corral

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~

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.

Our 20th annual Will James Society Gather will be hosted in Elko, Nevada October 5th through October 7th at the Elko Convention Center.

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.

Will James Society 2012 Gather

We are gearing up for the 20th Annual Will James Society Gather to be held in Elko, Nevada on October 5-7, 2012. This year's theme will honor cowboy story tellers, along with some poetry and music as well. We hope to recreate the great campfire atmosphere and have invited some wonderful story tellers as well as cowboy singers and writers.

Read more...

 

Spring 2012 Message from the President of the Will James Society

I was fortunate to attend the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV the first week of February. I not only enjoyed the world-class entertainment of the cowboy poets, western story tellers and musicians, but was also able to meet with many...

Read more...

 

seven seals award

Will James Society Receives Seven Seals Award

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) was established in the 1970's by the Department of defense in Washington D.C. It's mission is to help troops with their employers as they go on assignmets and as they return home, also to help with many other needs. ESGR also recognizes...

Read more...
Go to top

Gather Supporters

capriola

Chamber2

Northern Nevada Museum Logo

ecva

GeneralMoly

Newmont

GDW Elko

walmart

s8 logo