Moor Zion Family Library Special Collection on Library Sciences: Book 3

 The Instant New York Times Bestseller! A Good Morning America* Book Club Pick!

The Personal Librarian

by Marie Benedict (Author), Victoria Christopher Murray

Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! Named a Notable Book of the Year by the Washington Post!

“Historical fiction at its best!”
 
A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.

In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by J. P. Morgan to curate a collection of rare manuscripts, books, and artwork for his newly built Pierpont Morgan Library. Belle becomes a fixture in New York City society and one of the most powerful people in the art and book world, known for her impeccable taste and shrewd negotiating for critical works as she helps create a world-class collection.

But Belle has a secret, one she must protect at all costs. 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. Belle’s complexion isn’t dark because of her alleged Portuguese heritage that lets her pass as white—her complexion is dark because she is African American.

The Personal Librarian tells the story of an extraordinary woman, 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.

Learn more about our family library HERE.

Moor Zion Family Library Special Collection on Library Sciences: Book 2

Throughout the history of the world, libraries have been constructed, burned, discovered, raided, and cherished—and the treasures they've housed have evolved from early stone tablets to the mass-produced, bound paper books of our present day. The Library invites you to enter the libraries of ancient Greece, early China, Renaissance England, and modern-day America, and speaks to the book lover in all of us. Incorporating beautiful illustrations, insightful quotations, and many marvelous mysteries of libraries—their books, patrons, and keepers—this book is certain to provide you with a wealth of knowledge and enjoyment.

Read More about our family library HERE

Moor Zion Family Library Special Collection on Library Sciences: Book 1

Educators at the Zion Wesley Institute realized early the importance of reading and research in developing thinking people. For this reason they stressed a well-balanced book collection from the very beginning of the establishing of the institution. As years have passed and educators have come and gone, the institution has ripened and reached maturity and so has the library of the college.

It is the purpose of this report to picture the growth of the library proper of the college. Excluded from this study is the library of the Hood Theological Seminary located on the second floor of the Carnegie Library building and is now under the direction of Mrs. Mable Graves. 

The materials included here have come from rare documents located in the college library, personal interviews, North Carolina Library Commission, W.F. Fonvielle’s, Reminiscences of College Days, James S. Brawley’s, The Rowan Story, 1753-1953, Office of Education, Washington, D.C., Official Statistical Reports of Librarian, C.P. Harris, Zion’s Historical Catechism, W.H. Davenport’s, Membership in Zion Methodism, New Standard Encyclopedias, ad clippings from the following publications: Salisbury Evening Post, Salisbury, North Carolina and Star of Zion, Charlotte, North Carolina. However, materials collected from Star of Zion are limited due to the absence of back numbers of the publication

For More Information on our family library click HERE

Lunar Visitor Radio

 

The Lunar Visitor periodical was first published in 1852 in San Francisco, California by a formerly enslaved preacher, John Jamison (J.J.) Moore of the AME Zion Church (denomination)- church home of Harriet Tubman, the Paul Robeson Family,  Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and other abolitionists. 

        In 2019, the Lunar Visitor brand was updated and modernized by the Moore family. In 2022 the family launched Lunar Visitor Radio during Black History via Live365.com. The work of Bishop Moore, Rev. Dr. Isaiah Moore, and their family continues on to modern-day. 
 
When Bishop Moor published the Lunar Visitor in San Francisco in the 1850s, he gave it the mission statement: “To be devoted to the Moral, Intellectual, and Social Improvement of the Colored Race”, Today we just say "the race". It is through this mission that we self-determine to push ourselves and our families forward generationally, thinking 7 generations ahead. 
Your support of this Digital Publication and Radio Station will help us in the work of rebuilding our family business and allow us to bring you information that will benefit your life and the life of those that you love. 

Why Cultivating Power is the Key to Success

 

Noble Irvin P. Foster EL Memorial

 

The Rise of the Moors: Faith, Finance, and Forgiveness November 11- 14, 2021