Thomas Balch Library

Directions Website

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.

10/23/2026

Thomas Balch Library is highlighting different materials you can find by searching the catalog in this series, Books and Beyond at the Balch!

A new part of the website, “Search Smarter,” offers videos with tips for searching the library's Centennial Catalog. In this reel, "Spend a Summer in Hamilton," an advertisement from the 1890s, is used as an example of ephemera available on-site.

Visit the Search Smarter Page for more tips on using the library catalog! https://tinyurl.com/SearchSmarterTBL

Thomas Balch Library will host Archives Confidential: True Stories of Restricted Archives, an evening of conversation ab...
10/21/2026

Thomas Balch Library will host Archives Confidential: True Stories of Restricted Archives, an evening of conversation about what happens when archival collections contain materials that cannot be accessed by the public. The discussion is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, at 6:00 p.m. in the Library’s lower-level meeting room (208 West Market Street, Leesburg).

The event brings together the public, archivists, librarians, museum professionals, historians, and others who work with restricted or sensitive collections to share their experiences and stories. Through examples and informal conversation, attendees will explore questions of access, ethics, privacy, stewardship, and what it means when things are restricted. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation and is encouraged to bring a story, case study, or personal experience to share.

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please call 703-737-7195, email [email protected], or register online: https://tinyurl.com/TBLEvents.

Join Thomas Balch Library on this Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. for a presentation and discussion with award-winning histor...
10/20/2026

Join Thomas Balch Library on this Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. for a presentation and discussion with award-winning historian and author David O. Stewart on his newest book, The Democracy We Must Keep.

As America marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, Stewart explores the writings and ideas that shaped the nation's democracy, from Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine to the U.S. Constitution and George Washington's Farewell Address. Discover how the founders envisioned a government rooted in the consent of the governed and why those principles still matter today.

Pre-registration is required. Register online at: https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library/library-news-events/event-registration or call 703-737-7195.

Don't miss it! Past & Present: Discovering Loudoun Through Time is happening this Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p...
10/19/2026

Don't miss it! Past & Present: Discovering Loudoun Through Time is happening this Thursday, Oct. 22, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the historic Birkby House Conservatory. Join the Friends of Thomas Balch Library for this unique event. Enjoy great food and w**e, explore fascinating pieces from the Thomas Balch Library collections, take part in the "Guess Where?" challenge, and support local history.

Tickets are still available, but time is running short!

Reserve yours today: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/friendsofbalch/2357978

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].

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

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Thomas Balch Library posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category