Alan Horace Kempner was born on July 4, 1897 in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1913 he attended the College of the City of New York for a semester before transferring to Columbia University where he graduated from in 1917. He married Margaret Loeb on June 1, 1920 in Mamaroneck, New York. He was a stockbroker, publishing executive, and philanthropist, giving money as well as rare books and manuscripts to Columbia University. The University named an exhibition hall of rare books for Mr. Kempner and his wife. He died on December 17, 1985 at his home in Purchase, New York.

Margaret Kempner, nee Margaret Loeb, was born on May 22, 1899 in St. Louis Missouri. She married Alan Kempner on June 1, 1920. She worked as a philanthropist and fund raiser for the well-being of children and the elderly as well as the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, where she was chairman of the board of its women's division. The Kempners donated time, money, and rare books to the Kempner Rare Book Library at Columbia University. She and Mr. Kempner had three sons: Alan Horace Jr., Carl Loeb, and Thomas Lenox. Margaret Kempner passed away on December 31, 2001 at her home in Purchase, New York at 102 years old.