Formed 1908 Type Book club Club colors Pink and white | Location Richmond Virginia Flower Hyacinths | |
Formed in 1908 in Richmond, Virginia, the Treble Clef and Book Lover's Club (TCBLC) is the oldest African American book club in the United States. The social, nonprofit organization is an association for women who possess an affinity for literature and music.
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Background
Treble Clef and Book Lover's Club was established in 1908 by Mrs. Mary Simpson in Richmond, Virginia. The club predates nearly all of the cultural organizations in the country and is the oldest for African American women in Virginia. It is also the oldest book club of African American women in the United States. The club's founding members were Mrs. Annie Hughes, Mrs. Ellen Russell, Mrs. Emma Roper, Mrs. Blanche Burke, and Mrs. Lucille Barco. Treble Clef and Book Lovers' Club celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2008.
Founder
Mrs. Simpson was the wife of Dr. Joshua B. Simpson, a Latin Professor at Virginia Union University (VUU), one of 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in America. A native of New England, Mrs. Simpson lived in Washington, D.C. where she enjoyed an enriched cultural and social life, including membership of the Treble Clef Book and Music Lovers' Club. After she relocated to Richmond, Mrs. Simpson wanted to replicate her cultural experience in DC and formed a similar club. Initially, the members were married ladies whose husbands were the faculty of VUU. Today, the Treble Clef and Book Lovers' Club is composed of single and married women who hold prominent positions in education, business and health. Many are professional musicians and published authors.