Local History / Special Collections
🏢 Alexandria Library · ALEXANDRIA, Virginia
Local History / Special Collections
Housed inside the Barrett Branch at 717 Queen Street, the Local History / Special Collections department preserves more than 250 archive and manuscript collections tracing Alexandria's history from the 1794 Library Company through the Civil War and into the present day.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 717 QUEEN STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
Phone: 7037461706
Website: alexlibraryva.org
📖 About Local History / Special Collections
<p>The Alexandria Library's Local History / Special Collections department traces its roots to 1976, when the city established a dedicated historical research center at Lloyd House on Washington Street. The collections outgrew that historic building, and in May 2000 the department relocated to the Kate Waller Barrett Branch at 717 Queen Street, where it remains today. The department holds original materials from the Alexandria Library Company (founded 1794), including rare books from the 1790s; more than 250 archive and manuscript collections covering local history, genealogy, the Civil War, African American history, and Northern Virginia broadly; Alexandria Gazette microfilm; federal census records; Sanborn Fire Insurance maps; and a photograph archive spanning from the Civil War era to the present. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Research requests for genealogy, house history, and general inquiries can be submitted online.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- More than 250 archive and manuscript collections on Alexandria and Northern Virginia history
- Rare books from the original Alexandria Library Company collection (founded 1794)
- Alexandria Gazette microfilm, federal census records, Civil War regimental histories, and Sanborn maps
- African American Archive, community web archives, and a Local History digital collections portal
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What genealogy resources does Local History / Special Collections hold?
The department holds Virginia vital statistics indexes, federal census microfilm, genealogical journals, church records, and biographical materials. Staff can assist with genealogy research requests submitted via the online form, and the collections are searchable through the Alexandria Library's online portal.
Do I need an appointment to visit Local History / Special Collections?
Appointments are encouraged but not required. The department is open Monday–Wednesday and Friday–Saturday (closed Thursdays and Sundays). It is located inside the Kate Waller Barrett Branch at 717 Queen Street in Old Town Alexandria.
Does Local History / Special Collections have connection to the 1939 civil rights sit-in?
Yes. The Barrett Branch building that houses the department was the site of the landmark 1939 sit-in organized by attorney Samuel W. Tucker, when five African American men peacefully protested being denied library cards — one of the earliest known nonviolent civil rights demonstrations in America. Historical records relating to this event and to Alexandria's African American history are part of the department's collections.