Hidden Gems in Black History: J.P Morgan’s Library Curated By a Black Woman

Fun fact: Belle da Costa Greene, a Black lady, led and filled this library with books after hiding her race (racial passing) to enter New York’s elite society and support her family when her father (the first Black Harvard graduate) left. One of the highest-paid female librarians at the time, JP Morgan trusted her to find rare volumes and urged him to gift the library to the public. Turn of The 20th Century In the early 1900s, banker J.P. Morgan collected manuscripts, books, and artwork relating to the written word. He did it to appreciate his collection secretly. But Belle da Costa Greene, Morgan’s personal librarian, pushed J.P. Morgan’s son, Jack Morgan, to donate the library to New York City soon after his death. Today, hundreds of academics, researchers, tourists, and art enthusiasts visit the Morgan to explore its collection. This is unknown to most: One Black lady acquired and curated the library’s materials for over 40 years. Belle da Costa Greene quietly passed as white to work for a prominent U.S. man. Code Switching/” Passing” & The Idea Of You Being Freer Or Less Free? There are perks to passing, right? Belle becomes J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian and wields ...