National Register of Historic Places

Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library

Roanoke (Independent City), Roanoke County, Virginia
Listed
December 2, 1996
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
96001448

About this property

The Gainsboro Branch Library is a historic library building located in the Gainsboro neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It was built in 1941–1942 and is a one-story, seven-bay brick building built with an L-plan and gabled roof, and designed in the Tudor Revival style. The library's history dates to 1921 as the fourth library for African Americans in the Southern United States. It is home to a significant black history collection that was gradually amassed by longtime librarian Virginia Lee. After being told by city officials to remove the items, Lee moved them into request-only storage. The collection is now on display in a room dedicated for and named after Lee, and the library has seen recognition for its role in preserving the area's African American heritage. The library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, and was made part of the Gainsboro Historic District in 2005. It underwent significant renovations in 2009 and 2020.

Location

15 Patton Ave., NW
Roanoke (Independent City), Roanoke County, Virginia
37.27729, -79.94117

Categories

BLACKEDUCATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

St. Andrew's Roman Catholic Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Gainsboro Historic District
Listed
0.1 mi
Henry Street Historic District
Industrial
0.2 mi
Hotel Roanoke
Industrial
0.2 mi
Norfolk and Western Railway Company Historic District
Listed
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library listed on the National Register?

Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 2, 1996.

What type of historic resource is Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library?

Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library?

The period of significance for Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke City Public Library?

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