726°N 77.5683237°W / 39.1167726; -77.5683237
Opened1922
Renovated2000

History

The library was incorporated in 1918.[5] The architect for the library was Waddy Butler Wood.[6] In 1922, the Thomas Balch Library was constructed in Leesburg, Virginia as a memorial to historian Thomas Balch, a Leesburg native. Thomas Willing Balch (1866-1927) and Edwin Swift Balch (1856-1927), sons of Thomas Balch, originally endowed the subscription library.[7] The Library is part of the Leesburg Historic District.[8]

The Thomas Balch Library operated for fifty years under a private Board of Trustees. The library was staffed by volunteers and part-time employees. In 1960 the library dropped its subscription and became a free, though segregated, public library. It was desegregated in 1965. In 1973, the Loudoun County Public Library system was established. The Thomas Balch Library joined as a full service public library branch in 1974, alongside the Purcellville, Purcellville Bookmobile and Sterling libraries.

In 1994, ownership of the Thomas Balch Library was transferred from the Loudoun County Public Library system to the Town of Leesburg. Under the Town of Leesburg, the library began operating as a history and genealogy library.[9] The Martin L. Cook photograph collection was acquired by the library in 2008. Cook was commissioned after training at the Tuskegee Army Flying School and went on to serve in the U.S. Navy in the Department of Defense as an aeronautical engineer.

In 2003 a Palladio Award in the category "Traditional Buildings" was given to Bowie Gridley Architects for a "sympathetic" addition to the Library building.[10] The addition doubled the size of the 1922 building.[10]

In 2013, the state legislature passed a special bill enabling the Library to receive a gift of $618,000 left to it by Virginia L. Bowie, a Leesburg resident and longtime library volunteer.[11][12][13] The Library also holds an annual fundraising event at various local historic sites.[14]

Services

The Thomas Balch Library offers patrons many services. Reference services include general collection research, and also manuscripts, archives and rare book research.

Internet access is available on specified computer terminals. Interlibrary loan services are also available to patrons, with a small fee.

Reproduction services are also offered. These services are either self-serve or employee-assisted when special handling is required for specific materials. Reproduction services include both written information and photographs.

Loudoun History Awards

Every year, the Thomas Balch Library presents the Loudoun History Awards. These awards are sponsored by the Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission. The awards were established to recognize contributions of local historian John Elbert Devine (1911-1996), in preserving Loudoun County history. The Loudoun History Awards were initially started in 1993.[15]

  • Thomas Balch Library Sign
  • Thomas Balch Library Front View
  • Thomas Balch Library Interior #1
  • Thomas Balch Library Interior #2
  • Thomas Balch Library Interior #3
  • Thomas Balch Library Interior #4

Research

In February 2012 the library published work connecting slaves with their modern-day descendants.[3]

The library now serves as a designated Underground Railroad research site.[1]

On March 31, 2010, the Thomas Balch Library and George Mason University announced an agreement for academic cooperation.[16]

References
  1. Gasserud, Michaela. "Maryland and Virginia". Avalon Travel.
  2. "Balch Library Information". balchfriends.org. Friends of Thomas Balch Library. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. Gibson, Caitlin. "New research aims to connect Loudoun slaves to modern-day descendants". Washington Post. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. "Thomas Balch Library Adds Database of President Monroe's Slaves". Loudoun Daily-Monitor. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
  5. Williams, Harrison. "Legends of Loudoun: An Account of the History and Homes of a Border County of Virginia's Northern Neck". Library of Alexandria.
  6. Ballatto, Josie (2015). "Along Virginia's Route". Arcadia Publishing.
  7. "Thomas Balch Library". Archived from the original on April 13, 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  8. "Historic District". leesburgva.gov. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  9. Leesburg, Virginia: Thomas Balch Library
  10. "Traditional Building: The Palladio Awards". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  11. "Assembly Clears Path For Balch Library Endowment". Leesburg Today. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  12. Hager, Hannah (9 November 2010). "Thomas Balch Library receives large donation". Loudon Times. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  13. Wagoner, Jana (3 November 2010). "Balch Library receives more money from Bowie estate". Loudon Times. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  14. Morton, Margaret (20 August 2014). "Hospital, Balch Library Team Up For Unusual Fundraiser Sunday". Leesburg Today. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  15. "Loudoun History Awards". Thomas Balch Library. 2012.
  16. "Thomas Balch Library and George Mason University Sign Memorandum of Agreement for Academic Cooperation". Wayback Machine. 9 April 2010. Archived from the original on June 26, 2010.
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