Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
🏢 Alexandria Library · ALEXANDRIA, Virginia
Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
Built in 1937 on a Quaker burial ground leased for 99 years, the Kate Waller Barrett Branch is Alexandria's oldest operating library building and the site of one of America's earliest recorded civil rights sit-ins, staged in 1939 by attorney Samuel W. Tucker and five young Black men.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 717 QUEEN STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
Phone: 7037461703
Website: alexlibraryva.org
📖 About Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library
<p>The Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library opened in 1937 on Queen Street in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, named for Dr. Kate Waller Barrett (1857–1925), a physician and social reformer who co-founded the Florence Crittenton Mission to support disadvantaged women. The building stands on land leased from the Society of Friends — a 99-year lease over an historic Quaker burial ground. On August 21, 1939, attorney Samuel W. Tucker and five African American men staged a peaceful sit-in here after being denied library cards, an act recognized as one of the earliest known nonviolent civil rights demonstrations in American history. The branch was renovated and expanded in 1954, 1964, and 1993, and today also houses the Alexandria Library's Local History / Special Collections department. It is accessible via Metrorail at Braddock Road and King Street stations, DASH Bus routes 30 and 31, and the King Street Trolley.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Opened 1937 — Alexandria's oldest operating library building, built on a historic Quaker burial ground
- Site of the 1939 sit-in by attorney Samuel W. Tucker — one of America's earliest civil rights demonstrations
- Houses the Local History / Special Collections department with 250+ archive collections
- Climate Resilience Hub Collection and programs including Dungeons & Dragons, knitting, and mahjong
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What was the 1939 civil rights sit-in at the Barrett Branch?
On August 21, 1939, attorney Samuel W. Tucker organized five young African American men to enter the Kate Waller Barrett Branch and request library cards. When denied, they sat peacefully and read books until removed. The event is recognized as one of the first known nonviolent civil rights sit-ins in American history, predating many later demonstrations of the movement.
Does the Barrett Branch have on-site parking?
There is no dedicated library parking lot, but street parking is available on Queen Street and surrounding blocks. A paid parking lot is located on the 100 block of North Alfred Street. The branch is accessible via Metrorail (Braddock Road and King Street–Old Town stations), DASH Bus routes 30 and 31, Metrobus A11, A12, and F19, and the King Street Trolley.
What community programs run at the Barrett Branch?
Programs at Barrett include storytimes for multiple age groups, book discussion groups, Dungeons & Dragons clubs for teens and adults, knitting circles, Spanish conversation practice, mahjong groups, and Hispanic Heritage Month programming. The branch also maintains a Climate Resilience Hub Collection.