Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2540 for permission to use.
Harrison School Trip to Washington D. C. May 1950.
Mr. Roscoe R. Banks. First YMCA Member, Past Chairman of the Board of Members, Elected Honorary Board Member William A. Hunton Branch YMCA, Roanoke, VA. 1927-1956. Photographer: Clark Studio. Donated by the Gainsboro Family YMCA in 2012.
Unknown man. Donated by the Gainsboro Family YMCA in 2012.
Photograph of a young Virginia Y. Lee. She is seated in this sepia toned image.
“Oscar, Jr. Ronald, Patricia Jenkins Artie Lee Otey, Clarence Blake Jr. Ricardo Stovall about 1959” St Andrews Catholic Church in background (Reprint, library owns digital copy only, not original.)
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use
“Ricardo C. Stovall & Bike on Patton Ave. N.E (Claytor House in Background) about 1959” (Reprint, library owns digital copy only, not original.)
Old First Baptist Church & St Andrews Catholic Church view from Gainsboro Rd (Reprint, library owns digital copy only, not original.)
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073
“Old First Baptist Church & St. Andrews Catholic Church, November 3,1990-Roanoke Va.” (Reprint, library owns digital copy only, not original.)
Gainsboro Branch of the Roanoke Public Libraries
Please contact the Virginia Room at 540.853.2073 for permission to use.
Church Altar with Pulpit. Color Photograph. “Clark Studio Herman R. Clark Propriet Portrait and Commercial Photography Phone 342-3372 - Phone 342 [blurred] 20 Gilmer Ave., N.W., Roanoke, Va. 24016.”
Gainsboro Branch Library Vacation Reading Club. Not marked as such, but is near replica of GB137. “00907”
"Vacation Reading Club", "Gainsboro Branch Library" stamp, dated Dec.1959
Gainsboro Library from Gainsboro Rd., St Andrew's Church in background. Two automobiles present.
Rev. Lylburn L. Downing of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Group of children participating in a pageant or play.
Geneva Ford, library staff member, at the Gainsboro Library.
Children posing in front of a Book Week display at the Gainsboro Library.
Mother and infant at the Gainsboro Library.
Children working on a project at the Gainsboro Library.
Children reading books at the Gainsboro Library.
Young man reaching for a book at the Gainsboro Library
Gainsboro Library display with Virginia Y. Lee.
Library display at the Gainsboro Library.
Virginia Y. Lee at the Gainsboro Library.
Gainsboro Library, interior, child sitting at a table.
Gainsboro Library, interior, with children.
Gainsboro Library, interior. Virginia Y. Lee, center.
Gainsboro Library, interior, with a group of library patrons. YMCA location.
Group of children in front of the Gainsboro Library.
Children dressed in costume in front of the Gainsboro Library.
Gainsboro Library, exterior, with a children’s class.
Economy Shoe Repair on Henry Street. Shop owner Earnest O. Greene.
Unidentified group photograph of men at a table.
Group of women in formal attire in front of a stage with instruments.
Gainsboro School First Grade Class 1946. Teacher Mattie Bell Morris (back row).
Teachers on an Appalachian Electric Power Company Tour. First from left, Hollis Williams (Carver High); fourth from left, unnamed but identified as a Home Economics teacher at Addison; first from right, Coach Cannanday (Carver High); third from right, Mr. Fulton (Addison High).
Group portrait of teachers. Front row seated, second from left, Mattie Bell Morris; third from left, Sadie Lawson; front row seated, first on right, Marie Bailey; third from right, Ms. Hackley. Back row, fourth from left, Ms. Hackley.
Ella F. Bowden, First Librarian of the Gainsboro Library, 1921-1923.
Rev. Arthur L. James, First Baptist Church.
Burrell Memorial Hospital. Construction of the 1955 building.
Order of the Eastern Star group photograph.
Order of the Eastern Star group photograph in front of the Allegany-Dunbar Freemason’s Prince Hall.
Gainsboro Library when it was located in the old Odd Fellows/YMCA Building. “First persons to register at GB.” Right to Left: Mrs. Sally Lawson, C. C. Williams, J. L. Reid, Mrs. E. R. Dudley, Rev. A. L. James, Dr. E. R. Dudley and Mrs. Ida Closs
Gainsboro Library when it was located in the old Odd Fellows/YMCA Building. Gainsboro Reading Club
Virginia Y. Lee and unidentified woman in front of the Gainsboro Library.
Unidentified group photograph in front of a transformer station.
Unidentified man playing piano and unidentified woman singing. Far right: Mr. Dowe and third from right: Rev. Edwards.
Bishop L. E. Willis and Shadrack Brown Jr.
