Pacific Manuscripts Bureau

17/08/2026

I’m excited to be speaking at the 中央研究院民族學研究所Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica tomorrow afternoon. Details below 👇

【中研院民族所比較南島研究群、國科會「南島連結：跨領域研究之新航向」學術發展平台計畫】系列講座
【講題】PAMBU 跨越島嶼與國界的檔案
【講者】Kari James（Executive Officer, Pacific Manuscripts Bureau｜College of Asia & the Pacific, Australian National University）
【時間】2026年8月18日（二）14:00~16:00
【地點】本所第三會議室（新館3樓2319室）
【摘要】
成立於1968年的 Pacific Manuscripts Bureau（PAMBU），長期與太平洋島嶼各地的機構及個人合作，保存具有歷史與研究價值的檔案。
不同於傳統檔案館將史料集中收藏於館舍之中，PAMBU 將設備帶到檔案所在之處，透過微縮攝影與數位化方式製作保存副本，並建立可供研究者利用的檔案資源。
數十年來，PAMBU 保存的材料遍及太平洋各地，從機構與教會檔案，到傳教士、殖民行政人員與研究者留下的照片、日記、書信及珍稀出版品，其中也包括以太平洋各地語言出版的教會刊物等難得史料。
本次講座將帶領我們認識 PAMBU：它如何在太平洋各地尋找、保存與串連散落的歷史記憶？這批跨越島嶼與國界的檔案，又能為太平洋、歷史與檔案研究開啟哪些新的研究可能？
【報名】無須報名，自由入座

17/08/2026

I had the amazing good fortune of attending this traditional Paiwan masanvetjek or alliance ceremony. The ceremony between 中央研究院民族學研究所Institute of Ethnology, Academia Sinica, and the Kaviyangan community of Taiwu Township, Pingtung County, was to establish a formal commitment to regard one another as siblings (vetjek). As part of the ceremony, 36 volumes of audio recordings documenting the tribe's founding, the five-year festival rituals, and their conversion to Catholicism, was donated to the Institute of Ethnology for safekeeping.

This was a true honour and privilege to witness. Though I don’t understand Mandarin, the genuine warmth, joy and respect between the two parties was evident. Thank you to Pei-yi Guo for including me in this day; to dear friend and former PAMBU colleague, Suliljaw Lusausatj, for helping me navigate the day, and to all the kind strangers who welcomed me with such warmth.

I will be back at the Institute of Ethnology on Tuesday to talk all things archives and PAMBU with the Austronesian Connections group. Thank you to the Australian Centre on China in the World for the grant that has enabled this travel.

09/08/2026

Our journey to the IFLA World Library and Information Congress in Busan has begun. If you’re interested in learning more about the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau / PAMBU please stop by the poster sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday for a chat or say hi at the Australia New Zealand Caucus tonight.

28/07/2026

Congratulations to everyone involved in the establishment of the Nambawan Haus Museum which has opened in Tulagi in the house of the first Solomon Islands Resident Commissioner. We're proud to have supplied some images for the Woodford Room. We wish the museum every success and hope to visit someday. Links to the Woodford collections in the comments 👇

18/06/2026

Adding our voice to the chorus of people so proud and excited for our ANU colleague and friend, Anna Naupa, on her appointment as Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group 👏👏👏

‼️VANUATU RISES AT MSG — CONGRATULATIONS ANNA NAUPA‼️🇻🇺

Today, Vanuatu stands proud.

Dr. Anna Naupa — one of our nation’s finest minds and respected leader in development — has been appointed Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

This is a historic moment. Since the MSG was founded in 1986 by the giants of Melanesia — Paias Wingti of Papua New Guinea, Fr. Walter Lini of Vanuatu, Ezekiel Alebua of Solomon Islands, and our brothers from the FLNKS — Vanuatu has waited 40 years to lead this organization. Today, that wait ends.

As a woman taking the helm, Ms. Naupa’s appointment sends a clear message to every young ni-Vanuatu girl: aspire for the best, because the highest offices in our region are within your reach. Her leadership will inspire a new generation to dream bigger and serve boldly.

The Vanuatu Government holds immense confidence in Dr. Naupa’s capabilities, leadership, and integrity. We commend the MSG and the selection team for a transparent process that has delivered the right leader for this moment.

Prime Minister Jotham Napat extends his warmest congratulations to Dr. Naupa on her successful appointment. He wishes her strength, wisdom, and every success as she takes up this critical role.

We know the MSG was born from struggle — its heart has always been the political aspirations of the Kanak people and the big issues facing Melanesia. Over the years the organization has grown, expanding its focus to trade, sports, culture, and other areas of common interest that bind our nations. Vanuatu believes the success of the MSG under Dr. Naupa’s leadership will depend on never losing sight of that founding spirit — solidarity, justice, and self-determination for our peoples.

Anna, you carry not just a title, but the hopes of a region. You carry Vanuatu’s pride, Melanesia’s trust, and the spirit of Fr. Walter Lini’s vision.

Go well, lead boldly, and make Melanesia shine.

Congratulations, Director General Dr. Anna Naupa🇻🇺👏👏👏

- Office of the Prime Minister
Republic of Vanuatu

10/06/2026

This International Archives Week we share with you some new resources recently added to our website. We are proud to host an English translation of a set of registers of Melanesian and Micronesian indentured labourers employed by the German Trading and Plantation Company (Deutsche Handels- und Plantagengesellschaft or DHPG) on plantations in Samoa from 1887 to 1913. These registers were originally microfilmed by the Bureau in 2002 in collaboration with the Nelson Memorial Library in Apia. This important translation was funded by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Canberra. For all involved it has been a work of great dedication and care. You can read more about this collaboration in the introductory text to the translation and researchers are encouraged to read the cultural sensitivity warning.https://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/2026-06/260610-DHPG-Translated-Registers-sm.pdf

We have also added some new finding aids to our website on labour, Banaba and Bougainville, and an index compiled by one of interns to PNG patrol reports in the PMB collection. The link to the finding aids is in the comments.

18/05/2026

The latest AAPS newsletter is out and features a story by Lisa Hilli about work in progress to translate and transcribe registers of people taken from islands of Melanesia and Kiribati to work on DHPG plantations in Samoa, 1887-1913. Work is almost complete and will be released on the PMB website soon.

13/05/2026

❤️

12/05/2026

Pitcairn and Norfolk Islands book of origins returns to Norfolk. Thanks Pauline Seton Reynolds for bringing this story to our attention.

After the infamous mutiny on the Bounty the mutineers settled on remote Pitcairn Island. The Pitcairn Island Register is the original record of births, deaths, and marriages from the Bounty and it also records their fate. It dates back to 1790 and has, until now, been kept in the National Maritime M...

04/05/2026

Followers in Samoa 🇼🇸 may be interested in this upcoming presentation by Ruby Satele.

FOA SEMINAR SERIES 2026

We are excited to host PhD candidate Ruby Satele, presenting on her research on Samoan ancestors in Museums.

For more information, see the flyer below.
ALL are invited.