07/04/2026
State Historical Marker Unveiled in Richmond for Treble Clef and Book Lovers’ Club
The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) has announced that a state historical marker approved by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources was dedicated in the City of Richmond highlighting one of the oldest operating Black women’s book clubs in the country, the Treble Clef and Book Lovers’ Club.
The marker dedication was held Saturday, June 13, starting at 11 a.m., at the site of the marker at 1214 West Graham Road in Richmond (23220). This event was free and open to members of the public.
The current president of the Treble Clef & Book Lovers’ Club, Brenda D. Nichols, presided over the dedication ceremony. The ceremony’s invocation was led by Dr. James Coleman, president of the Baptist General Convention of Virginia. Individuals who spoke at the dedication included Angela W. Moss, vice president of the club; LaToya Gray-Sparks, community outreach coordinator at DHR; and Dr. Colita Nichols Fairfax, professor at Norfolk State University and former chair of the Virginia Board of Historic Resources. A reception was held immediately following the marker unveiling.
In 1908, Mary Simpson, the wife of a Virginia Union University professor, founded the Treble Clef and Book Lovers’ Club for Black women in the City of Richmond to foster appreciation of music and literature. In the early 20th century, Black women’s clubs were popular outlets for leadership and civic engagement. The Treble Clef and Book Lovers’ Club sponsored arts events, supported public education, and awarded scholarships. Club 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.” The club remains one of the oldest operating African American women’s book clubs in the United States.
The Virginia Board of Historic Resources, which is authorized to designate new state historical markers, approved the manufacture and installation of the Treble Clef and Book Lovers’ Club historical marker in June 2025. Brenda Nichols, the club’s president and sponsor of the marker, covered the marker’s manufacturing cost and organized the dedication ceremony.
Virginia’s historical highway marker program began in 1927 with installation of the first markers along U.S. Route 1. It is considered the oldest such program in the nation. Currently there are more than 2,600 state markers, mostly maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, except in those localities outside of VDOT’s authority.
Full Text of Marker:
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.
