Curator Martha Oakley Retires
Cape Ann Museum Celebreates Her Lagacy
By: CAM - Oct 27, 2026
After decades of dedicated stewardship, insightful research, and passion for our region's rich art and history, Chief Curator Martha Oaks has announced her retirement. Martha first joined the Museum in 1979 as a paid student intern, cataloguing the Gordon W. Thomas photograph collection through a grant from the National Trust. In 1982, she became the Museum’s first Maritime Curator, later serving as Curator before assuming the role of Chief Curator in 2022. Her extraordinary vision and deep knowledge have helped shape the Cape Ann Museum into the vibrant cultural destination it is today.
Throughout her tenure, Martha has expanded and elevated the permanent collections, guided major historic preservation initiatives across both campuses, and curated landmark exhibitions celebrating regional artists—from Fitz Henry Lane and Milton Avery to Charles Hopkinson and the Folly Cove Designers. Her deep commitment to interpreting Cape Ann's maritime heritage and artistic legacy leaves an indelible mark on both the museum and the broader community.
To celebrate Martha’s remarkable career and express our gratitude for her decades of service, we warmly invite members, neighbors, and friends to an open house in her honor at the Downtown Campus on Saturday, November 21. Guests will also have the opportunity to view a newly acquired painting by Max Kuehne, Picnic on the Shore, Front Beach, Rockport, Massachusetts, purchased by the Museum's Board and other generous supporters in Martha's honor and now on display in the Cape Ann Gallery.
We hope you will join us in celebrating Martha and the extraordinary contributions she has made to the Cape Ann Museum and our community.