Description: Photograph accompanies letter from Donald M. Fenner to the Gilley Museum. Back of photograph marked: "DMF, Wendell Gilley, NWCA Meeting Herkimer, N.Y. May 1967, examining carvings by Erwin Caldwell".
Description: Photograph accompanies letter from Donald M. Fenner to the Gilley Museum. Back of photograph marked: "Helen Lay Strong - died June 13, 1995, Ed Gallenstein - President National Woodcarvers Association, Wendell Gilley, NWCA Herkimer Meeting, May 1967".
Description: Photograph accompanies letter from Donald M. Fenner to the Gilley Museum. The two carvers are shown seated with various carvings by Wendell Gilley. The pintail in Gilley's hands was given to Fenner. Back of photograph marked: "'Captain' Ed Moore, Wendell L. [sic] Gilley, Woodcarvers Meeting, Herkimer, N.Y. May 1967"
Description: Photograph accompanies letter from Donald M. Fenner to the Gilley Museum. The two carvers are shown seated with various carvings by Wendell Gilley. The pintail in Gilley's hands was given to Fenner. Back of photograph marked: "N.Y.S. Wood carvers Convention Herkimer - May 1967 " ; stamped: "Carlyle W. Kennedy."
Description: Wendell Gilley seated in his workshop next to a window with miniature carvings on windowsill. "Credit: Roche, Caldwell N.J." stamped on reverse.
Description: Heron standing on driftwood base with beak pointing upward against painted background. In pencil on reverse: "Blue Heron." "Credit: Roche, Caldwell N.J." stamped on reverse.
Description: Wendell Gilley carved the chickadee in this photo used as an advertisement for Warren Tool shortly before his death in 1982. Mounted on mat board ; Warren Tool Co. label on reverse side of board. Accompanied by handwritten note from Fred Clark, President of Warren Tool.
Description: Black and white photograph with label: "Pileated woodpecker. 1970 carving by Wendell Gilley - Collection of Wendell Gilley Museum - photo by Dori Selene Rockefeller" on reverse
Description: Black and white photograph labeled "Ruffed Grouse. 1981 carving by Wendell Gilley - collection of Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Gilley - photo by Dori Selene Rockefeller" on reverse
Description: Black and white photograph labeled "Wendell Gilley - Great Blue Heron" and inscribed "Woodcarving of a 'Great Blue Heron with Trout' by Wendell Gilley, 1974 - collection of the Wendell Gilley Museum, Southwest Harbor" in red ink on reverse
Description: Black and white photograph labeled "Golden eagle. 1980 carving by Wendell Gilley - collection of Wendell Gilley Museum - photo by Dori Selene Rockefeller" on reverse
Description: Photograph of a marbled (?) godwit carved by Wendell H. Gilley. The carving appears to be part of a diorama. On reverse side in pencil: "George W. Pepper 3rd" . "Roche Photography, Caldwell N.J." stamp on reverse.
Description: Photograph of bald eagle, perched with wings spread above fish on oval base, carved by Wendell H. Gilley. Marked "Eagle with fish by Wendell Gilley" in ink on reverse side.
Description: Group portrait of Wendell Gilley Museum Board with Museum Director Nina Gormley in front of the museum building. Back row, left to right: Sarah Elliott, Carol West, John Wilmerding, Trustee Emeritus, Ashley Bernhard, Nina Gormley, Executive Director/Curator, Clare Shepley, Jennifer Nolan, Roc Cavino, Elizabeth Hughes, Douglass Gott. Front row, left to right: Barbara Rockefeller, Steven Rockefeller, Kate Briggs, Robert Hinkley, Eleanor Hoagland. Not pictured: Arthur Rogers. [show more]
Description: Wendell Gilley, holding a carving of a ruffed grouse, with Steven Rockefeller. On reverse side of photograph: "Wendell Gilley in his S.W. Harbor Studio"
Description: Wendell Gilley standing next to a life size great horned owl carving. Also shown are carvings of a Canada goose, woodcock, and an unpainted pair of cormorants.
