HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL NR 2022-11-01 Thomas Balch Library to Host 2022 Loudoun History Awards
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
November 1, 2022
Media Contact:
Leah Kosin, Assistant Public Information Officer
lkosin@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2781
Thomas Balch Library to Host 2022 Loudoun History Awards
Leesburg, VA (November 1, 2022) – The 2022 Loudoun History Awards will be held at the
Thomas Balch Library on Sunday, November 6 beginning at 2 p.m.
Two individuals will receive this year’s award along with one individual and one group who will
be recognized as recipients in 2021.
This year’s honorees include Susan Pemberton Webber for her many contributions to the
advocacy and furtherance of history through participation in and support of Thomas Balch
Library, Friends of the Thomas Balch Library, Black History Committee of Friends of the Thomas
Balch Library, and membership in heritage organizations. The second recipient will be Charles A.
Johnston for his many contributions to educational outreach and the preservation and
documentation of Leesburg and Loudoun County history.
Honorees from 2021 are Michael R. Napper for his many contributions to preservation and
documentation of the memory of African Americans in Loudoun County’s history as well as The
Family and Friends of the Mount Sinai Cemetery recognized for their contributions to the
conservation and documentation of African American cemeteries in Lovettsville: Claudette
Bard, Ron Campbell, Edward W. Spannaus, and Howard Gilbert Timbers, Jr. There will also be a
special recognition for The Black History Committee of Friends of the Thomas Balch Library for
their commemorative efforts in connection with Frederick Douglass Elementary School.
These individuals and groups have made significant contributions to preserving Loudoun’s past
through collection of county documents and memorabilia, preservation of historic landmarks,
visual arts, writing, and long-time commitment to local history organizations.
The public is invited to attend the awards ceremony, which is sponsored by Thomas Balch
Library Advisory Commission. Seating is limited. To register or for more information, contact
Library Director Alexandra S. Gressitt at 703-737-7195.
Thomas Balch Library is a history and genealogy library owned and operated by the Town of
Leesburg. A designated Underground Railroad research site, the Library’s collections focus on
Loudoun County, regional and Virginia history, genealogy, military history with special emphasis
on the American Civil War, and ethnic history. For more information, visit
https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/thomas-balch-library.
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