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: 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: 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: Wendell Gilley standing in front of garage holding two carvings, an eagle and his first carving, a mallard made in 1930. On back of photo: "Wendell, Gilley, summer 1971, taken by Diane L. Kelly, his 1st & present bird in progress."
Description: This letter is a reply to the Gilley Museum Director's request for a garden to be donated by the Garden Club of Mount Desert. It also mentions a carving of three gulls on a driftwood based that Mrs. Bancroft commissioned from Wendell Gilley.
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: 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: 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: Christmas card featuring a carving of a family of bald eagles, the female perched on the edge of the nest of two chicks, the male on a branch above with wings spread. Marked 1969 on reverse of card
Description: Christmas card featuring a carved barn owl on a piece of driftwood. Signed "Addie & Wendell Gilley." Marked "Xmas 1976" on reverse side of card
Description: Christmas card featuring a carved saw-whet owl surrounded by snow covered greenery. Signed "Sincerely, Wendell & Addie Gilley" and dated 1967 on reverse side of card
Description: Describes Wendell Gilley's visit to Herkimer New York where in 1967 Fenner invited him to be guest speaker at the National Woodcarvers Association Woodcarving Show held there. This letter is accompanied by photos of Wendell Gillley at the show.
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: 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: Panel carved by Gilley Museum Artist-in-Residence Steven Valleau ca 1995 ; one of a series marking the fifteenth anniversary of the museum.
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: Panel carved by Gilley Museum Artist-in-Residence Steven Valleau ca 1995 ; one of a series marking the fifteenth anniversary of the museum.
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: One of sixty-one carvings exhibited in a major museum retrospective "Downeast Bird Carvings by Wendell Gilley" at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia in 1976/77. Adult male northern flicker in a feeding position on driftwood mount ; glass eyes, cast lead feet with curved talons "gripping" the curves of the driftwood ; signed "Gilley" in black ink on lower left of the upper surface of the mount ; additionally signed on the flat underside of the base in three separate areas: "Yellow-shafted Flicker" and "By W.H. Gilley 1969" and "Made especially for Dr. & Mrs. J.L. Hollander." [show more]
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: 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.
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: 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 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: 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 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: 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.
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: Panel carved by Gilley Museum Artist-in-Residence Steven Valleau ca 1995 ; one of a series marking the fifteenth anniversary of the museum.
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: 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: 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: 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 concerning the packing and shipping of a pintail duck carving commissioned from Wendell Gilley by Norman Willock and returned to the museum for repair.
Description: This letter acknowledges receipt of a letter and chisel from Gilley, and discusses various carvings including a spotted sandpiper on a mussel shell and two pairs of quail
Description: Letter discusses sending text, artwork, and photos for the book, Art of Bird Carving, to Byron Cheever. Flying goose, bob-white and blue quail carvings are also mentioned.
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: 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: O'Brien acknowledges receipt of a spotted sandpiper carving from Gilley and discusses a handle Gillely designed for an X-Acto blade as well as decoy designs.
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: 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: Catalog of an exhibition of Wendell Gilley's bird carvings held at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia from October 29, 1976 through January 9, 1977
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: Miniature adult; glass eyes, wire legs set into smooth round base with painted feet; body horizontal, head semi-erect, facing forward; underside of base marked/signed "Addie Gilley, by W. H. Gilley." Elmer Crowell copy
Description: From the 2018 Premier Edition of Cultural adventures : Acadia and Downeast Maine. Gives background information about Wendell Gilley and describes carving classes offered by the Wendell Gilley Museum. Features photos of a great horned owl carved by Wendell Gilley as well as sandpipers carved by students in the museum's carving classes.
Description: From the July 2021 issue of Down East Magazine. Describes the history and current day programming of the Wendell Gilley Museum. Resident artist Steve Valleau is featured.
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: 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: 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: Male bufflehead in adult plumage, swimming position ; head withdrawn and turned slightly to the left ; glass eyes, matte black, white, greys with minimal body detail ; blending of red/orange on head behind white wedge. Underside signed in pyrographic scratching "W.H.G." "Gilley" branded in script. Also written in felt-tip pen " '82 Buffle-Head".
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: 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: Adult, standing on mesquite base, tail erect ; glass eyes, metal feet, carved, burned, and painted detail ; carved circa 1977, painted and completed winter, 1981. Signed "Gilley" with artist's branding iron on flat side of base. Companion piece 81.1.175.
Description: Life-size adult "running" on mesquite base ; glass eyes, metal feet, carved, burned and painted detail ; carved circa 1977, painted and completed winter 1981. Unsigned. Companion piece 81.1.174.
Description: Solitary sandpiper perched with wings upright on driftwood branch ; spotted sandpiper standing, body tilted downward, on carved oblong base. Signed "Gilley" on left front of oblong 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: 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.