Belle Da Costa Greene in 1910

Belle da Costa Greene (named Belle Marion Greener at birth) grew up in a predominantly African American community in Washington, DC. Her father, Richard T. Greener, was the first Black graduate of Harvard College and a prominent educator and racial-justice activist. After Belle’s parents separated, her mother, Genevieve Ida Fleet Greener, changed her surname and that of the children to Greene. While Belle was in her teens, Genevieve and the children began passing as White.

This is the earliest known photographic portrait of Belle da Costa Greene, taken five years after Morgan had engaged her as his librarian. Morgan had known Greene’s father when both served as officers of the Grant Monument Association during the 1880s. It is likely, but not certain, that Morgan ultimately learned that his former colleague and his librarian were father and daughter.