Description: Letter mentions meetings of the Mount Desert Island Bird Club and MDI Hospital Auxiliary being held at the Gilley Museum. Enclosed with the letter is a Polaroid photo of an unpainted eagle carving. Wendell also mentions working on two life-size grouse .
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
Description: Letter acknowledging return of a bob-white carving as well as discussion of solder and advice on where to get bass wood. Also included are sketches of the leg and foot of a Canada goose.
Description: Letter mentions receiving a bird book from the Whitlocks. It also talks about working on carvings of an eagle with a fish and a ruffed grouse with spread tail and another taking off in flight. Enclosed with the letter are drawings of male and female swimming buffleheads.
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: Carving of a half-bodied mallard duck in flight superimposed on a painted scene of shoreline and water ; duck approximately seven inches long, six inches high ; both legs are broken off and missing ; traces of practice painting on reverse ; edges painted silver ; signed bottom right "Gilley"
Description: Decorative three dimensional eagle plaque, head turned left, painted gold, made from two pieces of wood. Has screw eye for hanging. Signed " W.H. Gilley" on back of right wing. Marked "Addie Gilley."
Description: Decorative flying eagle; clutching flagpole in left talon with attached banner:. "E Pluribus Unum" carved and painted decorative detail. Attached hanging wire. Signed "Wendell Gilley," marked "Addie Gilley" on back.
Description: Very early Gilley diorama ; carved and painted American goldeneye against painted winter scene on board. Marked "Made about 1935 Wendell Gilley" on back. Signed "Gilley on bottom front.
Description: Decorative eagle looking upwards, wings out stretched horizontally, left talon in relief clutching shield, back has two screws and a hinge attaching banner to wing, screw eye for hanging at top and lower right. Painted in red, white and blue, with flag pole and banner reading "Dum Vivimus Viviamus." After the style of carver John Hailey Bellamy (1836-1914). Marked "Addie Gilley," stamped "Wendell H. Gilley, Southwest Harbor, Maine." [show more]
Description: Painted board with miniature flying mallard attached. Inscribed on back "Given to J.E. Brown by Wendelll Gilley circ. 1936"; "Presented to the Gilley Museum July 1984."
Description: Adult male in a naturalistic, though simplified pose, mounted on the larger prong of a smooth, two-pronged driftwood branch ; ovoid gouge-carved pine base ; glass eyes, wire legs and broadly-spread toes gripping driftwood "tree". Signed "Gilley" on back of driftwood mount near the base. No date
Description: Article from the Evening Telegram (Herkimer, N.Y.), May 17, 1967. Wendell Gilley was the featured speaker at the National Woodcarvers Association's New York chapter's second annual meeting, according to the article, which gives biographical and professional information about him.
Description: Announcement that Wendell Gilley would be attending a bird carving exhibition in Chestertown, Maryland. The carving of a bald eagle family that he entered in the exhibit is depicted.
Description: Describes the removal of the George Ripley Fuller House, located at the current Wendell Gilley Museum site (the corner of Rte. 102 and Herrick Rd., Southwest Harbor) prior to the museum's construction.
Description: Lists Wendell Gilley as one of America's top craftsmen exhibiting at the Kent County Chapter of the Maryland Ornithological Society show of waterfowl and upland game bird carvings in Nov. 1965. Other carvers exhibiting included Harold Haertel.
Description: Wendell Gilley exhibits forty carvings plus carvings-in-progress at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences in the show "Down East Bird Carvings."
Description: This article, titled "Capt. Black: Artist and Surgeon", describes Wendell Gilley's influence on sculptor Paul Black. It also mentions Gilley's Canada goose carved for Harry S. Truman.
Description: Article from the Philadelphia Inquirer's society column by Ruth Seltzer describing the preparations for the exhibit Downeast Bird Carvings by Wendell Gilley. The exhibit was held at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. The photograph accompanying the article shows Barbara Tyson, a trustee of the Academy, helping unpack the carved birds.
