Little is left to know about William Fagaly after the publication of his autobiography, intriguingly titled The Night Crawler King: Memoirs of an Art Museum Curator (2021). Given his well-deserved reputation as a devoted party goer in New Orleans, that title immediately brings to mind wild images; but, no, the title refers to his childhood “business” of harvesting worms to sell to local fishermen. The book is not only a guide to Bill's rich life but an important record of philanthropists, collectors, dealers, museum directors, as well as artists and fellow-travelers in New Orleans. This lively record is organized in “episodes,” not mere “chapters.”
Born in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Bill Fagaly demonstrated early on interests in art and music as well as becoming a devoted young collector of everything from stamps and coins to glass marbles and “Indian relics.” Poor health as a child limited his physical activities. Music was always...