At just 26 years old, Belle da Costa Greene became librarian for one of the most powerful men in the world, J.P. Morgan … while hiding her true identity. Guiding the creation of Morgan’s renowned private collection of rare books and manuscripts, Greene spent the next 43 years negotiating purchases for the collection (now known as The Morgan Library) while competing against other collectors worldwide. Her position opened countless doors to befriend the elite of America and Europe and to attend the most exclusive parties and cultural events. Besides her extraordinary professional gifts and acumen, another key to Greene’s success: she hid her African American heritage from Morgan and everyone else. This presentation explores some of Greene’s extraordinary accomplishments within the context of the period and the phenomenon of racial passing, and offers a glimpse of her career in celebration of the Morgan Library & Museum’s exhibition on her, now open.