Alexandria Library Records (MS098)

Founded as a subscription library in 1794 and serving as the public library of Alexandria, Virginia since 1937 – Alexandria Library has a long legacy of supporting early literacy and lifelong learning in our diverse community. The Alexandria Library builds community through its six branches by providing opportunities to learn, explore, create, and connect.

The Alexandria Library Company (ALC) was founded on July 24, 1794 and operated a subscription library for nearly 150 years. In 1937, the ALC entered an agreement with the City of Alexandria and their collections formed the foundation of the city’s first free public library. Since then, the Alexandria Library has grown into a system of six branches which serve the community of Alexandria, Virginia.

The Kate Waller Barrett Library opened its doors on Queen Street in 1937; this was the first location of the Alexandria Library. It was named after Dr. Kate Waller Barrett – local humanitarian, social crusader, and political reformer. The Society of Friends granted a 99-year lease for use of its old Quaker Burial Ground on Queen Street as the site for the new public library building. This library has undergone several renovations and expansions over the years, in 1954, 1964, and 1993. When the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library was built, the Barrett Library shifted from being the main library to its current role as a branch library which serves residents of Old Town Alexandria and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Robert Robinson Library, named for a grandson of one of George Washington’s slaves, opened in 1940 to serve black residents of Alexandria. The establishment of this new branch library was motivated by a civil rights demonstration and lawsuit brought against the Library and the City of Alexandria. The earliest known civil rights sit-in was held at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library in 1939. Alexandria Attorney Samuel W. Tucker and five young African American men demonstrated this act of civil disobedience after being denied library cards. The Sit-In and following legal action resulted in the establishment of a new branch of the library to provide “separate but equal” library services to black residents. However, this new library branch never received the same support or funding as the main library and was never able to provide fully equitable services to the local African American community. The Alexandria Library officially integrated for adults in 1959, and for children in 1962. The Robert Robinson Library closed in 1962 and the building is now the site of the Alexandria Black History Museum. More details about the 1939 sit-in and integration of Alexandria Library, as well as links to additional resources can be found on our website.

The Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library opened on Seminary Road in 1968. This branch library was named after Ellen Coolidge Burke (1901-1975), who served as Director of the Alexandria Library from 1948 to 1969. The Burke Branch Library serves residents of the Seminary Hill neighborhood and surrounding areas.

The James M. Duncan, Jr. Branch Library opened on Commonwealth Avenue in 1969. The Duncan Branch Library serves residents of the Del Ray neighborhood and surrounding areas. This branch was named after James M. Duncan (1897-1967), who served as Chief of the Alexandria Fire Department 1924-1947, member of City Council 1949-1967, and member of the Alexandria Library Board 1950-1967. In 2005 the Duncan Branch Library underwent renovations and became the first City of Alexandria government building to have a “living” roof – a Green Infrastructure approach to reducing stormwater runoff and pollution in local waterways.

The Local History / Special Collections Branch was established in 1976 and first housed at Lloyd House, a historic home on the corner of Queen and North Washington Streets. In 1999, after completion of the most recent round of renovations and expansions, Local History / Special Collections moved into the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library. Local History / Special Collections stewards many valuable resources documenting the history and culture of Alexandria and Virginia from the colonial period to the present.

The Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library opened on Duke Street in 2000. This new central library was named after former mayor of Alexandria, Charles E. “Chuck” Beatley, Jr. (1916-2003). Upon completion of the new main library site, library adminstration offices were moved from the Barrett Library (formerly the central library) to the Beatley Library.

In 2015 the Library took over management of the Alexandria Law Library, located in the basement of the Alexandria Circuit Court on King Street. The Alexandria Law Library provides legal resources for the benefit of the entire Alexandria community, including its citizens, government agencies, local businesses, the judiciary, and members of the bar.

For a more detailed timeline of the history of Alexandria Library, check out our website.