The Historic New Orleans Collection’s Williams Research Center is an archive and exhibition space on Chartres Street in the French Quarter. Stop in to see a small display on the city’s past, or use the reading room to explore records, books and other material on New Orleans and the wider region. Staff can help you get started with a focused research question. Admission is free, and the building, originally designed as a police station, has a former courtroom that now serves as the reading room.
A research center with a public exhibition
The Williams Research Center is part of The Historic New Orleans Collection. Its archive holds books and records relating to New Orleans and the surrounding region, including material about French Quarter buildings. Researchers can use the reading room to consult documents, with staff available to help identify relevant resources.
The center also has a small public exhibition, so you can visit without setting aside time for archival research. Displays cover aspects of the city’s history and culture. Admission is free.
The former courtroom
The center occupies a Beaux-Arts building designed by city architect Edgar Angelo Christy in 1915. It was originally built as a police station. Although the interior has been extensively redecorated, parts of its earlier design remain visible in the reading room, which was once the courtroom.
For a research visit, arrive with a particular region, person or subject in mind. The archive contains a broad range of material, and a defined question can help you make better use of the reading room and staff assistance. Keep the room’s restrictions in mind: pens, bags and food are not allowed.
FAQ
Is admission to the Williams Research Center free?
Yes. Admission is free.
Can you visit without doing research?
Yes. There is a public exhibition as well as the research facilities.
What can you research at the center?
The archive includes material on New Orleans and the surrounding region, including records relating to French Quarter buildings.
Can I bring a bag or food into the reading room?
No. Bags, food and pens are not allowed in the reading room.
