Sarah Poage Caldwell Butler

Sarah Poage Caldwell Butler (August 21, 1892–December 2, 1983) was a librarian and civic leader known for her work in establishing a public library in Roanoke, Virginia.

When Butler returned to Virginia after being a children's librarian in New York City for several years, she became interested in forming a public library to serve the city. She was part of a group of many civic organizations, including the Woman's Civic Betterment Club, which formed the Roanoke Library Association in 1920 with Butler as its first president. A month later they had formed a plan to renovate a vacant mansion to house the city's new library. The city agreed with the plan but required the organization to raise $30,000 to provide the books and library furnishings. The Roanoke Public Library formally opened in May 1921 with Butler as its first president, speaking at the opening. Later that same year, working with civic leaders Lucy Addison, Dr. Arthur L. James, and Dr. L. Downing, Butler helped the library open a branch in the Gainsboro community for Roanoke's Black citizens who had also been part of the fundraising campaign for the library.

Butler was also interested in gardening and joined the Roanoke Valley Garden Club in 1925, which became a member club of the Garden Club of Virginia in 1929. The club handled the landscaping around the main library branch for which they won the Garden Club of Virginia's Massie Distinguished Achievement Medal in 1930. Butler held many leadership roles in the Garden Club, ultimately serving as its president from 1950 to 1952.