A native of New Orleans, Leila Moore Williams devoted her life to philanthropy, service to others, and the preservation of the city’s cultural heritage. She served on the boards of the Council for Social Agencies and St. Anna’s Asylum and volunteered with the Junior League. She and her husband, L. Kemper Williams, were involved in civic organizations around the city, such as the New Orleans Symphony, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Boy Scouts of America.

In the vanguard of French Quarter preservationists, Leila and Kemper Williams bought two properties in the neighborhood in 1938—the Merieult House on Royal Street and a late nineteenth-century residence contiguous to the Merieult House, facing Toulouse Street. After renovating both properties, the couple lived in the Toulouse Street house for the next seventeen years. During that time, they began collecting artifacts related to the history of New Orleans and Louisiana.

Recognizing the significance of their collection and French Quarter properties, the Williamses established The Historic New Orleans Collection, endowed by the Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation. In the fifty years since the death of Leila Williams, The Historic New Orleans Collection has grown into a thriving museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to preserving the history of the region and bringing it to life for the public.