Funded by the Hawaiian Evangelical Society, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and by the Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society, the mission commenced when B.G. Snow, A.A. Sturges and Luther H. Gulick and their wives sailed out of Boston in November 1851. In Honolulu Rev. Ephraim Clark, Secretary of the Hawaiian Missionary Society, Rev James Kekela and two other Hawaiian missionaries, Daniela Opunui and Berita Kaaikaula and their wives joined the party which sailed for the Carolines, Marshalls and the Gilbert Islands on 15 July 1852. Mission stations were established in Kosrae and Ponape in August and September 1852. In 1857 George Pierson opened the first Protestant mission station on Ebon in the Marshalls. In the same year Hiram Bingham Jr. with his wife set up a mission station on Apaiang in Kiribati (then the Gilbert Islands), but poor health forced Bingham to return in 1864. He was replaced by two other American missionaries, Horace Taylor and Alfred Walkup, and several native Hawaiian pastors. In all nineteen Hawaiian families went to Kiribati – more than twice the combined number who travelled to the Marquesas, Marshalls and Carolines. The missionary work was gradually given up owing to changes in sovereignty in the Micronesian islands. The last missionary to work in Kiribati was Daniel P. Mahihila who went to Maiana in 1892 and returned to Hawai’i in 1904. (From notes by Kanani Reppun, Librarian, Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society Library, Honolulu.)

These English language translations of Hawaiian language documents in the Micronesian Collection consist of: correspondence of Hezekiah Aea, 1861-1871; J.D. Ahia, 1871-1872; S. Alika, Sep 1857; Daniel P. Aumai, 1862-1867; Samuela P. Kaaia, 1871-1875; Berita Kaaikaula, 1853-1858; Samuela Kamakahiki, 1855-1857; Simeon Kanakaolr, 1858; J.W. Kanoa, 1858-1879; W.B. Kapu, 1863-1879; George Leleo, 1868-1879; Joel H. and Olivia Mahoe, 1858-1868; Robert Maka, 1865-1877; Henry B. Nalimu, 1877-1881; Samuela Nawaa, 1877-1881; Z.S.K. Paaluhi, 1887-1898 ; together with Mary Kaaialii Kahelemauna, A reminiscence of her life as a missionary at Mille Island, 1877; a descriptive report of Kusaie (Kosrae) or Strong’s Island, 1867; Church reports for Apaiang, Kuma and Makin, Maiana and Noto, Makin and Butatitari, Marakei, Nonuti, Tapiteuea and Tarawa, 1866-1892; reports and minutes of Church general meetings, 1867-1895, and committee meetings, 1870-1881; reports of missionaries, 1880-1890; reports from the Marshall islands, 1864-1875. See PMB 1120 for complete set of original Micronesian Collection documents on microfilm. See Finding aids for details.

Charles Basil Norton (1887-1968) was born in Worthing, Sussex. He joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 13 January, 1902. On 22 January 1909 he transferred to HMS Challenger and the Australian Station. The ship was on a tour of duty for training exercises with the Royal Australian Navy.

The journal (3 volumes) covers the period May 1909 to November 1910. The ship visited all the Australian State Capitals, many New Zealand ports (carrying out survey work around the west coast of the South Island), the Cook Islands, the Kermadecs and Fiji. Daily life aboard ship is described in great detail including: regular 'drills'; gunnery practice and equipment (there is a detailed illustration of a torpedo and its mechanisms); communications; diseases; religious observance; 'coaling'; parades and social events. Descriptions include the distances between various ports on each voyage, and notes on the climate and geography of the countries and island groups they visited. Also described are visits to museums, churches, botanic gardens, ceremonial arrivals and departures etc. and other activities during shore leave. Lord Plunket, Governor of New Zealand, was aboard during the Cook Islands visit and Sir Joseph Ward, Premier of New Zealand, returning from the Imperial Defence Conference, was a passenger from Fiji to Auckland. During the second voyage to New Zealand in August/ September of 1909, the ship was sent in search of the Clan Macpherson, reported missing in the vicinity of the Kermadec Islands. The search was unsuccessful but mention is made of Raoul Island and the pioneering Bell family. All three volumes are illustrated by Charles' own remarkable art work which incorporates local postage stamps, programme cards and newspaper clippings of notable or interesting events, as well as numerous photographs taken by himself or other members of the crew. The first volume contains an index to subjects and illustrations (see page 279). The last section of the third volume describes, in detail, life in a Naval Prison as it was then: the punishments, food allowances, work details (with oakum) and general conditions.

The reports and photographs describe missionary work carried out by Rev Barnard in Fiji 1929-1930, and the work of his wife, Winifred Barnard, who ran health clinics.

