Tuesday Tea and Tomes: The Personal Librarian, the incredible story of Belle da Costa Greene who curated J.P. Morgan's private library (and a connection to Lady Mendl's too!)

The Personal Librarian based on the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan's Librarian

Belle da Costa Greene's story is incredible and it's not only because, at the young age of 26, she left her job at Princeton's library to become J.P. Morgan's personal librarian, securing some of the greatest treasures for the Gilded Age financier's private collection, but she achieved all this while keeping secret her true identity:  she is black, but passing as white.

The Morgan Library houses incunabula and other treasures

The Personal Librarian is historical fiction based on Belle Marion Greener, who, with a slight adjustment  of her name and a fabricated Portugues heritage, masks her identity in plain sight. Authors, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, do an excellent job of narrating Belle's rise in the realm of learned curators and ambitious collectors while navigating the incongruous worlds she straddled -   Gilded Age excess and the almost insurmountable limitations imposed by segregation. 

J.P. Morgan's study includes an imposing portrait of the Gilded Age banker

I first heard of this book two years ago, just shortly after it had been published. My neighbor, Therese, knew I was a fan of the Gilded Age and highly recommended it. I added it to my list, but received a huge reminder in March of this year, when, along with family, I visited the Morgan Library (in search of Jane Austen letters) and, in the gift shop, The Personal Librarian, was featured prominently. I snatched up a copy along with a tea tin filled with "Mr. Morgan's Tea" - another connection to Belle da Costa Greene. It's a Harney blend of Assam and Keemun, which, per the tin's label,  Mr. Morgan and his librarian drank together.

The desk in the study of J.P. Morgan

Belle da Costa Greene acquired a love for Renaissance art and, a new word for me, incunabula (books printed before the 16th century) from her father, the first black graduate of Harvard. Her intelligence and negotiating skills were so admired by J.P. Morgan, he treated her as family and friend.  He introduced her to high society and her quick wit and charm found her a favorite at parties hosted by the Vanderbilts and other wealthy New York families. And, while Belle enjoyed the socializing and trips to Europe her job and employer supported, she could never escape the fear of being "uncovered" or the nagging self doubts of betraying her true race.

Tea at Lady Mendl. It's namesake was friend to Anne Morgan

But, not everyone was in Belle's corner. There was one Morgan who was not fond of Belle and that was Anne, the youngest daughter of J.P. Morgan and the only sibling not married. She kept company with ladies who were referred to as having a "Boston Marriage", a Gilded Age euphemism for a gay relationship. One of Anne's friends in this society was Elsie De Wolfe, also known "Lady Mendl". And, yes, the Lady Mendle tearoom we visited in March, just a short walk from the Morgan Library, was once the home of Elsie De Wolf, actress, interior designer and comrade of Anne Morgan.

The dome of the rotunda that connects the Library to the study

Belle's biggest fan and admirer was surely her employer. J.P. Morgan thought so highly of Belle that in his will he left her $50,000 (approximately 1.5 million in today's dollars) along with a stipulation that she remain as the Morgan Library librarian for at least one year. She lasted more than another twelve months. Morgan died in 1913 and Belle retired from the Library in1948, after 43 years in the job she was passionate about.

One of three Gutenberg bibles in the Morgan Library

In 1924, J.P. Morgan, Jr,, also known as Jack, opened the Morgan Library to the public and Belle oversaw the expansion of the original footprint to include an Annex for exhibits (when we were at the Library in March, the Annex hosted a Beatrix Potter collection). The brownstone that Jack lived in with his family, a present from his father in 1904, is now home to the Morgan Library dining room (which does offer afternoon tea!) the gift shop, and a conservation center. 

The Dining Room at the Library

100th anniversary of the Annex

The original structure included J.P. Morgan's study, an enormous room filled with rare manuscripts and a large imposing portrait of the investment banker in a Cambridge red robe. The study borders a rotunda which connects to the library, home to many incunabula, including three Guttenberg bibles, and the office of the Librarian. The latter was once the domain of Belle da Costa Greene, an impressive work space worthy of her meticulous work and priceless contributions.

Outside the Morgan Library

The Morgan brownstone

The Morgan Library is a treasure (more to come on that) and, after visiting the New York museum, we have an even greater appreciation for all it holds and the woman, who had the daunting task of building an impressive collection while sacrificing her own identity. A story that inspires as well as saddens, we benefit from a legacy that came with a price, one that even the Morgan's millions couldn't buy.

Morgan Library gift shop, a reminder of recommended reading.

More on to come on the Morgan Library and we're going back next year (an upcoming scoop!).