The Morgan Library & Museum
A Creative Legacy Of Art, Literature, And Rare Treasures
The Morgan Library & Museum is home to some of the most creative achievements in art, music, and literature. From the work of Gutenberg, Michelangelo, and Mozart, to Jane Austen, Mark Twain, and Irving Penn, the library’s current holdings include music, paintings, photographs, drawings, rare books, manuscripts, and other treasures.
The dream of financier, collector, and cultural benefactor J. Pierpont Morgan, the library was built adjacent to Morgan’s private home between 1902 and 1906. Initially designed to house his curated collection of valuable and unique
literary and historical manuscripts, the castle-like building was the brainchild of Charles McKim of the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. The original building — three rooms in the Italian Renaissance-style — was the epitome of America’s Age of Elegance. Majestic and yet still intimate in scale, the library was thought by many to be McKim’s masterpiece.
And yet it wasn’t only the building that garnered attention. In fact, it was the methodical and well-planned acquisitions of Morgan’s personal librarian that helped make a name for the institution. Belle da Costa Greene (1879–1950) was one of the most prominent librarians in American history. A Black woman passing as white in a segregated society during a time when women rarely worked outside the home, Greene managed the Morgan Library for 43 years, all while keeping much of her own story out of the public eye.
After Morgan’s death in 1913, Greene continued working on behalf of his son J.P. (Jack) Morgan. As the inaugural director of The Morgan, Greene built one of the most important collections of rare books and manuscripts in the United States and was instrumental in helping Jack transform the exclusive private collection into a major public resource, leading to a robust program of exhibitions, lectures, publications, and research services that continues today.
Tucked away on Madison Ave and 36th Street, the Morgan Library & Museum continues to acquire rare materials and has undergone a series of expansions to increase its space. In 1928, the Annex building was erected on the corner of Madison and 36th Street, replacing the Morgan family residence. The Annex connected to the original McKim library by means of a gallery. In 1988, Jack Morgan’s former residence — a mid-19th century brownstone on Madison and 37th Street — was added to the complex. A few years later, a garden court was designed and constructed to connect all the buildings — old and new — and serve as a gathering place for visitors. Finally, in 2006, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano added 75,000 square feet to the complex, including a performance hall, cafe, shop, reading room, and welcoming entrance.
The Morgan offers the public a variety of ways to engage with its collections and exhibitions, including lectures, discussions, film screenings, concerts, art and writing workshops, after hours programs, and tours. The Book of Marvels: Imagining the Medieval World exhibit is open through May 25th and dives into the tales of famous travelers like Marco Polo and Alexander the Great.
The Morgan Library & Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:30 am to 5 pm, and Friday from 10:30 am to 8 pm. For more information on current or upcoming exhibits and events, visit themorgan.org. And for an enlightening read on Bella da Costa Greene, pick up a copy of the bestselling novel “The Personal Librarian,” by Heather Terrell and Victoria Christopher Murray.