Nita and Arthur Wood pose with pieces from their archaeological collection.
In 2007, Arthur and Nita Wood of Brooklin, Maine, donated a significant portion of their archaeological collection to the Abbe Museum, consisting of stone and bone tools, arrowheads, and pottery fragments. Amateur collectors for several decades, the Woods gathered up well over a thousand Native American objects from Naskeag Point. For many years, Arthur and Nita shared their collection knowledge and beach combing experiences with the public through talks and visits to local schools, civic groups and historical societies. The Woods selected the Abbe Museum as a permanent home for the collection, so that it will continue to be a resource to students, educators, researchers, and museum visitors.
The Wood Collection is an important addition to the Abbe's existing collection of archaeological material from the Frenchman Bay area and various other locations in Maine. Since 1928, the Abbe Museum has accumulated and cataloged hundreds of artifacts, and has conducted professional excavations throughout the mid-coast region.