About the Morgan

The Pierpont Morgan Library was incorporated in 1924 as an educational institution dedicated to fostering a greater knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of primarily Western history and culture. Originally formed by Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), the permanent collections record and reflect achievements of European and American literature, music, art, and history. The Morgan is one of the very few institutions in the United States that collects, exhibits, and sponsors research in the areas of illuminated manuscripts, master drawings, rare books, fine bindings, and literary, historical, and music manuscripts.

To realize its purpose, The Morgan Library & Museum has four goals:
to function as a center and source for research and publication in the permanent collections and to promote their scholarly study;
to preserve and care for the collections that are held in trust for the American people;
to acquire, through purchase and gift, significant works in the fields established by Pierpont Morgan;
to present the collections, related exhibitions, and interpretive programming to the general public, students, collectors, and scholars in a manner consistent with the highest educational and artistic standards.

The significance of the collections mandates a national and international role for the institution, both as an educational resource for the general public and as a research center for the scholarly community.

Photograph by Todd Eberle. © 2002, Todd Eberle.