One of Thomas Balch library's missions is collecting and preserving printed, manuscript, photographic, cartographic and genealogical documentation of Leesburg) Loudoun County and the surrounding region. The library actively seeks and welcomes donations of original business records, diaries, correspondence, and photographs documenting life, culture and history of Leesburg and Loudoun County. Library collections include books and periodicals, maps, visual collections, newspapers, government records, manuscripts, ephemera, and artifacts.  We endeavor to make these materials accessible to you through on-site and remote reference services and to help you navigate these collections to find the best resources for your research. A variety of tools, such as indexes and databases are available to get you started. Visit Research Guides & Book Indices for pathfinders to help map out your research and indices to a variety of books about Loudoun County history.  You may submit a Reference Request for remote assistance with your question.

Resources Available at the Library:

Archives and Manuscripts:

Include Loudoun towns and county records, personal papers, and business, organizational and club records. Collection materials include diaries, correspondence, account books, minutes and ordinances.  Browse or search collection guides with detailed information about each collection here: Collection Guides for Archives and Manuscripts 

Included are:

• Visual and Artifact collections
• Sound and Moving Image Collections

Published Materials:

Books and periodicals are accessible through Thomas Balch Library's Centennial Catalog . 

Databases & Electronic Resources  

The library provides access to an extensive list of databases and electronic resources.  Resources include Thomas Balch Library Databases (available off-site) including the Loudoun County Cemetery database; In-House Subscriptions (available in Thomas Balch Library only) including for example, AncestryLibrary, Archives Unbound, Fold3, HeritageQuest, JSTOR, New England Historic and Genealogical Society, ProQuest Historical Newspapers and Virginia Sanborn Maps; and a links to Additional Historical and Genealogical Resources (available off-site). Visit Databases & Electronic Resources  for a complete list. 

Many other collections: 

Visit Explore Our Collections to learn about other collections that may be of interest such as:  Architectural Surveys, Cemetery Records, Ephemera, Genealogies and Family Files, Maps, Microforms, Newspapers, Tax Rolls for Loudoun County, Unpublished papers, Vertical files, and Vital Records .