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Jones Memorial Library, the second oldest public library in Virginia, opened in June 1908. The Library had been the dream of George Morgan Jones, philanthropist and industrialist of Lynchburg, but the dream was never realized in his lifetime. As a memorial to her husband, Mary Frances Watts Jones financed the construction and equipping of the library. During the latter years of her life, she was actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the Library. In her will, Mrs. Jones provided for the continued support of the Library through the establishment of an endowment. To this day, the Library receives no public monies and its operating budget is funded primarily from this endowment. The Lynchburg Public Library, a tax-supported institution, opened in 1966. Realizing that it could not compete in the area of collection development, Jones Memorial Library concentrated its collection efforts in its genealogical and historical holdings. As a result, the Library’s collection in this area of research is one of the largest in the state. In order to preserve its valuable collection, the Library was moved in July 1987 to its current location. The new facility offers modern temperature and humidity controls for the protection of the collection, as well as comfortable research facilities and adequate parking facilities for patrons of the Library. In 1993, the book collection of the Library was catalogued to current professional standards and the records were entered into the library database maintained by the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). As a result, the Library book collection, and, in addition, the manuscript collections and architectural archives, may now be reviewed through online computer networks throughout the world.
The Collection Jones Memorial Library specializes in genealogy and local history. Although its primary focus is on the central Virginia area, the collection includes a wide variety of materials covering the State of Virginia as well as the surrounding states, including county histories and court records, family histories and genealogies, general works on the Civil War, county land tax and personal property tax records, and census records. Materials of local interest include microfilmed copies of the Lynchburg newspapers, microfilmed copies of funeral home burial files, architectural archives, city directories, indexes of marriage and death notices, and microfilmed church records. The Library also houses over 300 manuscript collections, including personal family papers and correspondence, records of clubs and organizations, and business records. An extensive photograph and photonegative collection is currently being processed for future use by researchers.
The Family File Many people have donated to the Library personal family information in the form of genealogical charts and family data, cemetery records, Bible records, and biographical information, as well as unpublished books. Many of these materials have been placed in a separately indexed file known as the Family File. This file contains materials concerning specific families or individuals. Each document or publication has been given a unique number within the Family File, which permits easy retrieval of the material by utilizing a computer-generated index.
The Pamphlet File The Pamphlet File is made up of those smaller documents and loose papers that would be difficult to house as part of a larger collection. Each item in this collection has also been given a unique number so it can be easily located by using a computer-generated index. This index can help locate a particular document by author, title, publisher, or date of publication. Searching for a publication by subject is also possible. The preservation of materials housed in both the Family File and the Pamphlet File has been of primary importance. Each document has been placed in acid-free materials. Some of the items are very fragile, and the special handling will make them useable for many more years.
The Lynchburg Architectural Archives The Lynchburg Architectural Archives is a special collection of over 2,000 sets of drawings and other documents of architects who have practiced, or are practicing, in the Lynchburg area. It was established to preserve the documents created by the late Stanhope S. Johnson, and now includes representative work of over eighty architects and firms. There are some documents for Lynchburg buildings by non–area architects, as well as for buildings outside the area by local architects. These documents are in an excellent state of preservation and available for use by the public.
Contributions and Donations Jones Memorial Library does not receive state or federal money for support. Although housed in the Lynchburg Public Library building, it is an independent facility. Its operating budget has always been derived from a modest endowment. Since Jones Memorial Library is not supported by taxes or other public funds, it depends upon the contributions of friends and patrons. In addition to the monetary contributions, the Library also welcomes donations of materials such as books, family papers, etc. Appraisals of such materials for tax purposes are the responsibility of the donor. All donations and contributions are tax-deductible. Monies or materials may be sent to the address below. Hours of Operation Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. Telephone (434) 846-0501 and Fax (434) 846-1572.
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