Treble Clef and Book Lovers' Club

Mary Simpson, the wife of a Virginia Union University professor, founded the Treble Clef and Book Lovers’ Club in 1908 to foster appreciation of music and literature. Black women’s clubs were popular outlets for leadership and civic engagement during this era. The club sponsored arts events, supported public education, and awarded scholarships. Members included Dorothy N. Cowling, the first female acting president of Virginia Union University, and Undine Smith Moore, who taught for 45 years at what is now Virginia State University and gained national recognition as the “Dean of Black Women Composers.” This is among the oldest operating African American women’s book clubs in the U.S.

Department of Historic Resources, 2025