Her mother, Genevieve, spearheaded the decision for Belle and her siblings to pass as white, influenced by the struggles of being African-American during Reconstruction in the South.
She became the librarian for J. Pierpont Morgan's collection in 1905 and was appointed director of the Morgan Library in 1924.
She sought out one-of-a-kind items, aiming for the best of the best, which set the library's collection apart with unique materials.
She was a trailblazer for making collections accessible to everyone, not just the wealthy, and believed in the educational use of special collections.
As a Black woman passing as white, she faced both racial and gender discrimination, yet she became a prominent figure in a field dominated by men.
Referred to as one of the most fascinating librarians in American history, Belle da Costa Greene is the figure who is responsible for the depth and legacy of the Morgan Library's collection, to this day.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)