By Shawn Nowlin
Almost a century ago, in 1921, Roanoke’s Gainsboro Branch Library became the first public library for African Americans in western Virginia. Before moving to its current address in 1942, the library’s location was in the Odd Fellows Hall at 446 Gainsboro Ave.
Over the last 100 years, the library has played a vital role in the city’s fabric. Today, it is home to the largest Black history collection in the area.
Without the tireless efforts of longtime librarian Virginia Y. Lee, said collection would not have been possible. Carla Lewis, who previously served as the library’s branch manager, had the pleasure of meeting Lee in person.
On Sept. 14, Roanoke City leaders and the Va. Dept. of Historic Resources dedicated a historical marker to the library. Lewis, Mayor Sherman Lea, former mayor Nelson Harris and Director of Public Libraries Sheila Umberger were among those present for the ceremony.
“We are here to celebrate a significant milestone in our city’s history. This occasion is both a happy one and one that allows us to reflect on the profound impact this institution has had in our community,” Lea said. “This is more than just a building. It is a testament to the power of resilience.”
Shortly after his remarks, Umberger addressed all in attendance. “Through the dedication of its librarians, the library has served as a center of education and knowledge for over 100 years,” she said. “The Gainsboro Branch Library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Virginia state landmark. These honors, along with today’s marker, help cement the significance of the library to the history of the entire state.”
The historical marker, noted Gainsboro Branch Megan Mizak, had been in the works for two years. In 2021, Harris, also a Roanoke historian, viewed the library as a viable candidate to receive a marker. Conversations with Mizak and activist Jordan Bell helped make it become a reality.
University of Delaware Professor Laura Helton made the trip from Philadelphia to be present for the occasion. “As a historian, it truly is a privilege to be able to study the history of this building and the community that it has served for so long. I truly believe Virginia Lee belongs to a national pantheon of Black intellectuals, librarians and curators from the early 20th Century who laid the foundation for Black history,” she said.
In totality, the marker reads, “The Gainsboro Branch Library, founded as a result of local Black activism, was the first public library for African Americans in western Virginia and the second in the state. It opened in the Odd Fellows Hall at 446 Gainsboro Ave. NW in Dec. 1921 and moved here in May 1942. The library became a center of Black intellectual and social life by hosting lectures, conferences, reading clubs, and exhibitions. Librarian Virginia Young Lee, who served from 1928 to 1971, developed a regionally significant collection of Black literature, history books, and ephemera. Defying city officials’ attempts to censor some of this material in the 1940s, she continued to make it accessible in the library’s basement.”
