Portsmouth Community Library facts for kids
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Portsmouth Community Library
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 906 Elm St., Portsmouth, Virginia |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | less than one acre |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000544 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 12, 2010 |
The Portsmouth Community Library, also known as the Portsmouth Colored Community Library, is a special historic building in Portsmouth, Virginia. It was built in 1945 to serve the reading needs of African Americans in Portsmouth. This one-story brick building has a unique history, including being moved twice! Today, it helps tell the story of local African-American history as a museum.
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A Library for the Community
The library first opened its doors in 1945 at 804 South Street. It was created to make sure African Americans in Portsmouth had a place to read and learn. The first librarian was Bertha Edwards. She was very important to the library's success. Ms. Edwards worked hard to raise money for the library.
A Big Change: Library Integration
In 1959, two local dentists, Dr. James Holley and Dr. Hugo A. Owens, took legal action. They successfully sued the City of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Public Library. Their goal was to make all public libraries open to everyone, regardless of race. This important step led to the closure of the Portsmouth Community Library in 1962.
Moving to New Homes
After it closed, the building was moved two times. Its first move was in 1967. It went to the parking lot of Ebenezer Baptist Church, located at 730 Effingham Street. Then, in August 2007, it moved again. It found its current home at 904 Elm Avenue. The building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
Now a Museum of History
Today, the City of Portsmouth runs the library building as a museum. It focuses on local African-American history. Visitors can see photographs and special items from the past. The museum also has African-American books and journals from the original library. The African American Historical Society of Portsmouth helped make this museum possible. It officially opened its doors in 2013.
External links
- Portsmouth Community Colored Library Museum - official site