Description: Wendell Gilley Museum Director Nina Gormley and members of the museum's board of trustees standing in front of the museum with Whooping Cranes by Walter Matia, 1990.
Description: Eagle standing over fish. Signed "Gilley" on front of base; inscribed "Bald Eagle 1982 by W.H. Gilley" on underside of base. Metal fish is removeable.
Description: Herring gull perched on wooden post. No date or signature visible. Stamp "W.H. Gilley" visible under white paint between legs. Bird detaches from base.
Description: Approx. 1/4 life size group of four; two males, two females on driftwood branch mounted on smooth oblong wooden base. Underside of base inscribed "Wood Ducks by Wendell Gilley 1976".
Description: Woodcock on driftwood base ; head turned slightly to the right. Signed "Gilley" on right side of base ; inscribed "Woodcock by W. H. Gilley" on underside of base. No date visible.
Description: Article from Audubon Adventures, volume 2, number 4 (February/March 1986). Matthew Beal and Stephen Brooks are interviewed about learning to carve at the Wendell Gilley Museum with museum artist Steven Valleau.
Description: Panel carved by Gilley Museum Artist-in-Residence Steven Valleau ca 1995 ; one of a series marking the fifteenth anniversary of the museum.
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: Approx. Life size; adult male, glass eyes, painted plumage detail, wire legs set into green mound base. Marked "Goldfinch by W.H Gilley, Addie Gilley." on underside of base.
Description: Letter regarding the possible exhibition of a Gilley piece in the Spirits and Nature Exhibition organized by Steven Rockefeller and held at Middlebury College. The piece was a carved and painted group of eiders made in 1970. Color slide transparency enclosed with letter
Description: Letter thanking Fred Clark, President of Warren Tool Co., for promoting the Gilley Museum in its catalog. The letter also describes winter events at the museum as well as the museum's collection of taxidermy.
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: Open winged gull with metal legs and feet mounted on driftwood branch ; signed "Gilley" in black on top of base beneath gull's beak and dated 1962.
Description: Life-size; Adult bird on driftwood base, standing hunched over as if fishing; Glass eyes, metal legs, painted, carved, burned details. Signed "Gilley '76" on underside of base. Marked "Green Heron by Wendell Gilley, 1976."
Description: Miniature; adult standing on driftwood base, neck bent, head turned left; glass eyes, metal feet, carved and painted detail. Signed on right of base. Partial felt bottom.
Description: Life size; adult on driftwood base, body horizontal, head erect, facing forward, right foot raised with only middle toe touching base; glass eyes, carved, burned and painted feather detail, wire legs and feet. Signed "Gilley" on right of base. Marked and dates "Killdeer, Addie Gilley, 1975" on underside of base.
Description: Life size; perched sideways on twig, mounted on carved wooden base, beak open; glass eyes, wire legs and feet. Signed "Gilley" on right front of base as well as underside of base. Marked "Addie Gilley" on underside of base.
Description: Two life-sized chickadees on a driftwood base, one hanging upside down on branch, one standing on bottom left of base; both have pin head eyes, wire legs, painted details. Signed and dated "Gilley '59" on left side of base. Bottom of base covered with grey felt.
Description: Life size; adult nestled on natural wood base, head pulled down, beak pointing downward, toes protruding; glass eyes, wire toes, painted detail. Signed "Gilley" on base. Marked and dated "Woodcock, 1971, Addie Gilley" on underside of base.
Description: Polaroid photograph of Wendell Gilley standing in his workshop. In front of him is a table holding a saw. Behind him to his right is a carving of a Canada goose.
Description: Owl looking over left shoulder, perched on driftwood base. Inscribed "Made especially for Hilda + Hulda Bragdon , Saw whet owl" on underside of base ; signed W.H. Gilley and dated 1969.
