A Trailblazer in Cultural Preservation & Collection - Belle da Costa Greene at The Morgan Library & Museum

Capturing the essence of its museum’s “heart and soul,” the Morgan Library and Museum presents an iconic exhibition currently on view: Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy. This exhibition honors the extraordinary life of Belle da Costa Greene, a woman of color whose story defied the constraints of her era. As the institution’s first librarian, Greene transcended the prejudices of "Jim Crow America" with her intellect and impeccable organizational skills, daring to break through societal barriers. Running until May 4, 2025, the exhibition celebrates a trailblazer who became one of America’s most celebrated librarians and a transformative figure in cultural history.

Greene’s dual legacy deserves recognition. She not only shaped J.P. Morgan’s peerless art and literary collections but also built her own deeply personal assemblage of treasures. Among these is a watercolor miniature portrait by Boston-based miniaturist Laura Coombs, which Greene displayed in her apartment. For the first time since her passing in 1950, rare loans of Greene’s art and jewelry come together in this exhibition, offering an intimate glimpse into her world and the vibrant social connections she cultivated within New York’s cultural epicenter.

Her passion for cultural preservation extended beyond the visual arts. The exhibition features literary works from her collection, including an autographed manuscript of Charles Dickens’s Our Mutual Friend and a rare edition of Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur. These timeless pieces underscore Greene’s profound dedication to the written word and her pioneering approach to curating private and public collections.

The exhibition also delves into Greene’s personal journey—her education, the labyrinth of societal expectations she navigated, and the extraordinary resilience that enabled her to transform J.P. Morgan’s library into a world-renowned institution. Greene emerges not only as a librarian but as a bold architect of cultural history, with an influence that reverberates across generations.

Among the standout artworks on display are After Sandro Botticelli, a luminous chalk painting; the evocative Betrothal of St. Ursula; and the enchanting Lady Walking in a Garden. These works, interwoven with pieces Greene carefully selected for J.P. Morgan, highlight her rare ability to blend scholarly rigor with aesthetic vision.

Visitors to Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy will find themselves drawn into the intimate yet grand tapestry of a life defined by intellect, courage, and an unwavering commitment to preserving the world’s cultural treasures.