Belle da Costa Greene was a pioneering American librarian who managed and expanded J.P. Morgan’s private library, later becoming the first director of the public Pierpont Morgan Library in 1924. Born Belle Marion Greener to Black parents, she and her family passed as white to navigate a racially segregated society. Greene was known for her expertise in rare books and manuscripts, her sharp negotiating skills, and her determination to make rare works accessible to the public. Despite the racial barriers of her time, she became one of the most influential figures in the world of art and rare book collecting, earning wide recognition and respect in her field.
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