Description: One of five eiders Wendell Gilley wanted to make for the museum at the end of his life. He was able to complete three. "Gilley" engraved on undersides of body and head.
Description: Male bufflehead in adult plumage, swimming position ; head withdrawn and turned slightly to the left ; glass eyes, matte black, white, greys with minimal body detail ; blending of red/orange on head behind white wedge.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: Adult male goldfinch in summer plumage sitting on real branch ; "Gilley" signature on front topside of base almost completely faded ; additionally underside bears jackknife rubber stamp Gilley mark ; underside of base marked "Wedding gift to Joe + Anne Bragdon from Wendell H. Gilley + Addie" ; dated Oct, 4, 1981.
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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.