Bishop L. E. Willis, Wilbert McNair, Shadrack Brown Jr., Samuel Wade, and Norton B. Wilder.
First Baptist Church of Gainsboro. Dr. Noel C. Taylor.
First Baptist Church Gainsboro. Rev. Charles Green.
First Baptist Church of Gainsboro. Roy Williams.
Dinner at the Hunton Branch YMCA, Gainsboro Road. Circa late 1930’s or Early 1940’s.
Group photograph.. Dr. Harry Penn, back row, first from left.
Large group at a long table. Dr. Harry Penn, second from right, back row, plaid suit.
Left to right: John Claytor III, Sandra Elizabeth Claytor Peery, John B. Claytor Jr., and Ruth Williams Claytor. “Easter 1969.”
Group photograph with Ruth Claytor (in light colored coat) in front of Canada’s Ice Cream on Henry Street.
Dr. Elwood D. Downing, front far left, and an unidentified group of men.
Group photograph with Atwood’s Capitol View Tours bus.
Aladdin Temple #34 on parade, Patton Avenue in front of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church.. “Miss Bertha White, Ill. Commandress, Roanoke, VA.”
Harrison School Faculty 1948/1950. Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Mr. Thomas Payne's first class. Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Students playing on the basketball court at Harrison School. Harrison School was built in 1916 for the cost of $31,818 and opened in the winter of 1917. Lucy Addison served as the school’s first principal. Addison was responsible for gradually expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison and she repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. That same year, Harrison School graduated its first class high school class, becoming the first public high school for African Americans in Southwest Virginia. After the opening of a Lucy Addison High School in 1928, Harrison School continued as an elementary school until the 1960s. From 1985 to 2009 the Harrison School building housed the Harrison Museum of African American Culture.
Rev. E. E. Ricks was served as pastor of First Baptist Church Gainsboro from 1915 to 1918.
GB60 First Baptist Church Gainsboro, Bible School
First Baptist Church Gainsboro can trace its origins back to September 30, 1867, when a small congregation held service, led by Rev. Edmond Johnson, in a dwelling on Hart Avenue, establishing the Big Lick Colored Baptist Church. As membership increased, the congregation moved several times until, in 1876, they purchased the old brick St. John’s Episcopal Church at Big Lick. In the mid-1890s, trustees of the Big Lick Colored Baptist Church, then known as the First Baptist Church, Colored, purchased land on the corner of Gilmer Avenue and Jefferson Street. Under the leadership of Rev. Richard R. Jones, the church began efforts to build a new place of worship, finally laying a cornerstone and breaking ground in 1898. The Gothic brick sanctuary with an imposing gable façade tower was designed by architect Henry Harwell Huggins and was dedicated on May 6, 1900. By the time Rev. Richard Jones’ retirement in 1904, most of the church’s construction debt was repaid. Over the following years the congregation, led by Rev. E. E. Ricks, raised funds to place pews in the gallery and match a financial gift from Andrew Carnegie to install a pipe organ. From 1918 to 1957, Rev. Arthur L. James was pastor. Notably, he began the first daily vacation bible school in the city; presided over the Helping Hands Club and the Men’s Club, who were responsible for publication of The Church News, which was reported to be the only black newspaper in Southwest Virginia at the time; and began a weekly radio broadcast, the Black Home Devotional Hour, with the help of the church’s senior choir. From 1959 to 1966, the church was under the leadership of Rev. E. L. Green, who in addition to serving the congregation was a member of two biracial committees that were credited with aiding the integration of public facilities in Roanoke. Rev. David Lee Collins was the pastor from 1968 to 1970, followed by Rev. Kenneth B. Wright from 1973 to 2015. Wright led the congregation to build a new sanctuary a block to the west and south of the original church on Wells Avenue and Jefferson Street. The new building was completed in 1982. In 1995 the original sanctuary on Gilmer Avenue and Jefferson Street was destroyed by fire.
Rev. Arthur L. James was born August 1, 1877 in Madison, Florida Howard and Lula James. During WWI James served overseas with the American Expeditionary Forces as secretary under the War Work Council of the Y. M. C. A. From 1918 to 1957, James served as pastor at First Baptist Church Gainsboro. During his leadership the church experienced its highest membership, peaking at 2,193. Notably, James began the first daily vacation bible school in the city; presided over the Helping Hands Club and the Men’s Club, who were responsible for publication of The Church News, which was reported to be the only black newspaper in Southwest Virginia at the time; and began a weekly radio broadcast, the Black Home Devotional Hour, with the help of the church’s senior choir. Rev. Arthur L. James died September 8, 1968.
