Will James Society -
Will James, cowboy, cattle rustler, and beloved author and artist of the American West, was born Joseph-Ernest Dufault on June 6, 1892, at St. Nazaire de Acton in Quebec, Canada. He came West in 1907 at the age of fifteen, becoming a cowhand and changing his name to William Roderick James. James showed artistic talent from an early age, and gained a reputation for his sketches of life on the range long before publishing his first work.
A turning point in James’s early life came in 1914, when he was accused of rustling cattle in Ely, Nevada and sentenced to the Nevada State Prison at Carson City for a year to fifteen months. During his prison term, he turned to his art for solace, and after his release he became one of the best known Western writers and artists. Between 1920 and his death in 1942, he wrote and illustrated more than twenty books and numerous magazine articles. ~Information provided courtesty of University of Nevada, Reno, Special Collections and University Archives~
November 2012 Message from the President of the Will James Society
I was excited to attend the 20th anniversary Will James Gather in Elko, Nv in October. There the membership continued to expand on perpetuating the lagacy of Will James through our literacy program. We were also enlightened and entertained by "Story Telling" from some by local northern Nevada ranchers. Story telling was a particular...
Will James Society begins planning for October meeting
Mary Branscomb — Free Press Correspondent
The Will James Society planning committee includes, back row from left: Richard Hooton, author of western novels and teacher at Great Basin College; Angie deBraga, head of continuing education at GBC; Sarah Sweetwater; Jane and Dave Secrist, Nevada rancher and author. Front: Betsy Brian; Gary Verhaeghe of Kansas, president WJS; Karen Taufer; Candace James; and Debbie Hoover, event coordinator in Elko.
ELKO — Although the Will James Society is 20 years old, it will host its annual meeting for only the third time in Elko from Oct. 5-7.
Planning for a big event got under way last month at the home of Sarah Sweetwater. The society’s first base was in Billings, Mont., but according to Sharon DeCarlo, editor and publisher of “Cowboys North and South,” the official publication of the Will James Society, it was relocated to Elko “because of the wonderful acceptance and support of this exceptional and traditional cowboy oriented town.” Read more...
Storytime embodies cowboy culture
John Rasche/Elko Daily Free Press
John Collett passes his spurs around the Southside Elementary classroom while demonstrating how the gear works.
ELKO — Cowboy John Collett stood before the Southside Elementary class and demonstrated how a horse hair rope can sound by lightly flicking it against his jeans.
The impact made a slight popping sound.
“Ouchie!” two of the third grade children cried, rubbing their own legs, before giggling away the shock. Read more...
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Welcome to the Will James Society Website
Mission Statement:
To promote the Legacy, Literature and Art of the Great Cowboy author, Will James, through the gifting of his inspirational books to schools, public libraries, our military units and hospitals throughout the world, and other interested and worthy institutions.
The Will James Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the works and memory of a great western author and artist, Will James. The Society donates books to schools and libraries throughout the United States and Canada. They also send soft cover versions to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The 20th Annual Will James Society Gather will be hosted in Elko, Nevada October 4th through the 7th, 2012.
Also located in Elko, Nevada is the Northeastern Nevada Museum, the home of Don Frazier’s collection of art works and books by Will James. The museum includes exhibits of history, natural history, local cultures, mining, ranching, railroading, and gaming.