In celebration of its 100th anniversary with a seminal exhibit running October 25, 2024 through May 4, 2025, the Morgan Library & Museum is illuminating the life and career of Belle da Costa Greene, the library’s first director, a woman of color who passed as Caucasian. Through extraordinary objects, from medieval manuscripts and rare printed books to archival records and portraits, the exhibition demonstrates the confidence and savvy Greene brought to her roles as librarian, scholar, curator, and cultural executive, and honors her enduring legacy. Learn the background and history with the aid of vintage images to make the most of your visit. Suggested reading: An Illuminated Life: Bella da Costa Greene’s Journey from Prejudice to Privilege (2007) by Heidi Ardizzone and The Personal Librarian (2021) by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
For an optimal experience, pair this with the Walking Tour (Course 13060).
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