Collections : [Thomas Balch Library]

Thomas Balch Library

Thomas Balch Library
208 West Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia 20176
Primary Collecting Areas:
One of the library’s missions is collecting and preserving printed, manuscript, photographic, cartographic and genealogical documentation of Leesburg, Loudoun County and the surrounding region. The library actively seeks and welcomes donations of original business records, diaries, correspondence and photographs documenting life, culture, and history of Leesburg and Loudoun County. Library collections include over thirty-two thousand books and periodicals, maps, visual collections, newspapers, government records, and manuscripts. The library offers lectures on history and genealogy, classes, and exhibits. Group tours and orientations are available on request and books about local history are available for purchase on-site. Please contact us to find out more about donating to the library, joining our mailing list, or scheduling a tour.
Description:
Thomas Balch Library is a history and genealogy library owned and operated by the Town of Leesburg. Collections focus on Loudoun County, regional and Virginia history, genealogy, military history with special emphasis on the American Civil War, and ethnic history. It is designated as an Underground Railroad research site.
POC: Alexandra S. Gressitt
Phone: (703) 737-7195
Fax: (703) 737-7195
Start Over Repository Thomas Balch Library
Thomas Balch Library

Hamilton Book Club Historical Project Papers 1959; 1966; n.d.

This collections is made up of worksheets filled out by members of the Hamilton Book Club in 1966 as part of a research project. Club members researched topics like the origins of Hamilton, the Civil War battle that took place near the town, the 1926 fire that drastically changed the makeup of the downtown, and contemporary and past businesses. Also included in the collection are two historical sketches, a history of the Hamilton Masonic Lodge written by Ernest Shawen (1874-1964) in 1959, and a copy of a transcription of the charter of the town of Hamilton.
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Hamilton Book Club Historical Project Papers 1959; 1966; n.d.

Hamilton Book Club, Hamilton, VA.
This collections is made up of worksheets filled out by members of the Hamilton Book Club in 1966 as part of a research project. Club members researched topics like the origins of Hamilton, the Civil War battle that took place near the town, the 1926 fire that drastically changed the makeup of the downtown, and contemporary and past businesses. Also included in the collection are two historical sketches, a history of the Hamilton Masonic Lodge written by Ernest Shawen (1874-1964) in 1959, and a copy of a transcription of the charter of the town of Hamilton.
Thomas Balch Library

Fran Poston Photograph Collection 2003

35 photographs of historic downtown Leesburg, Virginia.
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Thomas Balch Library

Potts Collection of Quaker Material 1878, n.d.

The collection consists of three undated duplicate postcards of Goose Creek Meeting House in Lincoln, VA, an undated greeting postcard from Lincoln, VA, and 23 Mar 1878 edition of Friends Intelligencer, a Hicksite Quaker publication. In addition to articles on topics such as temperance and education, the periodical also contains death notices.
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Thomas Balch Library

Historical Postcards 1900-1980

The primary subject matter of the postcards is scenes from around Loudoun County, although there are images from surrounding Virginia counties and several cards related to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Buildings, images of nature, and well-known streets figure prominently. Leesburg is the location most covered, including many images of Market Street, King Street, and the Loudoun County Courthouse.
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Historical Postcards 1900-1980

Thomas Balch Library
The primary subject matter of the postcards is scenes from around Loudoun County, although there are images from surrounding Virginia counties and several cards related to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Buildings, images of nature, and well-known streets figure prominently. Leesburg is the location most covered, including many images of Market Street, King Street, and the Loudoun County Courthouse.

Item Box Historical Postcards

Thomas Balch Library

Southern Railway Right-of-Way Map ca. 1910

This collection consists of one blueprint map of the Bluemont Branch of the Southern Railway. The map was probably produced around 1910, prior to Southern Railway turning over operations of the line to Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. The map is 71 pages, 46 cm x 21 cm.
3 results

Item Box 1

Southern Railway Right-of-Way Map ca. 1910

Joseph Rogers, Jr., Hamilton, VA via Eugene Scheel
This collection consists of one blueprint map of the Bluemont Branch of the Southern Railway. The map was probably produced around 1910, prior to Southern Railway turning over operations of the line to Washington and Old Dominion Railroad. The map is 71 pages, 46 cm x 21 cm.
Thomas Balch Library

Thomas Balch Library Advisory Commission Photographic Collection 1993-

The collection documents the annual Loudoun History Awards Ceremony. Not all years are represented.
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Item Box 1

Thomas Balch Library

John Sower Letter, 1861

2 items, less than .33 cubic feet.