Description: Male mallard mounted on driftwood attached to smooth painted wooden base ; signed "Gilley" in light grey on front of base; no visible date
Description: Miniature; adult standing on driftwood base, head turned over right shoulder; glass eyes, metal feet, carved and painted detail. Signed "Gilley '60" on base.
Description: Signed "Gilley" on right of carved wooden base. Underside of base marked "'Ring-neck Ducks' by Wendell Gilley, Southwest Harbor Maine ; Made especially for Dr. Claud F. Young". Not dated.
Description: Adult male in breeding plumage depicted on a wooden piling attached to egg-shaped pine base ; cast lead legs and feet, glass eyes ; signed "Gilley '75" on front of base. Underside of base marked: "Hilda and Hulda Bragdon, 1975" and signed "by Wendell Gilley"
Description: Approx. 1/3 life size; adult on driftwood base, head turned to right, ear tufts erect, 3 toes forward and 1 back; glass eyes, metal feet, carved and painted detail. Signed "Gilley 1960" on lower left of base.
Description: Life size; adult on burl base, standing on right leg, left leg raised, slips into and out of base on bolt ; glass eyes, metal feet, carved, burned and painted detail. Signed on belly, Wild Turkey by Wendell Gilley, 1972. Marked "by W.H. Gilley, made for Addie Gilley, 1972" on side of base.
Description: Chickadee with head down perched on driftwood branch attached to carved oval wooden base ; glass eyes, wire legs and feet ; signed "Gilley" on rear left of base ; no date visible
Description: Two Chickadees mounted on driftwood branch attached to carved wooden base ; upper bird is upside down, lower bird faces out from branch ; glass eyes, wire legs and feet ; no visible date ; signed "Gilley" on rear of base.
Description: Family of bald eagles, the female perched on the edge of the nest containing two chicks, the male on a branch above with wings spread ; signed "Gilley" on base ; no visible date
Description: Sign at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia for Wendell Gilley's Downeast Bird Carvings exhibit, October 29, 1976 through January 9, 1977.
Description: Letter congratulating Gilley on the success of the exhibition Downeast Bird Carvings of Wendell Gilley at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. On exhibit were sixty-one carvings of birds "on display together for the first time." 34, 272 people attended the exhibit during its ten week run from October 29, 1976 to January 7, 1977.
Description: Letter thanking Wendell Gilley for the loan of his carvings for the exhibit Downeast Bird Carvings by Wendell Gilley held at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Oct. 29, 1976 through Jan. 7, 1977
Description: Miniature; mounted on driftwood, upright posture, preening breast - only one in this position in this size; glass eyes, molded feet, aluminium wing tips and tail. Signed "Gilley" on right of base, marked "Addie Gilley on underside of base. Carved out of pine-head separate piece
Description: Two chickadees, near life size, on driftwood, both with glass eyes, metal legs and feet, carved and painted detail ; both upright, left chickadee has head down. Signed, dated on rear of base "Gilley '58".
Description: Almost life size; male on driftwood "tree" attached to oblong sand-covered wooden base; glass eyes, wire feet, carved and painted detail. Signed "Gilley" on side of driftwood. Felt bottom.
Description: Approx. 1/2 life size adult bird; perched facing full forward on natural wood mounted on carved wooden base, front toes protruding from body, ear tufts semi-erect, screw visible on underside of limb, extra screw hole in base adjacent to existing screw attaching limb to base; glass eyes. Signed "Gilley '73" on right front of base. Marked "Addie Gilley, Screeched Owl, grey phase, 1973" on underside of base.
Description: Miniature; perched on driftwood "stump," attached to flat driftwood base, erect posture, facing forward; glass eyes, metal feet, adult plumage. Signed and dated "Gilley '73" on right side of base. Marked "Addie Gilley" on underside of base. One of only three miniature eagles.
