Guest blog by Director of Thomas Balch Library, Laura Christiansen.
For nearly three centuries, the women of Leesburg and Loudoun County have been the heartbeat of our community. They didn’t just witness history; they built the institutions and nurtured the cultural fabric that defines us today. They founded our garden clubs, built libraries, sustained our hospitals, championed scientific breakthroughs, and fought for the right to vote while ensuring the places we depend on would endure for generations.
This March, Thomas Balch Library encourages you to do more than read about these women. We invite you to experience the records that tell their stories and join the effort to preserve them.
Discovering History in the Archives
Our history isn’t abstract, it’s tangible. It lives in the handwritten letters, meeting minutes, and scrapbooks preserved in the archival collections at Thomas Balch Library. Kick off the month with two programs that will help you explore these documents firsthand:
· Women’s Contributions in Loudoun County
Wednesday, March 4, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Purcellville Library, Robey Meeting Room
Join Library Director Laura Christiansen for an exploration of women’s history through collections available in the Rust Archives. From civic reformers to pioneers in medicine, this program brings to life the women who mobilized and led our community through decades of change.
· First Friday at the Donaldson Cabin: Botanical World & Seeds
Friday, March 6, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Step into an exhibit celebrating the botanical history of Leesburg. Discover how local garden clubs were more than social circles—they were civic forces that beautified our public spaces and promoted environmental stewardship.
· Save the Date: Loudoun Female Patriots of the American Revolution
Saturday, April 4, 2:00 PM, Thomas Balch Library
Genealogist Sherryl Belinsky shares strategies for uncovering the “hard-to-find” women of the Revolution. Learn practical methods for tracing patriotic service using both digital tools and physical archives.
The records featured in these programs reveal a consistent pattern across generations: women investing their expertise and resources into the well-being of their neighbors. Three women found in Thomas Balch Library’s collection in particular exemplify this legacy:
· Nancy Graham Rogers: A Leesburg native and world-class virologist at Walter Reed. She helped develop a typhus vaccine during WWII, earning the Exceptional Civilian Service Medal. She was also a devoted member of the Leesburg Garden Club.
· Margaret “Mrs. Pere” Wilmer: A pillar of the Ladies Board of Loudoun Hospital for fifty years. Her work ensured that healthcare in our region remained human and sustained through decades of growth.
· Valerie Harris Symington: A seventy-year resident better known as A.V. Symington. Her $7 million bequest to Ida Lee Park transformed public recreation in Leesburg, creating a legacy enjoyed by every family that visits the aquatic center today.
Get Involved: Preserve the Record
Inspired by their example? You can get involved! Women’s History Month at Thomas Balch Library is about participation as much as commemoration. We invite you to step behind the scenes and learn how to safeguard these stories.
Volunteer Kick-Off: Processing the League of Women Voters Papers
Wednesday, March 25, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Help ensure the records of the Loudoun County League of Women Voters are preserved for the next century. This hands-on workshop allows you to work directly with archival materials—no experience required! Work will take place at the Donaldson Cabin (14 Loudoun St. SW, Leesburg, VA)
Note: Registration is required. Please email [email protected] for more information.
Collections such as the League of Women Voters records help us tell the story of dedicated women in our community. Scrapbooks, hospital board minutes, and correspondence form the backbone of our shared past. Leesburg’s history is richer because these records survived—but ensuring that survival is an ongoing task.
This March and April, we invite you to attend a lecture, explore an exhibit, or volunteer with a collection. By engaging with these records, you continue the tradition of community investment modeled by the women who came before us.
Their history is our foundation. Let’s build the next chapter together.