At just 26 years old, Belle da Costa Greene became librarian for one of the most powerful men in the world, J.P. Morgan ... while hiding her true identity. Learn more about this extraordinary woman’s life and work in this presentation given by Pamela Malcolm of Staatsburgh State Historic Site, which explores some of Greene’s accomplishments within the context of the period and the phenomenon of racial passing, and offers a glimpse of her career as a supplement to the Morgan Library & Museum’s exhibition, which opened in October of this year. 

Guiding the creation of Morgan’s renowned private collection of rare books and manuscripts, Greene spent the next 43 years negotiating purchases for the collection (now known as The Morgan Library) while competing against other collectors worldwide. Her position opened countless doors to befriend the elite of America and Europe and to attend the most exclusive parties and cultural events. Besides her extraordinary professional gifts and acumen, another key to Greene’s success: she hid her African American heritage from Morgan and everyone else.

About the Speaker: 

Pam Malcolm is the site manager at Staatsburgh State Historic Site. Her training is in museum education and she has worked in several art and history museums, including the Albany Institute of History & Art, and Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum, before joining the NYS Office Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation in 2006. Her interest in Belle Da Costa Greene began during research for a site presentation on art collecting in the Gilded Age, and has increased as the Morgan Library’s new exhibition has generated new information about Belle’s early years and training.