Description: Life size; adult on driftwood piece attached to oblong carved wooden base, head turned slightly left, wings upraised, beak slightly open; glass eyes, metal toe nails, carved, burned and painted detail. Signed "Gilley '76" on base. Marked "Bald Eagle by Wendell Gilley, SW Harbor, ME, 1976" on underside of base. Commissioned by David Rockefeller as a gift for his brother Nelson Rockefeller to commemorate his term as Vice President. The carving resided in the White House for a period. [show more]
Description: Life size; adult on driftwood piece attached to oblong carved wooden base; head turned to left, wings upraised, tail spread, talons clutching driftwood; glass eyes, metal toenails, carved, burned and painted detail. Signed "Gilley 1977" on base.
Description: Miniatures; mounted on carved, oblong, brown mound base, male stands upright on "log" attached to main base and has carved feet, female stands on main base, head down as if herding young, legs set into base, painted feet; glass eyes, painted plumage. Signed and dated "7/16/45, Bob White by W.H. Gilley," "Addie Gilley" on underside of base.
Description: Six-board pine box, lap-joined and nailed, with clear acrylic finish ; rounded-edge lift cover, carved underneath to set in box cavity. Five-inch long mallard is screw-mounted lengthwise in the center of cover ; has two curled lead-strip tail-curls, glass eyes. Marked "Made for Hilda and Hulda Bragdon" on underside of box. Signed "Made by Wendell Gilley" and dated 1950 (in a circle).
Description: Birds painted in summer plumage. Bottom of driftwood base marked "Made for Hilda + Hulda Bragdon, Xmas 1971." Signed "Gilley" on right front of base.
Description: Figure permanently mounted on round footed base, intended to be covered with a glass dome. Top of base is a 3/4 inch diameter inner-ground of fine sand. Heron has cast lead legs and feet, lead-strip crest feathers, glass eyes. Signed "Gilley" on side of driftwood "stump" below left side of bird ; no date.
Description: Two adult birds on a roughly "J" shaped driftwood base ; glass eyes ; cast lead legs and feet. Signed "Gilley" on right side of driftwood base below the sitting gull ; inscribed "Made for Hilda - Hulda Bragdon 1972" on underside of base.
Description: One marked "Made for Hilda Bragdon by W.H. Gilley" on underside of base. The other marked "Made for Hulda Bragdon by W.H. Gilley" on underside of base. Both dated 1970.
Description: No base ; carved from balsa wood ; glass eyes, cast metal three-toed feet ; flat polychrome paint is applied in a somewhat stylized rather than strictly naturalistic, feather treatment ; Signed "Gilley" between feet below a small round hole ; no date
Description: Adult male, body held horizontal and low with tail fanned and pin arched upward ; head fully outstretched, twisted upward and to the right ; wire legs and metal webbed feet ; glass eyes ; signed "Gilley '61" on right rear side of base
Description: Adult male sitting in the crotch of a Y shaped twig mount, body facing forward but head turned completely to the left ; glass eyes ; swirled driftwood root base. Signed "Gilley" and dated '71 on underside of base. Appears to have been overmarked '72
Description: Adult male Eastern bluebird ; ovoid pine base with multi-twigged branch rising from off-center; narrow-bodied bird sits on a lower twig, head turned to left and slightly raised ; glass eyes, metal feet, no visible legs. Inscribed: "Bluebird by Wendell Gilley for Harold and Gladys Townsend Xmas 1976" on underside of base
Description: Adult bird balances on the front face of burl base with wire legs and toes with talons clutching downward ; deeply arched back with vertical tail and bill pointing almost to sky. Glass eyes. Signed "Gilley/'78" on top edge of base. Underside of base marked "House Wren 1978, #34" and stamped "Wendell H. Gilley".
Description: Smooth oval pine disc base with gnarled driftwood root ; midway up the driftwood is mounted the bird, carved in characteristic seed-opening position with tail braced downward and bill pointed at ground ; glass eyes, wire legs, and metal feet grasping "branch." Signed "Gilley" on top edge of base. No date
Description: Adult woodcock with feet stretching downward over face of the domed burl base ; head erect facing straight ahead with long bill pointed downward ; glass eyes, wire legs and metal feet. Signed "Gilley '80" on right side of base ; Marked "Woodcock by W.H. Gilley 1980" on underside of base.
