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ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY CELEBRATES TWO MAJOR MILESTONES

Alexandria Library has a rich history that spans two centuries! In 2019, the Library celebrated its 225th year as an entity as well as the 80th anniversary of the historic 1939 Library Sit-In. Throughout 2019, all locations provided programs and events to celebrate both anniversaries.
 
Originally founded on July 24, 1794 by the Alexandria Library Company, the Library was established as a subscription service, becoming the first in the state. Its members paid a fee to use its books. Eventually, several groups came together to form a free public library and on August 20, 1937, the Kate Waller Barrett Branch opened to the community.  However, based on the Jim Crow laws of that time, not all citizens were allowed to use the facility and its resources.
 
This led to one of the most important events in the Library’s history which took place on August 21, 1939, when local attorney, Samuel W. Tucker, and five African American men conducted a sit-in. Recognized as the first library sit-in to occur in the country, the gentlemen individually entered the library and requested library cards from a then-segregated library. Eventually arrested for their act of civil disobedience, their actions resulted in the opening of the Robert H. Robinson Library, which served the African American community before becoming the City’s Black History Museum.  
 
Director Rose T. Dawson commented, “The anniversaries provide an opportunity for the Library to recognize and celebrate all of its past, the good and bad. By providing opportunities for our users to learn, explore, create, and connect, we emphasize that libraries today continue to function as the people’s university, making information available and accessible to all communities. We look forward to commemorating these historic events with exciting and educational programs throughout 2019.”

 

1939 SIT IN

One of the nation’s earliest known civil rights sit-in involved leadership from native Alexandrian, attorney Samuel W. Tucker, and five young African American men who demonstrated an act of civil disobedience at the Barrett Branch after being denied library cards.

 

Learn more here.

 


 

HISTORY OF ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY

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All Anniversary Events
Fri, Mar 29, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sat, Mar 30, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Mon, Apr 01, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Tue, Apr 02, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Wed, Apr 03, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Thu, Apr 04, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Fri, Apr 05, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sat, Apr 06, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sun, Apr 07, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Mon, Apr 08, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Tue, Apr 09, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Wed, Apr 10, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Thu, Apr 11, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Thu, Apr 11, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Please join us for a screening of this 2017 American historical drama film based on the 2008 novel by Hillary Jordan.

Fri, Apr 12, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sat, Apr 13, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sun, Apr 14, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Mon, Apr 15, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Tue, Apr 16, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Wed, Apr 17, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Thu, Apr 18, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Thu, Apr 18, 2:00pm - 4:30pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Please join us for a screening of this 1997 historical drama directed by Stephen Spielberg.

Fri, Apr 19, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sat, Apr 20, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sun, Apr 21, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Mon, Apr 22, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Tue, Apr 23, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Wed, Apr 24, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Wed, Apr 24, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library
Gather with fellow readers in the community to talk about Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, a title similar to AAR’s adult fiction pick, Black Cake, that highlights the theme of COURAGE.

Thu, Apr 25, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Fri, Apr 26, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sat, Apr 27, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sun, Apr 28, 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Mon, Apr 29, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Tue, Apr 30, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Wed, May 01, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Thu, May 02, 10:00am - 8:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Fri, May 03, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sat, May 04, 10:00am - 5:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Burke Adult Services Area
Virginia's Constitution is a traveling exhibition from the Library of Virginia, to mark the 50th anniversary of the state's current constitution.

Sun, May 05, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Hear from relatives of the 1939 Library Sit-In participants to commemorate the 85th Anniversary of this historic civil rights protest.

Thu, May 16, 2:00pm - 4:15pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Please join us for a screening of this 2013 award-winning film.

Thu, May 30, 2:00pm - 4:35pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Please join us for a screening of the 2023 film based on Alice Walker's 1982 novel.

Fri, Jun 07, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library - Large Meeting Room
Please join us for a free screening of this documentary. Click on the event title for more details.

Thu, Jun 27, 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library - Meeting Room
Join us for a screening of this 2017 film based on the book by the same name by Rebecca Skloot.

Last updated: July 2021