Thomas Balch Library

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Thomas Balch Library Official page of the Thomas Balch Library, a history and genealogy library. FREE.

History and genealogy library owned and operated by the Town of Leesburg, Virginia. Collections focus on Loudoun County, regional and Virginia history, genealogy, military history with a special emphasis on the American Civil War, and ethnic history. Provides in-house access to a variety of digital resources; offers classes, lectures, tours, and sells local history books.

Share Your Leesburg Ghost Stories!Do you know a ghost story or local haunting legend from Leesburg or Loudoun County? Th...
10/15/2026

Share Your Leesburg Ghost Stories!

Do you know a ghost story or local haunting legend from Leesburg or Loudoun County? Thomas Balch Library wants to hear it!

Whether it's a personal account, a family tale, or a local legend passed down through generations, we invite you to share the ghost stories and folklore associated with Leesburg and Loudoun County in the comments below.

Everyone who submits a ghost story will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win a copy of Frank Raflo's Hauntings and Happenings.

A winner will be announced on Thursday, October 29.

Join us for "The Plot Thickens" book club on Thursday, October 22 at 6:45 p.m. We'll be discussing "The Bullet Swallower...
10/15/2026

Join us for "The Plot Thickens" book club on Thursday, October 22 at 6:45 p.m. We'll be discussing "The Bullet Swallower" by Elizabeth Gonzalez James — the winner of last month's patrons' pick!

Join us in person at Thomas Balch Library, or register online to join the discussion virtually: https://tinyurl.com/TBLEvents.

Join us for a special Halloween edition of Revolution on Screen at Thomas Balch Library on Tuesday, October 20th at 6 p....
10/13/2026

Join us for a special Halloween edition of Revolution on Screen at Thomas Balch Library on Tuesday, October 20th at 6 p.m. in the lower-level meeting room.

This month’s selection is the 1999 movie Sleepy Hollow, directed by Tim Burton. Watch the film beforehand and join Library Director Laura Christiansen as we dive into the haunting world of Ichabod Crane and the legendary Headless Horseman.

Use this link https://tinyurl.com/mry63z5w to watch the film for free before Tuesday (10/20).

Thomas Balch library will be closed Saturday, October 10 through Monday, October 12 for the holiday weekend. We will reo...
10/09/2026

Thomas Balch library will be closed Saturday, October 10 through Monday, October 12 for the holiday weekend. We will reopen on Tuesday, October 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Thomas Balch Library invites local crafters and Halloween history enthusiasts to "Weird Old Crafts" on Thursday, October...
10/07/2026

Thomas Balch Library invites local crafters and Halloween history enthusiasts to "Weird Old Crafts" on Thursday, October 15, at 6:00 p.m. in the library's lower-level meeting room.

Leesburg residents throughout time have enjoyed crafting, just as much as we do today. Some of the crafts they enjoyed, however, seem a bit…weird. Join library staff as they celebrate pastimes past, beginning with a craft plucked from the pages of the October 1907 issue of Ladies' Home Journal: haunting Halloween masks made from simple paper bags.

Supplies will be provided to create these Halloween animal masks from instructions and templates in the classic women's magazine. Attendees can choose from a lion with a luxurious mane, a fantastic fish, a mischievous cat, a mysterious owl, and other animals. The templates will include some adjustments to ensure that the masks meet modern safety standards. All skill levels and ages are welcome.

A new exhibit, “Preservation in Progress: Highlights in Documentation and Research from the Lincoln Preservation Foundat...
10/03/2026

A new exhibit, “Preservation in Progress: Highlights in Documentation and Research from the Lincoln Preservation Foundation” is now on display in the Margaret Mercer Room at Thomas Balch Library until the end of November

The exhibit highlights the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts since 2000 to document the rich history and to restore an invaluable cultural heritage site.

The Lincoln Preservation Foundation is based in the historic village of Lincoln, Virginia – the anchor of the Goose Creek Historic District. Spanning nearly 10,000 acres in western Loudoun County, the district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Its history is deeply shaped by early Quaker settlers, who laid the area’s agricultural and economic foundations while instilling enduring values of education and equality. It is equally defined by the profound contributions of African Americans, whose skills, labor, perseverance, and military service remain a vital cornerstone of the community’s heritage.

For more information, call 703-737-7195 or email [email protected].

Today’s Throwback Thursday highlights Leesburg Day, which we’ll officially recognize on October 12.Established by an act...
10/01/2026

Today’s Throwback Thursday highlights Leesburg Day, which we’ll officially recognize on October 12.

Established by an act of the Royal Governor on October 12, 1758, Leesburg wasn’t formally incorporated until February 1813, when the Virginia General Assembly passed the Act of Incorporation, establishing a municipal government with elected officials authorized to pass laws and oversee town affairs. Acts and ordinances regulating activities throughout Leesburg soon followed.

And here’s a piece of history you can still see today: the Town seal featured in the first volume of the Town’s records remains fairly intact.

Want to get a sneak peek at more Leesburg history? Stop by tomorrow’s pop-up exhibit at the Donaldson Log Cabin beginning at 5 p.m. to explore a selection of historic materials and learn more about the people and stories that helped shape our community.

It's that time again for Thomas Balch Library's seasonal pumpkin scavenger hunt! Search the library for hidden pumpkins ...
10/01/2026

It's that time again for Thomas Balch Library's seasonal pumpkin scavenger hunt!

Search the library for hidden pumpkins and collect a prize once you find them all. People of all ages are welcome to participate!

The scavenger hunt runs from October 1st to November 2nd.

The public is invited to celebrate Leesburg Day with a pop-up exhibit on Friday, October 2, highlighting the people, pla...
09/30/2026

The public is invited to celebrate Leesburg Day with a pop-up exhibit on Friday, October 2, highlighting the people, places, and communities that have brought Leesburg to life over the years.

Established on October 12, 1758, Leesburg has grown and changed a lot over the last 268 years. In 1776, Leesburg embraced American Independence. Since that pivotal moment, neighborhoods have expanded, new residents have arrived, and generations of families have built connections through the places and activities that brought people together. From local organizations and religious spaces to schools, family activities, celebrations, and town events, community life has played an important role in shaping Leesburg’s identity.

Visitors can explore how residents gathered, celebrated, organized, volunteered, and spent time together throughout Leesburg’s history.

The event will be held in conjunction with Leesburg First Friday, between 5 and 7 p.m. Registration is not required. For more information, call 703-737-7195 or email [email protected].

Ancestry.com has just launched a new free resource that documents nearly 40 million records of enslaved people in 20 for...
09/23/2026

Ancestry.com has just launched a new free resource that documents nearly 40 million records of enslaved people in 20 former British colonies.

The collection consists of Enslavement Registers that the British Government used to track enslaved people across their colonies -- mainly in the Caribbean -- after the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade in 1807. The registers may shed light on family groups, surnames, ages, or ethnic background.

You can learn more about the collection and search through the database by using this link: https://www.ancestry.com/c/colonial-enslavement?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1dennhb7gsa89&fbclid=IwY2xjawUg6xxwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMWh0MXNvUVFCYW1WaXM0bENzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeLDsWln7oQbY86A0tyqidCGGzDgq7zKtakLXRGXaQFmxnIcotQFaQx6uDjcc_aem_MhdbJqvQPvjMLFrQcOohpw

Address

208 W Market Street
Leesburg, VA
20176

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday 2pm - 8pm
Thursday 10am - 8pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

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