Description: L-shaped driftwood branch serves as base for three gulls, positioned (left to right) taking off, raising wings, standing erect ; birds show totally different bill carvings, and the similar but minutely different paint indicates a transitional period (1940's?); unsigned
Description: Adult in swimming position, head erect on slightly bent neck facing straight forward; glass eyes ; signed "Gilley 72" on underside where felt is cut away
Description: Now known as American Wigeon ; marked "Baldpate '74, #28" on underside of base ; humped "clamshell" base is a driftwood burl ; wire legs and metal feet with tiny talons; signed "Gilley" on left front of base
Description: Adult male and female mounted on pine and twig base, the lower bird (female) in downward crouching position, the male perched on lower fork of twig ; wire legs and metal feet, glass eyes ; signed "Gilley" on carved base.
Description: Glass eyes ; wire and metal feet and legs ; feet are atop a "stump" of a small branch mounted in turn on a carved pine base. Underside of base marked "Hermit Thrush by Wendell Gilley 1977.
Description: Miniature; bird on driftwood base; glass eyes, metal legs and feet, carved and painted detail. Stamped "W.H. Gilley, Southwest Harbor," marked "Yellow legs" on underside of base.
Description: Canvasback drake in swimming position, adult plumage, scant carved detail ; completely withdrawn head, turned slightly to the right. Signed "by W. H. Gilley 1971"
Description: Gull in adult plumage, head erect and straight ahead, wing tips balanced high over tail, feet braced on a navigational buoy called a red nun. Glass eyes, wire legs and metal feet. Buoy painted with white Arabic numeral "4". Carved oval pine base, gouge-carved and painted to resemble sea water. No date visible.
Description: Resting bird, head slightly tucked, bill downwards, tail swept up and wing tips cropped; minimal carved detail, incised wings ; glass eyes, metal legs and feet with talons clutching downward on driftwood burl base. Signed "Gilley" on top of base, lower left; no date on piece but approximately 1948.
Description: Herring gull in adult plumage, taking off from a smooth burl driftwood base ; carved with minimum of detail; outside wing edges notched to suggest feathers; painted eyes, bill, legs and feet. W.H.G. marked on underside of base ; no date on piece but probably from the 1940s
Description: Miniature; adult male perched on yellow birch base, head erect, tail spread; glass eyes, metal feet, carved and painted detail. Signed "Gilley" on lower left of base.
Description: Miniatures; two adults on driftwood base, left heron stands with neck erect, right heron bent over; both with glass eyes, wire legs, metal crest feathers, carved and painted detail. Signed "Gilley" on right front of base.
Description: Miniature; adult male on driftwood base attached to oblong carved wooden base; glass eyes, metal feet. Signed "Gilley" on lower left of driftwood. Underside of base felt lined.
Description: Miniatures; adults on driftwood attached to oblong green/black wooden base, right gull on toes, head down, wings and tail spread, left gull standing, wings folded; both with glass eyes, metal legs and feet, carved and painted detail. Signed "Gilley" on left of base.
Description: Miniature; adult well-mounted on driftwood base, similar to piece no. 81.3.11, perched on right side spur, head down and turned slightly left, wings raised, tail spread; glass eyes, metal feet. Has loop for hanging. Can be removed from base. Signed on lower left of driftwood.
Description: Miniature; well mounted on right side of driftwood piece, head down and turned slightly left, wings raised, tail spread; glass eyes, lead feet, carved and painted detail. Signed "Gilley" on lower left of driftwood. Has loop for hanging.
Description: Miniature; legs set into carved, brown mound base; glass eyes, painted feet and detail. Marked "Addie Gilley, Bob White by W.H. Gilley" on underside of base.