• Lewis E. Barnard, “Experiences by Land and Sea, August 30, 1929 – Feb. 11, 1930”, Nabouwalu, Fiji, Feb. 1930, Ts., 21pp.
• Lewis E. Barnard, “The Sixty Mile Tramp. Bua Circuit, Fiji. Feb. 1930”, Ts., 9pp.
• 2nd copy: Lewis E. Barnard, “A Sixty Mile Tramp. On tour of inspection of work in Bua Circuit, Fiji. Feb. 1930”, Ts., 9pp.
• Menu, SS Sonoma, en route from San Francisco to Sydney, 3 Mar 1930.
• Photograph album, Sydney and Fiji, 1929-1930. Photographs include: George Brown Methodist Missionary Training College, Sydney; Ah Tam, Health Centre Store; Lautoka, 1929; Davne; Nabouealu Mission House; On the Moraki ; Suva; W. Barnard, first white woman here – Narawai; Peni; Josesi; Ratu George, Willie, Alice; Moraki at Noumea.
• Photograph album. Damaged. Photographs include: On the Moraki; Lautoka Mosque; Win & Lewis; Adi Keva; Nabouwalu; Kabouwalu; Mission House, Nabouwalu; Nabouwalu village; Nabouwalu; View from front door; Mission House – Kolino, Gorieka & Salosi; Native Ministers, Nabouwalu and welcome to us; front verandah, Ratu George and family; Scouts; Santa; Baby Health Centre; Baby health Nabouwalu; Ah Tam; Baby Health Centre; Adi Lagi Lagi & Alice Brown, Toganivalu; Peni, Israli, Sukdao; Scouts; Marioni & Beni Keli; Narawai – 1st white woman there; after the hurricaine; Avenue of mango tress leading to the Mission House; after the wreck; Manasa who gave me the big conch shell; Mecki – Penni; Israle, Joni, Sukdao; Nabouwalu; Joe & Willy; L.E.B.; On Raicakacaka (tour of work): Williami; Luki and family – Native Minister; Esau & Maciea; Esau – Native Minister’s House (bed I slept on); On Raicakacaka; Guard of honour for us; Bua; SS Tui Labasa; Davilevu Fiji; Suva Hospital 1929-30; The Wharf, Suva; Bau; Nabouwalu Post Master and family.
See also PMB Photo 23, BARNARD, Rev. Lewis E., Photographs from the Methodist Mission in Fiji, 1929-1930.

The papers consist of:

1. A miscellaneous collection of 30 letters written between 1900 and 1936 by and to missionaries at Vunapope, Poporang, Koromira, Buka Passage, Mussou [Mussau], and Shortland.
2. Reports to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, Rome, on the history and progress of the Roman Catholic Church, North Solomons, dated 1921 to 1936.
3. A history of the Roman Catholic Mission at Buin, Bougainville, 1903-1916, by Father Francois Allotte. It is entitled 'Notice sur Buin'.
4. A daily journal kept by Father Jean-Baptiste Poncelet from May 24, 1937 to May 22, 1940 at Turiboiru, Buin, Bougainville.
5. An account by Father Maurice Boch of his arrival and early days in the Solomon Islands, April - June, 1908. Father Boch was stationed at Poporang.
6. A miscellaneous collection of documents comprising: A history of Koromira mission station, 1907-1923; a list of baptisms at Koromira, 1908-1924; a history of Choiseul, 1768-192?; a history of Choiseul, 1911-1927; a report of the Marist mission to the Committee of Inquiry into Mission Affairs, Keita, 1929; a resume of the Committee of Inquiry's report, n.d.; a history of Timbutz mission station.
7. Correspondence of Father E.M. Babonneau, S.M., of Wainoni Bay, San Cristobal [Makira], 1915-1920. (Many of the letters have been damaged or partly destroyed).

Frances Swabey (1870-1958) was a granddaughter of Elizabeth Colenso

Typescript by F.S. Simcox, dated 24 February 1959, of an edited manuscript by his sister Frances Swabey, comprising the following sections:

A brief biography of Elizabeth Fairburn - Elizabeth Colenso - before she joined the Melanesian Mission in 1876.

1. The invitation and getting to Norfolk Island
2. Some particulars of the Mission
3. Mission routine
4. Some tragedies
5. (does not exist)
6. Happenings at Otaki
7. Life again at Norfolk Island, 1880
8. Consecration Day
9. The year 1893 at the Mission and to Easter, 1895
10. The last year at Norfolk Island, 1898
11. Index for the years 1876-1904.