# Thomas Balch Library > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Balch_Library > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Thomas_Balch_Library.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Balch_Library > Source revision: 1339211106 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Library in Virginia, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox building | name = Thomas Balch Library | image = TBL1922HistoricLibrary.jpg | image_caption = Thomas Balch Library | coordinates = {{coord|39.1167726|-77.5683237|display=inline}} | address = 208 West Market Street | location_city = Leesburg, VA | opened_date = 1922 | renovation_date = 2000 }} The '''Thomas Balch Library''' is a history and [genealogy](/source/genealogy) library located in [Leesburg, Virginia](/source/Leesburg%2C_Virginia).{{cite web|title=Balch Library Information |url=http://www.balchfriends.org/ainfo.htm |website=balchfriends.org |publisher=Friends of Thomas Balch Library|accessdate=25 February 2015}} The library, owned and operated by the town of Leesburg, serves as a designated [Underground Railroad](/source/Underground_Railroad) research site and has an active research program.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bpXQAgAAQBAJ&dq=underground+railroad+%22Thomas+Balch+Library%22&pg=PA145|title=Maryland and Virginia|last=Gasserud|first=Michaela|publisher=[Avalon Travel](/source/Avalon_Travel)|date= 11 February 2014|isbn=9781612385174}}{{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Caitlin|title=New research aims to connect Loudoun slaves to modern-day descendants|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/new-research-aims-to-connect-loudoun-slaves-to-modern-day-descendants/2012/02/21/gIQApJcsTR_story.html|newspaper=[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)|accessdate=25 February 2015}}{{cite web|title=Thomas Balch Library Adds Database of President Monroe's Slaves|url=http://www.loudoun.daily-monitor.com/thomas-balch-library-adds-database-of-president-james-monroes-slaves/11895/|publisher=[Loudoun Daily-Monitor](/source/Loudoun_Daily-Monitor)|accessdate=30 March 2015}} ==History== The library was incorporated in 1918.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jyEEGPIE6P4C&dq=%22Thomas+Balch+Library%22&pg=PT259|title=Legends of Loudoun: An Account of the History and Homes of a Border County of Virginia's Northern Neck|last=Williams|first=Harrison|publisher=[Library of Alexandria](/source/Library_of_Alexandria)|date= |isbn=9781465513755}} The architect for the library was [Waddy Butler Wood](/source/Waddy_Butler_Wood).{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lDEx_l49Da0C&dq=%22Thomas+Balch+Library%22&pg=PA19|title=Along Virginia's Route|last=Ballatto|first=Josie|publisher=[Arcadia Publishing](/source/Arcadia_Publishing)|date= 2015|isbn=9780738567389}} In 1922, the Thomas Balch Library was constructed in [Leesburg, Virginia](/source/Leesburg%2C_Virginia) as a memorial to historian [Thomas Balch](/source/Thomas_Balch_(historian)), a Leesburg native. [Thomas Willing Balch](/source/Thomas_Willing_Balch) (1866-1927) and [Edwin Swift Balch](/source/Edwin_Swift_Balch) (1856-1927), sons of Thomas Balch, originally endowed the [subscription library](/source/subscription_library).{{cite web |url=http://www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=84 |title=Thomas Balch Library |accessdate=2011-01-12 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413134323/http://www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=84 |archivedate=April 13, 2010 }} The Library is part of the [Leesburg Historic District](/source/Leesburg_Historic_District_(Leesburg%2C_Virginia)).{{cite web|title=Historic District |url=http://www.leesburgva.gov/government/boards-commissions/board-of-architectural-review/historic-district|website=leesburgva.gov |accessdate=25 February 2015}} 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](/source/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.[http://www.leesburgva.gov/government/departments/thomas-balch-library Leesburg, Virginia: Thomas Balch Library] The [http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=tbl/viletbl00072.xml;query=;brand=default#scopecontent_1.1 Martin L. Cook] photograph collection was acquired by the library in 2008. Cook was commissioned after training at the [Tuskegee Army Flying School](/source/Tuskegee_Army_Flying_School) and went on to serve in the [U.S. Navy](/source/U.S._Navy) in the [Department of Defense](/source/United_States_Department_of_Defense) as an aeronautical engineer. In 2003 a [Palladio Award](/source/Palladio_Award) in the category "Traditional Buildings" was given to [Bowie Gridley Architects](/source/Bowie_Gridley_Architects) for a "sympathetic" addition to the Library building.