Description: Letter to the donor of a bronze sculpture by Walther Matia in memory of Foster Whitlock . The letter thanks her for her donation of the sculpture to the museum and describes the dedication ceremony.
Description: Written on museum letterhead, this letter describes the opening of the Wendell Gilley Museum and mentions Wendell Gilley's donation of his carvings to the museum
Wellington - C. G. (Clarence George) Wellington (1890-1960)
Date:
1957-03-04
Description: Letter typed on Kansas City Star letterhead from Executive Editor Clarence G. Wellington thanking Wendell Gilley for carved birds sent on behalf of Frank S. Land.
Description: Thank you letter from the Governor of California thanking Wendell Gilley for a carving of a quail, which he placed on his desk in the Governor's Mansion.
Description: Letter typed on FBI letterhead and signed by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover in gold ink thanking Wendell Gilley for the gift of carved bobwhites sent on behalf of Frank S. Land.
Description: Distinguished achievement award recognizing Wendell Gilley's accomplishments presented posthumously at University of Maine at Orono commencement exercises on May 14, 1983.
Description: Letter from the founder of the Order of Demolay, Frank S. Land, instructing Wendell Gilley to choose and send carvings to Harry S. Truman, Dr. Frank Stanton, president of CBS, Leon Leonidoff, producer of Radio City Music Hall shows, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and White House aide Bernard Shanley. The cost of the five carvings was $250.
Description: The published version of this draft appeared with the title "A Visit with Wendell Gilley, A Legend in the Carving World" in the National Carver's Museum publication, The Mallet. The author indicates that in Nov. 1979 Wendell told him about the planned building of the Wendell Gilley Museum.
Description: Letter to the Museum Director about sending the museum copies of letters received from Wendell Gilley. Enclosed are two letters by Wendell Gilley to Mr. Stearns.
Description: Letter describes Mr. Silver's visit to Elmer Crowell's workshop where he purchased several miniature bird carvings, and his subsequent visit to Wendell Gilley's workshop. Enclosed are photographs of a greater yellowlegs and a duck carved by Crowell. Silver also describes Wendell Gilley's trip to Abercrombie and Fitch where he was inspired to start bird carving.
Description: Notecard reads "Dear Nina: We are lifelong summer residents of SWH and had the great fortune growing up to meet Wendell several times in his workshop while he was carving birds for my grandparents which we now cherish. My mother Linda Madara was asked by Downeast Magazine to write a story about Wendell and to photograph him and his carvings. We came across the text and original copy this summer and thought you may want it for the archives. Best regards, Ted Madara" Note accompanies a typescript of the magazine article, "Wendell Gilley - The Art of Fine Bird Carving" and photographic negatives. [show more]
Description: The letter writer is asking for more information on Wendell Gilley after watching a Boston television program profiling him. She also mentions owning a Gilley carving of a mallard pair.
Description: Note from O'Brien included with a copy of a letter from Byron Cheever. O'Brien mentions having been asked by Peggy Rockefeller if Gilley would sell her a flock of geese.
Description: This letter praises Wendell Gilley's inventiveness, his carving and his book . O'Brien refers to a vise for holding decoys and carvings for painting that Wendell includes in the book.
Description: Cheever writes that he has received the materials for Gilley's book and that he read the new chapter on decoys and thought it was well done. He also talks about meeting carver Harold Haertel in Chicago at a meeting of decoy collectors.
Description: Letter to the editor of the Wendell Gilley Museum's publication, The Eider, from James C. Collins after learning of Wendell Gilley's death