Established in 1966, HNOC builds on the collection and vision of founders Kemper and Leila Williams. HNOC produces award-winning exhibitions, public programs, books and multimedia. In keeping with the founders’ wish to make New Orleans and Gulf South history accessible to the public, admission is free. 

HNOC continues to collect rigorously, adding roughly 2,700 new items each year. Through their oral history program and many database initiatives, HNOC has compiled and digitized thousands of unique primary source materials dating from colonial Louisiana.