Belle da Costa Greene was a brilliant and ambitious woman who, to succeed in the male-dominated world of high society and the art world, had to conceal her true African American heritage. She carefully crafted a persona as a woman of Portuguese descent to navigate the racist society of early 20th-century New York. Hired by J.P. Morgan to curate his vast collection of rare books, manuscripts, and artwork, Belle became a powerful figure in the art world. She traveled the globe, acquiring treasures for the renowned Pierpont Morgan Library..
