Four Women Exhibit Panels

TIMELINE
Integration of Public Libraries
& Schools in Virginia

1904

Norfolk Public Library opens as the first public library in Virginia.
Construction is funded by Andrew Carnegie. The library is segregated and
serves whites-only.
In December, the George M. Jones Library Association files paperwork to
incorporate for the purposes of establishing a public library in the city of
Lynchburg.

1908

The George M. Jones Memorial Library officially
opens in Lynchburg at 434 Rivermont Avenue. The
building is constructed in the beaux arts style and
overlooks downtown.

1913

The Handley Library opens in Winchester, Virginia. Also constructed in the
Beaux Arts style, the library is funded by and named for a Pennsylvania judge.
Library service is segregated for whites only.

1921

The library is privately financed by Mary Watts Jones
but is the second public library in the state, with
service for whites-only.

The Danville Library opens whites-only public services at the Sutherlin House.

The Roanoke Public Library opens its first whites-only branch in May 1921. Rachel
Davis Harris, from the Louisville (Kentucky) Free Public Library Western Colored
Branch, travels to Roanoke to establish the Gainsboro Branch. Opened in
December 1921, Gainsboro is the first branch library in Virginia to offer
segregated services to African-Americans.
A few months later, Norfolk begins segregated services to African-Americans
through the Blyden Branch.
Charlottesville opens its first public municipal library, for whites-only.

1924
1925

1934
1936
1937

Jones Memorial Library opens the Dunbar Branch at
Dunbar High School. The branch serves students
during the day and the wider African-American
community in the evening. (TL1)
Public libraries for whites-only are opened in
Richmond and Petersburg.

Petersburg begins segregated services for African-American residents from the
basement of the public library building.
Richmond begins segregated services for African-Americans at the Rosa D. Bowser
branch.

Charlottesville starts segregated services for African-Americans at the Jefferson
School Branch.

The Alexandria Public Library opens for whites-only.

Richmond Public Library applies to the U.S. District Court to integrate its libraries.
The court denies the application.

Learn more at Digital Jones
https://digitaljones.omeka.net/exhibits/show/four-women-dunbar-branch

TIMELINE
Integration of Public Libraries
& Schools in Virginia

1940
1947
1948
1950
1953
1959
1960

Following a sit-in, the Alexandria Public Library opens the segregated
Robert H. Robinson branch for African-Americans.

The Richmond Public Library becomes the first public library in the state to
integrate its services in 1947.
Norfolk Public Library integrates, but restrooms remain segregated.

Charlottesville Public Library integrates services in 1948.

The Alexandria Public Library integrates its services in 1950.
In October, the Alexandria librarian writes to Jones Memorial Library for advice on
offering integrated services. Librarian Lucille Dickerson replies that Lynchburg services
remained segregated. (TL2)
Danville Public Library begins segregated service for African-Americans at the Grasty
Branch.
Winchester’s Handley Library integrates in 1953.

In February, Arlington‘s Stratford Junior High School becomes the first Virginia
school to integrate.
Norfolk and Charlottesville public schools soon follow

Roanoke Public Schools integrate.
Following a court order, the Danville Public Library begins “vertical integration”
of services. Vertical integration involved removing tables and chairs from the
library, meaning patrons could only use services while standing.
Petersburg Public Library integrates its services.

1963
1964
1966
1967
1969
1970

Petersburg public schools integrate in 1963.

Alexandria public schools integrate in 1964.

The Lynchburg Public Library opens in 1966 on Main Street with David Rowland
as director. Winchester public schools integrate in 1966.

In 1967, the city of Lynchburg begins to operate Lynchburg Public Library as the
first racially integrated, taxpayer-funded public library, with Jane Black as
director.

Trustees of the Jones Memorial Library vote in August 1969 to integrate and begin
specialized services. The library starts to deaccession its fiction holdings, donating
thousands of books to the Lynchburg Public Library, Lynchburg City Schools, and
area colleges. As a specialized library, the Jones will emphasize Virginia history
and genealogy.

A year after the Jones integrates, public schools in Danville, Richmond, and
Lynchburg integrate.

Learn more at Digital Jones
https://digitaljones.omeka.net/exhibits/show/four-women-dunbar-branch