Belle da Costa Greene: An Extraordinary Life

Join Daria Rose Foner, Research Associate to the Director, for a lecture focused on Belle da Costa Greene (1879-1950), one of the greatest librarian-scholars of the twentieth century. Initially hired as J. Pierpont Morgan’s private librarian, Greene became the Morgan Library’s inaugural director when it opened as a public research institution in 1924. This talk introduces Greene, tracing her life story from its origins in an upper middle-class African-American community in Washington D.C. to her ascension to the pinnacle of her profession, and explores how the racial barriers of Jim Crow America led Greene, her mother, and her siblings to “pass” as white of Portuguese descent.

Please note that the program will take place online. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to participate using Zoom. We ask that you download the app in advance for the best user experience.