Leon August Waters is a New Orleans native, historian, publisher and social activist. Waters attended Xavier University for Business Administration and graduated from St. Augustine High School. He serves as the Board Chairperson of the Louisiana Museum of African American History (LMAAH). As a licensed tour host, he has been directing tours on ‘hidden history’ for 25 years and is also the manager of Hidden History, L.C.C. – a publishing, touring, and research company. While in residence Waters worked to adapt his book, On To New Orleans: Louisiana’s Heroic 1811 Slave Revolt, as a high school textbook and incorporate new research from archives in France, Spain, Martinique, and Haiti.

“I found my residency at ASITW a very rewarding experience. I was able to concentrate on a critical section of my upcoming publication that allowed me to conduct research, interview several history scholars, set up appointments at archival sites including the Hill Library on LSU‘s campus, outline my themes, sub-themes, and other adjunctive parts.” – Leon August Waters