WAIMEA — The juvenile collection at Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library of the Hawaii State Public Library System recently received a donation of nine cowboy books from the Will James Society Book Gifting Program.
WAIMEA — The juvenile collection at Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library of the Hawaii State Public Library System recently received a donation of nine cowboy books from the Will James Society Book Gifting Program.
Titles include “Home Ranch,” “In the Saddle with Uncle Bill” and “Young Cowboy.”
The Society’s mission is to provide books written and illustrated by Will James in the western genre for readers of all ages to enjoy stories of cowboy life. The Society donates books to schools and libraries throughout the United States and Canada.
Will James, a cowboy, cattle rustler and beloved author and artist of the American West, 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 his life came in 1914, when he was accused of rustling cattle in Ely, Nevada, and sentenced to the Nevada State Prison for 12 to 15 months.
During his prison term, James 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 20 books and numerous magazine articles.
“We’re very grateful to the Will James Society for this generous gift,” Pamela Akao said, the library’s branch manager. “This gift is especially meaningful for our library, which serves a large, historic and well-loved ranching community.”
