Although\, the Alexandria Library Company started as a subscription library in 1794\, the public library as we know it today started in 1937 with the construction of the Barrett Library\, at 717 Queen Street\, named for Dr. Kate Waller Barrett\, a Virginia-born ph ilanthropist and suffragette. \; It was given as a gift to the city fr om her son and named in her honor. \;While Kate was a medical doctor\, she is best known for her absolute devotion to the fight for women&rsquo\ ;s rights and the care of disadvantaged women. \; She co-founded the F lorence Crittenton Mission alongside Charles N. Crittenton\, taking a very active role in the Mission&rsquo\;s running. The Crittenton Homes are sti ll active today. \;
\nCome celebrate our 85th anniversary as a p ublic\, free library with a book sale sponsored by the Friends of the Barr ett Branch\, refreshments\, and an author talk and book signing at 1 PM sp onsored by our Local History Branch\, "Public in name only : the 1939 Alex andria Library sit-in demonstration" by Brenda Mitchell-Powell. Just two y ears after the Barrett Library building opened\, it was the site of the fi rst known civil rights sit-in at a library.
\nMeet with local commun ity organizations like Go \;Alex \;and Visit Alexandria. \; \;
\nWe also invite you to add a leaf t o the \;Branches in Our Community \;project in each branch. Write on that leaf what the Library means to you\, or how it has affected your l ife\, and our trees will bloom with support\, stories\, and love.
\nPortrait of Kate Waller Barrett: Library of Congress\, Bain News Service P hotograph Collection (LC-B2-3729-3 [P&\;P] (url https://www.loc.gov/ite m/2014700796/ )
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