ton University Library on
nominal pay at the foot of the ladder, and worked up through every
department in order to perfect herself for the position of University
Librarian.

While at Princeton she decided to specialize in early printing, rare
books, and historical and illuminated manuscripts. She studied the
history of printing from its inception in 1445 to the present day. It
was after she had taken up the study of manuscripts from the
standpoint of their contents that she found that it was next to
impossible to progress further along that line in this country, as at
that time we had neither the material nor the scholars. She has often
expressed the wish that there had been in her day a Morgan Library for
consultation.

When she had finished the course at Princeton she went abroad and
studied with the recognized authorities in England and Italy. Ten
years, in fact, were spent in unceasing application, what the college
boy calls "grind," without which Miss Greene is convinced it is
impossible for any one to succeed in any vocation or attain a
distinguished position. To all demands for advice her answer is,
"Work, work, and more work."

She took hold of the Morgan Library in its raw state, when the
valuable books and MSS. Mr. Morgan had bought at sales in Europe were
still packed in cases; and out of that initial disorder Belle Greene,
almost unaided, has built up one of the greatest libraries in the
world. Soon after her installation she began a systematic course in
Art research. She visited the various museums and private collections
of this country, and got in touch with the heads of the different
departments and their curators. She followed their methods until it
was borne in upon her that most of them were antiquated and befogging,
whereupon she began another course in Europe during the summer months
in order to study under the experts in the various fields of art;
comparing the works of artists and artisans of successive periods,
applying herself to the actual technique of painting in its many
phases, studying the influence of the various masters upon their
contemporaries and future disciples.

By attending auction sales, visiting dealers constantly and all
exhibitions, reading all art periodicals, she soon learned the
commercial value of art objects.

Thus in time she was able and with authority to assist Mr. Morgan in
the purchase of his vast collections which embraced art in all its
forms. With the exce