Sir Arthur Grimble went to the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati) as a cadet administrative officer in 1914 and became Resident Commissioner in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in 1925 - 1933. He was posted to the West Indies in 1936, retiring 1948. Grimble died in London on December 13, 1956. Grimble devoted much of his spare time in the Gilberts to collecting the myths, legends and oral traditions of the local people. Those recorded on this microfilm were collected between about 1916 and 1930.

Gilbertese myths, legends and oral traditions (643 pages). A detailed list appears at the beginning of the microfilm. It includes creation myths, voyaging tales, songs, especially of ancient voyages and war, spells and witchcraft practices.
See Finding aids for details.