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GB25 Virginia Y. Lee

FILES

GB025 Virginia Y. Lee.jpg

Dublin Core

Title

GB25 Virginia Y. Lee

Description

Virginia Y. Lee was the Gainsboro Library's fourth librarian (1928 – 1971). She was born on November 22, 1906 in McComas, West Virginia and raised in Roanoke, Virginia. She graduated Valedictorian from Lucy Addison High School in 1924 and earned her degree from Hampton Institute's School of Library Science. Lee is credited with acquiring funds from the City of Roanoke for a new library to be built in Roanoke's Gainsboro Neighborhood after the existing library outgrew its location in the basement of the William A. Hunton YMCA. The new library was dedicated on May 10, 1942 at 15 Patton Avenue NW. Lee is also recognized for compiling a literary and historical African American collection that drew opposition from Roanoke City Council. When asked to remove the collection from the library, Lee hid the collection in the basement and continued collecting materials. Today the Gainsboro Library’s Virginia Y. Lee Collection is named in her honor. Virginia Y. Lee died January 11, 1992.

Publisher

Roanoke Public Libraries

Date

Unknown

Contributor

Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries

Rights

Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.

Identifier

GB25

Coverage

Gainsboro

Still Image Item Type Metadata

Original Format

Photograph

Citation

“GB25 Virginia Y. Lee,” Virginia Room Digital Collection, accessed March 28, 2024, http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/document/GB25.