About William Hays Sr

  • Biography

    The following is written by Jennette Durham, an intern at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, spring 2003.

    William Jacob Hays, Sr. (1830-1875)

    Born on August 8, 1830 in New York, NY, William Jacob Hays developed a successful career as a painter. While attending the National Academy of Design, Hays studied drawing from John Rubens Smith. His first exhibited painting at the National Academy of Design was Dogs in a Field. He went on to paint depictions of deer, race horses, game birds, fish, fruit and flowers. Beginning in May of 1860, Hays further used his skills on a three-month trip up the Missouri River to Fort Union, located in what is now the state of North Dakota. This trip would prove ...

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