This album was most likely compiled by Church members to promote the work of the Mission in the New Hebrides. It includes pictures taken by missionaries on the islands of Aneityum, Futuna, Tanna, Erromanga, Efate, Nguna, Tongoa, Tangoa, Epi, Ambrim and Santo. The photographs include pictures of women, local fencing materials, games, house girls, teachers, fishing, play, women and children, church and mission houses, yams, coral, hair, Port resolution, Tanna volcano eruptions and the 1922 hurricane in Tongoa.

The New Hebrides Mission from the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand:
The Presbyterian Church began sending missionaries to the New Hebrides (today known as Vanuatu) in the mid-19th Century. The first missionary was Rev. John Geddie of the Presbyterian Church of Nova Scotia who arrived on the island of Aneityum in 1848. Subsequent missionaries came from the Presbyterian Churches of New Zealand, Canada, Scotland and Australia (Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales).
In New Zealand an interest in supporting a Christian mission to the New Hebrides was fostered when Rev. John Inglis of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland toured the country in 1852 following a three month tour of the New Hebrides and Solomon Islands. In that same year, Inglis and his wife joined Geddie on Aneityum. Rev. John Inglis continued to send regular reports of his work to New Zealand, leading to increasing interest from the Church there in sending their own missionaries to the islands.
The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was at that time divided up into the “Northern Church” and the “Southern Church” (consisting of the Provinces of Otago and Southland). The Southern Church was based on the ideals of the Free Church of Scotland and these principles influenced its mission work for many years. For over 40 years the two Churches worked separately, with mission activities during this time operating independently of each other.
Over several decades the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand sent a number of missionaries to the New Hebrides including the following people. The information below includes the missionaries' date of arrival in the New Hebrides, the name of the missionary and the name of the main island on which they worked.
1866, Rev. William Watt, Tanna
1870, Rev. Peter Milne, Nguna
1879, Rev. Oscar Michelsen, Tongoa
1885, Rev. Charles Murray, Ambrym
1889, Rev. Thomas Smaill, Epi
1892, Rev. Dr. Lamb, Ambrym
1899, Dr. John Bowie, Ambrym
1903, Rev. Thomas Riddle, Epi
1905, Rev. William V. Milne, Nguna (born on Nguna in 1877)
1932, Rev. Basil Nottage, Tongoa
1938, Rev. Ken Crump, Nguna
1941, Rev. J.G. Miller, Tongoa
1944, Rev. Ian Muir, Emae and Epi
1948, Rev. A.G. Horwell, Epi
In the early years there was no organised or reliable shipping service to the individual islands of the New Hebrides so it was important for the Church to have their own vessel to bring regular supplies from Australia and New Zealand. A boat was also necessary for transport to other mission stations. Although the New Hebrides missionaries were responsible for their home churches and allotted areas and islands, they worked closely together on common issues and met annually for a mission Synod meeting. New Zealand Presbyterian Church worked in conjunction with the Australian Presbyterian Church to raise money and purchased a mission supply vessel, the “Dayspring I”. This 115 ton brigantine was launched in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1863. It was lost in a hurricane ten years later and replaced by a second hand schooner, the “Dayspring II” in 1876. The Dayspring II was sold prior to 1890 as she was too small and slow and uncomfortable to sail in. The Australian missionary Dr. John G. Paton raised £6000 during a visit to Britain in 1884-1885 and later increased the donations to £7000. The “Dayspring III” was built on the Clyde in Scotland to the order of the Victorian Presbyterian Church Foreign Missions Committee. She was 157 feet long and arrived in Australia in 1895. On only her fourth voyage to the islands, she sank on the 16th October 1896 after striking an uncharted coral reef near New Caledonia. The decision was made not to replace the vessel.
The New Hebrides Mission shared a practical concern for the everyday needs of island people. In addition to converting local people to Christianity, the missionaries worked to improve education, through the introduction of schools where the training of local mission teachers was initiated. The Tangoa Teachers’ Training Institute opened at Tangoa, South Santo, in 1895. The purpose of the Institute was to train local teachers and it was supported by all the Protestant missions working throughout the New Hebrides. Missionaries also worked to improve health education and services and encouraged the production of arrowroot and island trading as a means to generate revenue. Arrowroot powder was shipped to New Zealand and other countries, where it was initially distributed by women’s missionary groups and later by commercial organisations. The funds from the sale of arrowroot were used to build additional churches in the islands and, in some cases, as a donation towards New Zealand mission funds to be used elsewhere. From 1880 to 1918 on Nguna alone, over 26 tons of arrowroot was produced.
By 1910, the work of the New Hebrides Mission was declining. This was partly due to a rapidly decreasing population on the islands and a feeling that little room existed for further expansion of mission work, as by then most areas were adequately covered. The reduction in population was primarily caused by introduced European illnesses and epidemics which decimated the local population. The Queensland labour trade had also had an impact on the local population, with many locals having decided to remain in Queensland.
In 1947 there was a general consensus held among the Island missionaries that the local church was ready to assume control of its own affairs. A constitution was drawn up, and after amendments submitted by the New Zealand and Australian Mission Committees and the New Hebrides Mission Synod, it was adopted. At a Centennial Synod meeting in 1948, the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Rev. John Geddie, the local church was placed fully in charge of its own affairs. The island mission councils for Australia and New Zealand were then limited to the affairs of their immediate mission staff. The New Zealand Church continued to provide a large financial grant to the New Hebrides Presbyterian Church. A continued focus remained on training church leaders and education more generally. The Tangoa Training Institute later introduced a curriculum of advanced theological studies.
In the early 1950s, the New Zealand Missions Committee responded to the request for assistance to establish a High School at Onesua on Efate, along with funds and personnel to set up and run a small hospital on Tongoa. The Committee viewed this project as a practical means by which the New Zealand Church could provide for a social need rather than a means for furthering evangelistic opportunities. This policy shift in Mission funding opened up other opportunities for aid from the New Zealand Church including developing Navota Farm and opening the Maropa religious bookshop in Port Vila, training local islanders to be trades people and undertake the building work. The New Zealand Bible Class volunteer scheme sent out young people during the 1960s to assist with building, administration and nursing. The Mission, at the request of the Presbyterian Church of the New Hebrides, divested itself of all remaining authority in the Islands so that the New Zealand missionaries effectively worked for the New Hebrides Church. In 1965 a memorandum was prepared which defined the terms of “responsible partnership” and sought to define the responsibilities of each partner. The Church continues today as the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu.
For more information about New Hebrides Mission collections at the Archives of the Presbyterian Research Centre, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa, and New Zealand, see: http://www.archives.presbyterian.org.nz/missions/newhebrideshistory.htm

