Introduction

Hello. I’m Colin B. Bailey, Director of the Morgan Library and Museum, and I am delighted to welcome you to Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy. Widely recognized as an authority on illuminated manuscripts and deeply respected as a cultural heritage executive, Greene was one of the most prominent librarians and museum leaders in American history.

Our exhibition, which is the culminating event of the Morgan’s centennial year, explores every facet of Belle Greene’s remarkable story, from her upbringing in an elite Black family in Washington, DC, her decision to pass as white in New York, and her stellar career at the helm of the Morgan Library, an institution she built in collaboration with John Pierpont Morgan and his son, Jack Morgan. She ran the Library for forty-three years and became its inaugural director a century ago.

To tell the most compelling narrative of Greene’s life we have drawn deeply from our own collection and archives, while also borrowing key objects from over twenty private and institutional lenders. This material has not been seen together since Greene’s lifetime and it is unlikely it will ever be assembled again on this scale.

During her decades-long career as Librarian and Director, Belle da Costa Greene not only acquired countless significant collection items, she also made immeasurable contributions to bibliography and scholarship. She facilitated widespread collection access through object loans and ambitious photographic services, and she promoted the work of distinguished women scholars. Today, several fellowships and academic honors are named after Belle Greene, ensuring that her life continues to inspire and promote the work of young scholars and librarians.

As you move through the galleries look for the audio symbols to hear several voices bringing Greene’s words and actions to light. The actor Andi Bohs, known for her 2010 one-woman performance as Belle Greene, has provided the voice of our first director; in reading excerpts from letters and newspaper articles, her words bring Greene’s personality and distinctive style to life. You will also hear from our co-curators, Philip Palmer and Erica Ciallela, who have supplied the narrative portions of our audioguide, as well as Jesse Erickson, Astor Curator and department head of Printed Books and Bindings, and member of the exhibition’s advisory committee.

Thank you for joining us at the Morgan. We hope you enjoy your visit.