Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy

FAIN: GI-297146-24

Morgan Library and Museum (New York, NY 10016-3405)
Philip Palmer (Project Director: August 2023 to present)

Implementation of a single-site, temporary exhibit, a scholarly symposium, public programs, and a catalog examining the life and career of Belle da Costa Greene (1879–1950).

To mark the 2024 centennial of its life as a public institution, the Morgan Library & Museum will present a major exhibition devoted to the life and career of its inaugural director, Belle da Costa Greene (1879–1950). Widely recognized as an authority on illuminated manuscripts and deeply respected as a cultural heritage executive, Greene was one of the most prominent librarians in American history. The exhibition will trace Greene’s storied life, from her roots in a predominantly Black community in Washington, D.C., to her distinguished career at the helm of one of the world’s great research libraries. Through extraordinary objects—from medieval manuscripts and rare printed books to archival records and portraits— the exhibition will demonstrate the confidence and expertise Greene brought to her roles as librarian, scholar, curator, and cultural executive, and honor her enduring legacy.