William’s professional contributions to military history and collectibles are extensive. He has worked as a Worthologist for WorthPoint, served as a peer reviewer for Marine Corps University’s Marine History, and contributed to major reference publications, including North South Trader’s The Civil War Collector’s Price Guide and Warman’s Civil War Collectibles: Identification and Price Guide. His passion for military button collecting began at an early age after attending Company of Military Historians meetings with his father, Lewis Leigh, Jr. As a young collector, William purchased buttons from Alphaeus “Dewey” Albert, author of The Record of American Uniform and Historical Buttons—an experience that sparked a lifelong dedication to the hobby. He was further influenced by notable relic hunters, traders, and collectors such as Tommy Johnson, John Duggan, Joe Johnston, Joe Leisch, Cecil Anderson, Bruce Bazelon, and Bill McGuinn.

From relic hunting in the 1970s to attending Civil War shows and conducting advanced research, William’s commitment to military button collecting has never wavered. Beyond building world-class collections, he is passionate about educating collectors and preserving historical accuracy. William welcomes the opportunity to help others explore the hobby of Civil War button collecting. Whether you are researching button rarity, identifying backmarks, or learning proven collecting strategies, his decades of experience provide a trusted resource for building and enhancing a historically significant collection.