diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1699ca9..4cf75e9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -82,6 +82,38 @@ import { Graphistry } from '@graphistry/client-api-react';` // + variants for di
 
 See [@graphistry/client-api-react project](projects/client-api-react/README.md), [interactive storybook docs](https://graphistry.github.io/graphistry-js/), and [Create React App project sample](projects/cra-test/README.md)
 
+### Authentication with Client API
+
+For secure authentication, create a `Client` instance and pass it to your components:
+
+```javascript
+import { Client, Dataset, EdgeFile, NodeFile } from '@graphistry/client-api';
+import { Graphistry } from '@graphistry/client-api-react';
+
+// Create authenticated client
+const client = new Client(
+  'my_username', 
+  'my_password', 
+  '', // org (optional)
+  'https', // protocol  
+  'hub.graphistry.com' // host
+);
+
+// Use with React component
+return (
+  <Graphistry
+    client={client}
+    dataset="Miserables"
+    // other props...
+  />
+);
+```
+
+This approach provides:
+- JWT-based authentication (vs deprecated API keys)
+- Automatic token management and refresh
+- Secure server-to-server communication
+
 <br><br>
 
 ## @graphistry/node-api
@@ -140,9 +172,11 @@ To support server-acceleration and fast interactions, Graphistry decouples uploa
 
 - You can configure your Graphistry server to run as http, https, or both
 - Uploads require authentication
+  - **Recommended**: The `Client` class provides modern JWT-based authentication for both browser and Node.js environments
   - The `node-api` client already uses the new JWT-based protocol ("API 3")
-  - Deprecated: The clientside JavaScript convenience APIs still use the deprecrated "API 1" protocol (key-based), which lacks JWT-based authentication and authorization
+  - **Deprecated**: The clientside JavaScript convenience APIs still use the deprecated "API 1" protocol (key-based), which lacks JWT-based authentication and authorization
     - We recommend clients instead use `fetch` or other HTTP callers to directly invoke the REST API: See how the `node-api` performs it
     - The client JavaScript APIs will updated to the new JWT method alongside recent CORS and SSO updates; contact staff if you desire assistance
+  - **Deprecated**: Legacy API key authentication is still supported but will be phased out
 - Sessions are based on unguessable web keys: sharing a secret ID means sharing read access
-- Datasets are immutable and thus their integrity is safe for sharing, while session state (e.g., filters) are writable: share a copy when in doubt
+- Datasets are immutable and thus their integrity is safe for sharing, while session state (e.g., filters) are writable: share a copy when in doubt
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/projects/client-api-react/src/index.js b/projects/client-api-react/src/index.js
index 9b1e7ea..b120cd9 100644
--- a/projects/client-api-react/src/index.js
+++ b/projects/client-api-react/src/index.js
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ const propTypes = {
     onLabelsUpdate: PropTypes.func,
     selectionUpdateOptions: PropTypes.object,
 
-    queryParamExtra: PropTypes.object
+    queryParamExtra: PropTypes.object,
+    client: PropTypes.object
 };
 
 const defaultProps = {
@@ -365,7 +366,8 @@ function generateIframeRef({
     url, dataset, props,
     axesMap,
     iframeStyle, iframeClassName, iframeProps, allowFullScreen,
-    tolerateLoadErrors
+    tolerateLoadErrors,
+    authToken
 }) {
 
     console.debug('@generateIframeRef', { url, dataset, props, axesMap, iframeStyle, iframeClassName, iframeProps, allowFullScreen, tolerateLoadErrors });
@@ -416,6 +418,26 @@ function generateIframeRef({
                     ),
                     tap((g) => {
                         console.debug('new iframe all init updates handled, if any', g);
+                        
+                        // store JWT token for iframe auth
+                        if (authToken && client.authTokenValid()) {
+                            try {
+                                localStorage.setItem('graphistry_auth_token', authToken);
+                                console.info('Stored JWT token for iframe authentication');
+                                
+                                if (iframe && iframe.contentWindow) {
+                                    const targetOrigin = new URL(props.graphistryHost).origin;
+                                    iframe.contentWindow.postMessage({
+                                        type: 'auth-token-available',
+                                        agent: 'graphistryjs',
+                                        token: authToken
+                                    }, targetOrigin);
+                                }
+                            } catch (error) {
+                                console.warn('Failed to store auth token:', error);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        
                         setFirstRun(false);
                         if (props.onClientAPIConnected) {
                             console.debug('has onClientAPIConnected(), calling', props.onClientAPIConnected);
@@ -465,13 +487,16 @@ const Graphistry = forwardRef((props, ref) => {
         onUpdateObservableG,
         onSelectionUpdate,
         onLabelsUpdate,
-        selectionUpdateOptions
+        selectionUpdateOptions,
+        client
     } = props;
 
     const [loading, setLoading] = useState(!!props.loading);
     const [dataset, setDataset] = useState(props.dataset);
     const [loadingMessage, setLoadingMessage] = useState(props.loadingMessage || '');
 
+    const authToken = props.client && props.client.authTokenValid() ? props.client._token : null;
+
     const [g, setG] = useState(null);
     const [gObs, setGObs] = useState(null);
     const [gSub, setGSub] = useState(null);
@@ -523,9 +548,10 @@ const Graphistry = forwardRef((props, ref) => {
 
         return {
             g,
+            client,
             ...exportedCalls
         };
-    }, [g]);
+    }, [g, client, dataset]);
 
     useEffect(() => {
         if (g && onSelectionUpdate) {
@@ -583,7 +609,8 @@ const Graphistry = forwardRef((props, ref) => {
         url, dataset, props,
         axesMap,
         iframeStyle, iframeClassName, iframeProps, allowFullScreen,
-        tolerateLoadErrors
+        tolerateLoadErrors,
+        authToken
     });
 
     const children = [