GB58 First Baptist Church Gainsboro, interior
Deacons and Trustees of First Baptist Church Gainsboro
Dr. Ellwood Davis Downing was prominent dentist and civic leader. Downing was born September 9, 1891. He was the son of Rev. Lylburn L. Downing, pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Downing served as an officer in WWI and WWII and was an avid tennis player, having twice won the ATA National Doubles Tennis Championship and served as General Field Secretary for the American Tennis Association. Downing also served as President of the Board of Trustees for Burrell Memorial Hospital and President of the Magic City Medical Society; was a 32 degree Freemason and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Dr. Elwood Downing died October 29, 1963.
GB43 Dr. Ellwood Downing and Mrs. Della Downing
Dr. Ellwood Davis Downing was prominent dentist and civic leader. Downing was born September 9, 1891. He was the son of Rev. Lylburn L. Downing, pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Downing served as an officer in WWI and WWII and was an avid tennis player, having twice won the ATA National Doubles Tennis Championship and served as General Field Secretary for the American Tennis Association. Downing also served as President of the Board of Trustees for Burrell Memorial Hospital and President of the Magic City Medical Society; was a 32 degree Freemason and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Downing died October 29, 1963.
Dr. Frank William Claytor was born April 8, 1913 in Roanoke, Virginia. He was the oldest son of Dr. John B. Claytor Sr. and Roberta M. Woodfin Claytor. After graduating from Knoxville College in 1933, Claytor earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1937. Claytor was Chief of the Department of Medicine and Medical Director at Burrell Memorial Hospital. Dr. Frank W. Claytor died October 6, 1972.
Dr. John B. Claytor Sr. was born April 2, 1878 in Floyd County, Virginia. In 1907 Claytor began a medical practice in Roanoke, Virginia. Claytor was a founder of Burrell Memorial Hospital and was Emeritus Chief of the hospital’s department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Claytor was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for First Baptist Church in Gainsboro and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Dr. John B. Claytor Sr. died October 23, 1951.
Daisy Schley was a nurse at Burrell Memorial Hospital.
Lucy Addison was born enslaved in Fauquier County, Virginia on December 8, 1861. After graduating from the Quaker-run Institute for Colored Youth in Philadelphia in 1882 with a degree in teaching, Addison began her life-long career as an educator. In 1886 she relocated to Roanoke, Virginia to take a teaching position at the Gregory and Gainsboro Schools. She was promoted to Assistant Principal in 1888 and accepted a position as Principal for Harrison School in 1917. After expanding the curriculum to include high school classes at Harrison, Addison repeatedly lobbied the Virginia Board of Education for full accreditation. Addison’s efforts were finally recognized in 1924 when the Virginia Board of Education accredited Harrison School as a secondary school. In 1927 Addison retired from Roanoke City Public Schools. A year later Lucy Addison High School was built and named in her honor. Lucy Addison High School served as Roanoke’s only African American high school until desegregation, finally closing as a high school in 1973. During her life, Addison served on several advisory boards including the Board of Trustees for the Burrell Memorial Hospital and the Advisory Board for the Gainsboro Library. Addison died in Washington D.C. on November 13, 1937.
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.
Gainsboro Branch of Roanoke Public Libraires
GB21 First Baptist Church Gainsboro, interior
Interior of the original sancuary of the First Baptist Church in Gainsboro. The building was designed by architect Henry Harwell Huggins and was located at 407 North Jefferson Street. A cornerstone for the church was laid and ground was broken in 1898 while the building was dedicated on May 6, 1900. The building continued to be the home of the First Baptist Church until 1982 when the congregation moved to its current location at 310 North Jefferson Street. The old sanctuary at 407 North Jefferson Street was destroyed by fire in April 1995.
Civil rights attorney Oliver W. Hill in front of his childhood home at 401 Gilmer Avenue, now the Oliver Hill House.
Christopher Chamberlin Williams of Williams Funeral Home, now Serenity Funeral Home. Mr. Williams served on the Board of Trustees for both the Gainsboro Library and the William A. Hunton YMCA.
GB10 Lucy Addison High School Football Game
Lucy Addison High School football game at Victory Stadium.
Dr. James H. Roberts was a co-founder of Burrell Memorial Hospital, Magic City Medical Society, and the William A. Hunton YMCA.
GB09 Nursing staff of Burrell Memorial Hospital
The nursing staff of Burrell Memorial Hospital at an unidentified function on the hospital's grounds.
Groundbreaking for the new Burrell Memorial Hospital 2 August 1953. Photographer: Steve Brody.
GB04 Lucy Addison High School Girls' Basketball Team
Lucy Addison High School Girls' basketball team.
GB03 Lucy Addison High School Majorettes
Lucy Addison High School Majorettes in front of the Gainsboro Library.
Dr. Lawrence E. Paxton operated a dental practice on Wells Avenue.