Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

There are no restrictions.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Richmond Musicians Club records, Collection # M 222, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.

Biographical / Historical

The Musicians Club of Richmond was founded in 1916 by a group of 30 women musical artists, teachers, and patrons, and was modeled after an earlier music organizations, the Wednesday Club (1893). It was primarily a woman's organization, although men could join as "associate" members. Although it began as a relatively small club, it quickly grew and by 1937, had more than 1000 members, sponsored a yearly opera performance, and concerts by many international artists. The Musicians Club provided the support for the founding and growth of the Richmond Symphony. members maintained that the Richmond's Musician's Club was a civic, cultural, and philanthropic group, and in no way a commercial venture. Its mission was to promote music in Richmond, as well as the musicians themselves, local and well known. The club cultivated a basic love and appreciation of music in and around the city, and sponsored public and private concerts, for club members, general audiences, and for charitable organizations, such as the Crippled Children's Hospital, the City Home, and the Soldier's Home. The first president was Francis Deane Williams.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains correspondence, minutes, newspaper clippings and other materials documenting the history of the Richmond Musicians Club for the years 1916 through 1969.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Associations, institutions, etc. -- Virginia -- Richmond.
• Concerts -- Virginia -- Richmond.
• Music -- 20th century. -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Music -- Societies, etc. -- Virginia -- Richmond
• Richmond Musicians Club (Va.) -- Archives