Alexandria Library Records (MS098)
Content Description
This collection contains the records of the Alexandria Library, documenting the administration and operation of the Library, dating from the founding of the public library in 1937 through the present. Included are administrative records, annual reports, financial records, circulation records, materials documenting the history of the Library, programming and outreach records, and records of the individual branches of the library system. Formats include textual documents, photographs, and ephemera.
The Alexandria Library is an active organization, and so this collection is a living collection which will be periodically added to and updated. Check this collection guide for any future updates to the collection.
Dates
- 1937 - 2013
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Public access to some confidential personnel records is restricted, these materials are noted as such.
Historical Note
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.
Extent
13.86 Cubic Feet (30 boxes, 1 oversized box)
Language of Materials
English
Notes on Arrangement
This finding aid describes and documents the updated arrangement of this collection as of 2023. Previously, the collection was organized into the following series: By Laws, Charters, and Agreements; Board; Annual Reports; Administration; Circulation; Construction; History; Publicity; Scrapbooks; Workshops; Queen/Barrett; Robert Robinson; Special Services; and Lloyd House. “By-Laws, Charters, and Agreements” and “Administration” have been combined into the new Subseries 1.2. Administration and Finance. “History,” “Publicity,” “Scrapbooks,” “Workshops,” and “Photographs” have been combined into the new Subseries 1.4. History, Programming, and Outreach. “Construction,” “Queen/Barrett,” “Robert Robinson,” “Special Services,” and “Lloyd House,” have been combined into the new Subseries 1.5. Branch Records.
The “Board” series has been separated from MS098 and combined with other records to form a new, separate collection of Alexandria Library Board Records.
The physical and intellectual arrangement of the Alexandria Library Records (MS098) has been updated a few times over the years, while remaining accessible to the public. Thus, the decision was made to maintain, as much as appropriate, the current order of the pre-existing collection as Series 1: Founding and 20th Century Records; and Series 2: 21st Century Records includes the new accretions to the collection as of 2023. Future accretions to this collection will either be added to Series 2 or form a new series.
- Series 1. Founding and 20th Century Records, 1937-2005
- Subseries 1.1. Annual Reports
- Subseries 1.2. Administration and Finance
- Subseries 1.3. Circulation Records
- Subseries 1.4. History, Programming, and Outreach
- Subseries 1.5. Branch Records
- Series 2. 21st Century Records, 1994-present
- Subseries 2.1. Annual Reports
- Subseries 2.2. Administration and Finance
- Subseries 2.3. Branch Records
- Subseries 2.4. Programming and Outreach
- Subseries 2.5. Web Archives
Digital Materials
Separated Materials
Materials relating to the Alexandria Library Board have been moved from MS098 to the Alexandria Library Board Records collection.
- Alexandria (Va.). Library
- Alexandria Library Association (1897-1937)
- Alexandria Library Company (1794-1881, 1953)
- Alexandria Library Society (1937-1953)
- Barrett, Kate Waller, Dr., 1958-1925
- Beatley, Charles E., Jr., 1916-2003
- Burke, Ellen Coolidge
- Duncan, James M., Jr. (James Morton), 1897-1967
- Public libraries.
- Title
- Alexandria Library Records (MS098)
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Katherine Crowe, Special Collections Librarian
- Date
- 2023
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library Repository