The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray 1905 - 1948
The Personal Librarian tells the remarkable, little-known story of the lifework of an extraordinary woman, the personal librarian to J. P. Morgan - the most powerful man in N.Y. then -, as well as the first director of the Morgan Library & Museum, famous for her intellect, style, and wit, and shares the lengths she must go to - for the protection of her family and her legacy - to preserve her carefully crafted white identity in the racist world in which she lives.
Belle da Costa Greene, became one of the most powerful women in New York despite the dangerous secret she kept in order to make her dreams come true.
She was born not Belle da Costa Greene, but Belle Marion Greener. She is the daughter of Richard Greener, the first Black graduate of Harvard and a well-known advocate for equality, a civil rights activist, and from Genevieve who came from the well-established Fleet family, while her father was descended from slaves.
- She received her education from her mother’s Fleets family: “Never do anything to stand out”:
never were we to raise our voices, and never were we to do anything that would make the
adults have to raise their voices at us”. Always be dignified!
- From her father her love of arts: “One day, the beauty of your mind and the beauty of art will
be as one”
Belle's parents separated because of Genevieve's decision to have their family pass as white.
Later, Belle learns that her mother wasn't always set on passing as white. Belle's father Richard had been hired as a professor at a newly-integrated university when they were younger. They both became involved in activism for equal rights upon seeing the resistance people had to being de- segregated.
Eventually most Reconstruction-era policies were dismantled. The university went back to being whites-only, and Richard and Genevieve left with people spitting and throwing garbage at them. It was that experience that launched Richard's civil rights career, but it also led Genevieve to believe that the only way to survive was to take advantage of their light skin and pass as white.
“While Papa held beautiful dreams of equality for us all, Mama saved me - and all my siblings - from the segregation and racism in America”.
Belle’s words to her father:
“My plan is to turn the Pierpont Morgan Library from a private library into a public institution so that thousands and thousands of people will see the beauty and significance of the early written words - the importance of reading and books as a great equalizer among humankind” The power of the written word to lift humanity!!
Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white - her complexion is dark though because she is African-American.
Belle didn’t want the colour of her skin as an excuse to keep her relegated to the lowest jobs, the worst neighbourhoods, with little possibility for a better life!!The Personal Librarian - based on a real story - was an eye-opening look into the lives of Belle, her relationship with her mother versus her father, who leaves when Belle is 17, after her mom proclaimed that the family be white. Belle’s success came with an overwhelming sense of fear that she’d be found out, as well as the weight of financial stability to support her sisters, brother and mother. Belle: “Success must be my commitment!”
It was nice to see her finally find joy amongst friends: the Fricks, Rockefellers, the Carnegies a.o. ....
Through her job, Belle meets Bernard Berenson, who wrote a book of art history that Belle's father had gifted her as a child. Though he is older than her, married and lives in Italy, Belle finds herself attracted to Bernard. When she learns that he's in an open marriage, Belle allows herself to pursue a romance with him, but that would and could never lead to marriage. Belle’s relationship with Bernard Berenson lasted for decades.
Quote Belle: “I still believe that someday there will be equality in this country. That someday there will be a new civil rights act, and a new president and Congress to enforce it. That everyone will be able to follow their dream, regardless of race. That those words about the equality of men in the Declaration of Independence will be true.”
Belle gets a job as J.Pierpont Morgan's personal librarian for his newly constructed Pierpont Morgan Library in 1906. She is then 26 years old.
Over time, Belle gains the trust of Mr. Morgan and greater responsibilities. As she makes major acquisitions, it raises Belle's profile when she is featured in newspaper articles as a woman succeeding in an entirely male industry and building up an impressive collection of works, and she eventually becomes indispensable to him, even required to attend family events.
When Mr. Morgan passes away in 1913, he provides for Belle in his will, and she stays on as librarian. The book ends with Belle successfully convincing Jack (J. P. Morgan's son) to make the library public in the early 1920’s.
Pierpont Morgan Library still operates in NYC under the name The Morgan Library and Museum. The Morgan Library is celebrating 100 years in 2024 with a.o.: “Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy”. From October 25, 2024, through May 4, 2025.
Many years later, as she burns all her records (to protect her identity and her life's work by extension), she wonders if people will someday learn that the personal librarian to J. P. Morgan was a black woman.
Every one from our reading group highly appreciated the book, that we gladly recommend to other reading groups.
Quote Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: !!!Victoria still suffers daily degradation!!!
“This book is a guide that aims to spark conversations that will foster connection, action, and, hopefully, progress towards equality”
We hope we did justice to Belle’s struggles and brought to life the terrible injustices and pain racism and segregation have exacted on upon individuals and in the United States as a whole.
Another book that we read and could be interesting to understand more about Passing is: - “TheVanishingHalf”byBrittBennett”.
Loeky Borloo.
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