{{cite web|title=Traditional Building: The Palladio Awards|url=http://www.traditional-building.com/palladio/pw200301.htm|accessdate=25 February 2015}} The addition doubled the size of the 1922 building. 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.{{cite news|title=Assembly Clears Path For Balch Library Endowment|url=http://www.leesburgtoday.com/news/assembly-clears-path-for-balch-library-endowment/article_779f5bba-7b69-11e2-a332-001a4bcf887a.html|accessdate=25 February 2015|publisher=Leesburg Today|date=20 February 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Hager|first1=Hannah|title=Thomas Balch Library receives large donation|url=http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/thomas_balch_libr787ary_receives_large_donation|accessdate=25 February 2015|publisher=Loudon Times|date=9 November 2010}}{{cite news|last1=Wagoner|first1=Jana|title=Balch Library receives more money from Bowie estate|url=http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/balch_library_receives_more_money_from_bowie_estate456|accessdate=25 February 2015|publisher=Loudon Times|date=3 November 2010}} The Library also holds an annual fundraising event at various local historic sites.{{cite news|last1=Morton|first1=Margaret|title=Hospital, Balch Library Team Up For Unusual Fundraiser Sunday|url=http://www.leesburgtoday.com/community_life/hospital-balch-library-team-up-for-unusual-fundraiser-sunday/article_8c115cec-2888-11e4-9f0f-001a4bcf887a.html|accessdate=25 February 2015|publisher=Leesburg Today|date=20 August 2014}} ==Services== The Thomas Balch Library offers patrons many services. Research and reference services include general collection research, databases and electronic resources, the Loudoun County cemetery database, research guides and book indices, and digital exhibits. The special collections include archives, manuscripts, cemetery records, [census](/source/census) records, deeds and wills, [genealogies](/source/genealogies) and family histories, historic house files, maps, [microforms](/source/Microform), military collections, newspapers, oral histories, rare books, tax rolls, [vertical files](/source/Vertical_file), visual collections, and [vital records](/source/Vital_record).https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library/research-reference-services/explore-our-collections ==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](/source/John_Elbert_Devine) (1911-1996), in preserving Loudoun County history. The Loudoun History Awards were initially started in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.leesburgva.gov/home/showdocument?id=10451|title=Loudoun History Awards|last=|first=|publisher=Thomas Balch Library|date=2012}} TBL1922HistoricLibrary.jpg|Thomas Balch Library Thomas_Balch_Library_Front_View.jpg|Thomas Balch Library Front View Thomas_Balch_Interior_1_April_2015.jpg|Thomas Balch Library Interior #1 Thomas_Balch_Interior_2_April_2015.jpg|Thomas Balch Library Interior #2 Thomas_Balch_Library_Interior_3_April_2015.jpg|Thomas Balch Library Interior #3 Thomas_Balch_Library_Interior_4_April_2015.jpg|Thomas Balch Library Interior #4 ==Research== In February 2012 the library published work connecting slaves with their modern-day descendants. The library now serves as a designated Underground Railroad research site. On March 31, 2010, the Thomas Balch Library and [George Mason University](/source/George_Mason_University) announced an agreement for academic cooperation.{{cite web|url=http://www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=29&recordid=486&returnURL=%2findex.aspx%3fpage%3d84 |title=Thomas Balch Library and George Mason University Sign Memorandum of Agreement for Academic Cooperation |publisher=[Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) |date=9 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626055529/http://www.leesburgva.gov/index.aspx?page=29&recordid=486&returnURL=%2findex.aspx%3fpage%3d84 |archivedate=June 26, 2010 }} ==References== {{Reflist|2}} == External links == * {{official website|http://leesburgva.com/government/departments/thomas-balch-library}} * [http://balchfriends.org/ Friends of Thomas Balch Library] {{Loudoun County, Virginia}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Balch, Thomas, Library}} Category:Public libraries in Virginia Category:Library buildings completed in 1922 Category:Historic district contributing properties in Virginia Category:Libraries on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Category:National Register of Historic Places in Loudoun County, Virginia Category:Brick buildings and structures in Virginia Category:1922 establishments in Virginia --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Thomas Balch Library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Balch_Library) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Balch_Library?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.