Arlington Public Library is an official book sanctuary.
Stand Up for Books
Banned Books Week (September 18-24, 2022) promotes free and open access to ideas and information.
At the young age of 12, Ron Deskins played a crucial role in integrating Virginia public schools.
Green Valley, Dunbar Housing Community and Work at the White House
Oral History: Gertrude “Trudy” Ensign
Intelligence analyst for the United States Army during World War II.
The Henry Louis Holmes Library, 1940-1949
Created by Arlington’s Black residents, to serve their community during segregation.
Oral History: Rayfield Barber
A lifetime at the center of Arlington’s airport history.
The Activists who Desegregated Arlington’s Movie Theaters
“The Price of a Ticket at the Cost of Your Conscience”
Marionne Walls-Fort discusses Dr. King’s visit to Lomax AME Zion Church.
WETA’s Arlington History: “It is the Programming that Counts”
An iconic institution, capturing and broadcasting the news for more than a half-century.
Reading Between the Lines: Year Two of Reading in a Pandemic
The Library Director’s 2021 Goodreads Reading List.
Oral History: Mary Cook Hackman
Politics, Parks and the Law
Shirlington’s Cinematic Past
Shirlington’s cinema through the years.
Too Cool for Yule, 2021
Pop, jazz, instrumental, New Orleans, country, bluegrass, R&B, old school pop, The Chipmunks, and more on Diane’s annual playlist.
Arlington’s Courthouse: A Tale in Three Acts
A Central Landmark of Local Government.
Oral History: Don Tenoso
Arlington-based Native American artist and educator.
Oral History: J. Walter Tejada
In 2003 Tejada became the first person of Latin American heritage to be elected to the County Board, or to...
Read moreRemembering September 11 with Photos of First Responders
Images from the Records Related to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on the Pentagon collection.
Oral History: Buckingham Florist
Interview with Neil Bassin
All individuals, age two and older, who enter Arlington Public Library buildings will be required to wear a mask, regardless...
Read moreWashington Golf and Country Club
The Washington Golf and Country Club is considered the oldest golf club in Virginia, and its course now comprises 88...
Read moreOral History: Public Shoe Store
Interview with Dr. Sholom “Doc” Friedman and Karen Widmayer
An (Un)familiar Tune: Arlington’s Song
Though many may not know the words to this reverential tune, Arlington has had an official song for more than...
Read moreNews Release: Discover Arlington’s history and browse newspaper content online from 1935 to 1978.
Joan Cooper: Taking a Stand
Joan Cooper (1940-2014) was an African-American Arlington social and civic activist, community leader, and passionate anti-drug campaigner.
In 1997, Jay Fisette became the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to office in the state of Virginia when he...
Read moreDorothy Hamm: Speaking Out
Dorothy Hamm was at the forefront of the civil rights movement in Arlington, and lead efforts to successfully desegregate Arlington’s...
Read moreThe History of Arlington’s Logo and Seal
Learn more about our County iconography.
The Arlington Council on Human Relations was to improve the economic, civic, and racial conditions in Arlington County.
Cycling Through Arlington’s History
May is National Biking Month, and to celebrate, let’s take a look at Arlington’s decades-long history of bicycle enthusiasm!
Joan Trumpauer Mulholland: Taking a Stand
Civil rights activist, educator, and founder of the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation.
Oral History: West Brothers Brick Company
Interview with Rayfield Barber
Barbara Marx: Speaking Out
Marx was involved with civil rights activities and the NAACP, Arlingtonians for a Better County, the Arlington Community Action Committee,...
Read moreArlington’s Signature Soda: Cherry Smash
Did you know that Arlington was once home to one of the country’s most popular sodas?
Dr. Charles Drew: Taking a Stand
Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950) was a surgeon and a pioneer in the field of blood plasma preservation, storage, and...
Read moreOral History: Bob & Edith’s Diner
Interview with Gregory Bolton
William A. Rowe: Taking a Stand
William Augustus Rowe (1834-1907) was a pivotal figure in the early development of the Green Valley community.
Roberta Flack’s Arlington Roots
Arlington native Roberta Flack is known worldwide for her voice, songwriting, and musical ability.
Nguyen Ngoc Bich: Speaking Out
Nguyen Ngoc Bich (1937-2016) was a pivotal Arlingtonian in commercial and community affairs alike.
Oral History: Margaret Troxell
Margaret Troxell (1909-2002) was a pioneering local journalist who helped found the Northern Virginia Sun.
William T. Syphax: Taking a Stand
Native Arlingtonian William Thomas Syphax (1920-1989) was a prominent Black business entrepreneur, philanthropist, and advocate for the Black community in...
Read moreArlington’s First Black Legislators
Some of Arlington’s first black legislators include George Lewis Seaton, John B. Syphax, and Alfred William Harris.
Edmund Campbell: Speaking Out
Edmund Douglas Campbell (1899–1995) was a lawyer, social activist, and Arlington County Board member who advocated for civil rights, school...
Read morePoetry by Earlene Green Evans
Earlene Green Evans grew up and attended public schools in Arlington, Virginia, graduating from Hoffman-Boston High School. She received a...
Read moreInterviews with Lance Newman and Michael Jones
George Melvin Richardson: Taking a Stand
George Melvin Richardson (1913-2015) was an African-American educator, school principal, WW II U.S. Army officer, and civic leader.
John Robinson: Taking a Stand
A dedicated community activist who chose to stay and work in the Green Valley neighborhood where he was born and...
Read moreNotes on the Arlington Symphony
Over its 60-year run, the Arlington Symphony performed a wide variety of music across the County and was one of...
Read moreKathryn Stone: Speaking Out
Kathryn Stone was one of a small minority of voices in Virginia that courageously fought against the state’s policy of...
