Earlier this month, New York’s Morgan Library and Museum celebrated its 100^th birthday! To mark the occasion, the historic institution received two gifts totalling $15 million (£11.6 million) to help preserve the opulent building and noteworthy collection for the next 100 years.

“The Morgan has evolved into one of New York’s most beloved cultural destinations,” explained Colin B. Bailey, director of The Morgan. “These generous gifts allow us to continue this work, move forward with confidence and bolster our long-term financial health.”

Over a century ago, the American banking tycoon John Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) began constructing a magnificent personal library to house his rare collection of manuscripts, early printed books, and old master drawings and prints. The Renaissance-style palazzo, located near his home in the heart of Manhattan, epitomised the extravagance of America’s Gilded Age. Eleven years after Morgan’s death, his son J.P Morgan Jr. (1867-1943) posthumously fulfilled the financiers dream of making the library and its treasures available to the public.

As part of its Centennial Campaign, The Morgan is now fundraising $35 million (£27.2 million) for its endowment and $15 million (£11.6 million) to address operational needs. The Sherman Fairchild Foundation gave the institution $10 million (£7.7 million) last year, and this month long-time museum trustee Katharine J. Rayner pledged another $10 million. The museum’s directorship will now be named after Rayner for the next 25 years in recognition of her gift. An additional $5 million (£3.8 million) donation was recently given by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation to fund future exhibitions.

News of the generous donations was announced at the institution’s star-studded benefit gala on 4 March 2024. American singer Patti Smith gave an impromptu performance to the famous attendees, amongst them the architect Peter Marino, the art dealer Vito Schnabel, and artist Walton Ford. Towards the end of the night, Smith led the partygoers in song besides an illusion cake baked in the shape of a pile of books. “Happy birthday, dear Morgan Library,” she sang. “Happy birthday to you.”

This year, the museum has also planned a series of exhibitions and events to celebrate its anniversary. One of the most anticipated shows will be dedicated to The Morgan’s inaugural director and prominent librarian, Belle da Costa Greene (1879-1950). As a black woman in early twentieth-century America, Greene quietly passed as white in order to work alongside J.P Morgan caring for his collection.

Highlights from The Morgan’s impressive collection include an original copy of ‘The Gutenberg Bible’ (c.1454-1455), ‘Adam and Eve’ by Albrecht Dürer (c.1504), the autographed manuscript of Symphony no. 35 in D major, K. 385 (1782) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), the autographed manuscript of Charles Dickens’ (1812-1870) ‘A Christmas Carol’ (1843), and ‘Portrait of the Artist’s Wife’ (1917) by Egon Schiele (1890-1918).

“When I was a boy, Rene Ricard brought me to see drawings here, so the Morgan has always been dear to my heart,” recalled Schnabel. “To me, the Morgan is a New York gem.”