A portrait of Joseph Thayer Sr. from the collection of the Yates County History Center will go on display in the Oliver House Museum now that the painting has been conserved and returned to the History Center. The History Center had received funding from Greater Hudson Heritage Network to conserve the portrait, one of three paintings of the Thayer family, of Barrington, in YCHC’s collection. It is also the second of the three paintings to be conserved; the other two portraits depict Thayer Sr.’s wife, Samantha, and his son, Joseph Thayer Jr.
Klara Zold, of Corning, performed the conservation work. The conservation of this painting was supported through the NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Treatment Program administered by the Greater Hudson Heritage Network. The program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
All of the portraits were donated by Ann Hallock, of Hannacroix, a descendant of the Thayer family. This painting of Joseph Thayer Sr. dates from around 1850 and has been in storage since it entered the History Center’s collection. Joseph Sr. was undersheriff of Yates County and a grocer. Joseph Jr. served as a guard at Elmira Prison during the Civil War.