Read moreLeonard “Doc” Muse: Taking a Stand
Leonard “Doc” Muse (1923-2017), was an African-American pharmacist and social activist, and the owner of Green Valley Pharmacy.
Arlington’s Own Fast and Furious
Arlington was home to a racetrack that drew thrill-seekers and daredevils.
The Library Director’s 2020 Book List, Continued
“My reading tastes shifted along with everything else in both my work and home life.”
Fire Station #8: Taking a Stand
Hall’s Hill Volunteer Fire Department
The Library Director’s 2020 End-of-Year Playlist
How to honor those who have left us too soon, the sacrifices we’ve made, and the uncertainty of what next...
Read moreOral History: The Arlington Food Assistance Center
Interviews with Ann Rudd and Andy Lee
Charles Rinker: Speaking Out
“Tireless proponent for fair and affordable housing in Arlington County.”
Voting in Arlington: Then & Now
Take a look at how voting in Arlington has changed over the years.
Portia Haskins: Taking a Stand
In 1965, Portia Haskins filed suit against the Virginia Board of Elections and the Arlington County general registrar to fight...
Read moreDr. Roland Bruner: Taking a Stand
“He provided free medical services to the most disadvantaged in Arlington…”
Rediscover Lutrelle Fleming Parker, Sr.
A tireless advocate for progress in Arlington County.
Delve Into Arlington’s History Through The 1920 Census
How has Arlington changed over the past 100 years?
Oral History: Remembering the Early Businesses of Columbia Pike
Interview with Ruth Levin
America’s First All-Women Swing Band Lived in Arlington
In the first half of the 20th century, only a handful of women were able to make it as successful...
Read moreRediscover The Arlington Property Yard
Before it was renamed the Arlington County Trades Center in 1979, the Property Yard was where Arlington County stored many...
Read moreOral History: Attending Hoffman-Boston High School in the 1940s
Interview with Delores C. Downing
August 26th, 1920 marks another significant date on the journey to achieve universal suffrage. On this day, the 19th Amendment...
Read moreTennessee became the 36th state to secure ratify the amendment.
Celebrate the people and events that led up to this historic moment.
The Early History of Arlington’s Libraries
Arlington’s libraries have been a mainstay of the county landscape for generations – but how did the library system as...
Read moreCelebrating Dark Star Park
A unique example of public art in Rosslyn.
Fun in the Sun: Summers of Arlington’s Past
Arlington may not come to mind when you think of a beachy oasis, but in the 1920s, one of the...
Read moreThis Week in 19th Amendment History: Ida B. Wells
Journalist, activist, and suffragist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the 1890s.
Stories of Arlington’s Activists
Arlington’s history of dedicated community members have been combatting racism and prejudice in Arlington and beyond for decades.
The Census: Then & Now
The 2020 census is currently underway – but what did the census look like in the past?
From the Library Director.
Rediscover Shirlington
On January 21, 1705, William Struttfield, one of 48 original settlers who owned land in present-day Arlington, patented a 543-acre...
Read moreOral History: LGBTQ Activist Lilli Vincenz
Interview with Arlington activist Dr. Lilli Vincenz.
Happy Pride…
We Have Work To Do. – Diane’s thoughts on Pride Month, 2020.
A message from the Library Director.
We have been preparing for reopening, while remaining committed to our mission and to the health and safety of our...
Read moreRediscover The Arlington Post Office
If you live in Arlington County, you have the Post Office to thank for the name of your street.
Nannie Helen Burroughs was a leading educator, feminist and suffragist in the Washington, D.C., area throughout the early 20th century.
This week, around 150 years ago, the women’s suffrage movement experienced a significant change in its organization, as the various...
Read moreOver 100 years ago this week, a young suffragist named Mabel Ping-Hua Lee made history, leading one of the major...
Read morePreservation Week: Preserving Your Family’s Documents
To celebrate Preservation Week this year, the Center for Local History is offering some tips and resources that will help...
Read moreCOVID-19 Archives Project: Call for Donations
Send Your Materials, Help Tell Arlington’s Story of the Pandemic.
Biochemist and Nobel Prize Winner: Gertrude Elion
Biochemist and pharmacologist Gertrude Elion was a trailblazer of modern medicine, and her work has shaped the way professionals today...
Read moreServing Arlington During the COVID-19 Pandemic
National Library Week: April 19-25, 2020
“The Lady with the Lamp” – Florence Nightingale
A key figure in the development of modern public health.
The Old Bay-Eva Castle of Arlington
One of the most dramatic buildings to grace the County’s landscape.
Writer, Suffragist, Feminist Icon: Louisa May Alcott
She blazed a path for female authors and thinkers to follow.
Dancing with Myself: Playlist for a Pandemic
Tunes from the Library Director.
Angel of the Battlefield: Humanitarian Clara Barton
An enduring symbol of humanitarianism for her work during the American Civil War
This Week in 19th Amendment History: Hallie Quinn Brown
Hallie Quinn Brown was a preeminent educator, writer, public speaker and activist in the causes of civil rights and suffrage...
Read moreThe Consumer Brewery
The Consumer Brewery building was located above the site of the old Aqueduct Bridge.
Oral History: Bringing the Metro to Arlington
Interview with Roye Lowry
A Fight for Educational Equality: Civil Rights Activist Dorothy Hamm
Dorothy Hamm (1919-2004) worked tirelessly to bring equality to Arlington County.
Unbought and Unbossed: U.S. Representative Shirley Chisholm
In 1968, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress. She also broke barriers...
Read moreLomax Church and Library Celebrate Records Acquisition
Donation Received from one of Arlington’s Oldest Black Churches
Valentine’s Day Postcards
Sending love through the mail, for a penny.
Exhibition Pays Tribute to Women in Arlington
March 5 through April 2 at Central Library.