This collection consists of a letter sent by John Sower dated 3 October 1861. The letter is a reply to his father and describes skirmishes around Point of Rocks where Confederate forces were advancing toward the Maryland side of the Potomac River. In the first part of the letter he describes Union soldiers firing cannons upon a brick house and burning down a log house. In the last part of the letter, he declares his well-being and asks whether or not his friend Frank had enlisted in the army.

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Item John Sowers Letter, 3 October 1861 Folder 1

  1. SC 0115

Item John Divine Note, 9 March 1962 Folder 2

  1. SC 0115

John Sower Letter, 1861 2 items, less than .33 cubic feet.

Loudoun County Historical Society, Leesburg, VA

This collection consists of a letter sent by John Sower dated 3 October 1861. The letter is a reply to his father and describes skirmishes around Point of Rocks where Confederate forces were advancing toward the Maryland side of the Potomac River. In the first part of the letter he describes Union soldiers firing cannons upon a brick house and burning down a log house. In the last part of the letter, he declares his well-being and asks whether or not his friend Frank had enlisted in the army.

Thomas Balch Library

Pioneer America Society Photograph Collection 1968-1994

This collection consists of 36 photographs taken by Henry H. Douglas and William Edmund Barrett. It is divided into two series by photographer, after which it is arranged chronologically. The photographs were taken for "Echoes of Time," the newsletter of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Pioneer America Society. Most, but not all, were eventually published in the newsletter.
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Item Box 1

Pioneer America Society Photograph Collection 1968-1994

Virginia Room, Fairfax County Public Library
This collection consists of 36 photographs taken by Henry H. Douglas and William Edmund Barrett. It is divided into two series by photographer, after which it is arranged chronologically. The photographs were taken for "Echoes of Time," the newsletter of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Pioneer America Society. Most, but not all, were eventually published in the newsletter.
Thomas Balch Library

Rosser Family Photograph Collection, 1865-1909

13 photographs
The Rosser family lived primarily in Alabama and Mississippi, but they had Virginia connections. This photographic collection contains thirteen items: eleven cabinet cards, one postcard, and one carte-de-visite.
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Item Box 1

Rosser Family Photograph Collection, 1865-1909 13 photographs

unknown
The Rosser family lived primarily in Alabama and Mississippi, but they had Virginia connections. This photographic collection contains thirteen items: eleven cabinet cards, one postcard, and one carte-de-visite.
Thomas Balch Library

Jim Birchfield Photograph Collection 1945-1983

This photographic collection consists of twenty-five black and white photographs of sites within Loudoun County. The majority of the pictures taken are historic homes. However, a few other landmarks within the county were also captured including Waterford Mill, Thomas Balch Library, Loudoun County Courthouse, Paxton House, Springwood Ball Home Place, and St. James Episcopal Church. Also included are two farms. Most of the photographs have been identified although the identities of a few remain unknown. In the list below, photographs identified by Birchfield appear without brackets; those in brackets have been identified by library staff.The photographs appear to have been taken over the course of many years, and all likely date to 1945-1983, the years Birchfield lived near Leesburg. The photographs represent a wide variety of unique architectural styles.
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Item Box 1

Jim Birchfield Photograph Collection 1945-1983

Ann Braham, Leesburg, VA
This photographic collection consists of twenty-five black and white photographs of sites within Loudoun County. The majority of the pictures taken are historic homes. However, a few other landmarks within the county were also captured including Waterford Mill, Thomas Balch Library, Loudoun County Courthouse, Paxton House, Springwood Ball Home Place, and St. James Episcopal Church. Also included are two farms. Most of the photographs have been identified although the identities of a few remain unknown. In the list below, photographs identified by Birchfield appear without brackets; those in brackets have been identified by library staff.The photographs appear to have been taken over the course of many years, and all likely date to 1945-1983, the years Birchfield lived near Leesburg. The photographs represent a wide variety of unique architectural styles.

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