William Bridges Thayer, 33°
(Sep 11, 1852-Mar 31, 1907)
1896 - Raised, Albert Pike Lodge #219
1901-02 - Master, Albert Pike Lodge #219

1896 - 32° Consistory of Western MO, Kansas City
1901 - Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
1901 - Life Member - Kansas City Scottish Rite
1903-04 - Master of Kadosh in The Consistory
1903 - Coroneted 33° Inspector General Honorary

1897 - Red Cross
1897 - Order of the Temple
1897 - Knight of Malta

William Bridges Thayer, 33°
Occupation: Merchant, department store magnate, art patron
Past President, Kansas City Club
Recommended: William T. Kemper, Philip J. McArthur
Alumnus: University of Chicago
Interred: Mt Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO

William Thayer's widow, Sallie, married to William in 1880 began establishing an extensive art collection with her husband. After his death from pneumonia in 1907, Sallie continued to build the collection with an eye toward improving the cultural life of Kansas Citians, especially the young. Sallie's efforts to procure an art gallery in Kansas City were frustrated and she resigned herself to displaying the art in her home. Sallie was lobbied by the University of Kansas for their then fledging art department to donate the collection with them. Sallie donated the extensive art collection to the University of Kansas as a memorial to her late husband.

Some items, including art objects from Asia and Europe and the Winslow Homer and Robert Henri paintings, are on permanent display. Others, such as textiles and Japanese prints, are displayed only periodically in order to preserve them as long as possible. Also included in the collection were more than 6,000 books containing many rare volumes. The Thayer's initial gift of about 7,000 works of art has increased through gifts, bequests, and purchases, to more than 21,000 objects.