For details see PMB Doc .199

Issues for June - December 1935

For details see PMB Doc .199

Issues for March 1937 - March 1960. Following issues only: No.369 (March 1937): No.547 (Oct. 1952): No.583 (Jan. 1956): No.633 (March 1960)

Lavachery was a Belgian ethnologist who published extensively on Easter Island following his visit there in 1934-35.

Field notes on the ethnology of Easter Island

Please see PMB 532 for full entry.

Serial Numbers 13301 - 18207

Early issues of the <i>New Hebrides Magazine</i> were edited by Dr William Gunn of Aneityium and promoted by Rev. Dr Robertson of Erromanga under the auspices of the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria. Dr Gunn also printed some of the early issues. The Synod then decided that the journal should be printed in Australia. A few issues were printed in Sydney, but after 1905 it was printed by Arbuckle, Waddell & Fawckner in Melbourne. In 1905 Rev. T Wattlegatt of Malekula became Editor for about three years, but he moved to Victoria in 1906 and as he felt out of touch with the New Hebrides resigned as Editor. Rev. F H L Paton, Foreign Missions Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria then took over as Editor. The <i>New Hebrides Magazine</i> was succeeded by <i>Our Missionaries at work : a journal of missionary information</i> (Vol.1, no.1-Vol.6, no.4, Dec 1911-Oct 1917) issued by the Presbyterian Church in Victoria.

Nos.1-41, Oct 1900-Oct 1911. See Finding aids for details.

This collection of 270 slides was taken by John Baker while he was seconded from the British Ministry of Overseas Development to the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga to work as Government Economist on the preparation of the country’s second development plan for 1970-75. John and his wife Liz (Elizabeth) lived in Nuku’alofa from September 1968 to May 1969 and travelled extensively around the main island of Tongatapu, as well as making a visit to the island of ‘Eua. The slides include various landscapes, agriculture, construction, King Taaufa'ahau Tupou IV and the exteriors of the Royal Palace, a visit by Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne of Great Britain and the Royal Yacht Britannia. There are also street scenes with signage for businesses such as Burns Philp, exteriors of the Dateline Hotel and people watching the Apollo 13 splashdown. Selection of slides for digitisation was made by John Baker.

Malua Theological College is a training institute for the ministry of the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa (CCCS). It was established in 1844 in a district of Saleimoa west of Apia on the Island of Upolu.
The aim of the College is to provide quality theological education, and to equip student with knowledge and skills necessary for an effective ministry in the Church. In 1997 Malua Theological College introduced a four year course leading to a Bachelor of Theology or Bachelor of Divinity degree. Students are encouraged to appreciate and write about their beliefs as well as Samoan culture and values in relation to the CCCS Theology and faith.

Some students undertake further study, either Masters or PhDs, at universities overseas. The theses are designed as independent research work where students show their originality, creativity and contribution to theological learning. Many of the students use original source materials for their theses, including interviews and unpublished papers.
The Masters theses and Doctor of Philosophy theses have been microfilmed in separate series in date order.

A selection of Masters and PhD theses, held in the Malua Theological College, by ex-Malua Theological College students, undertaken in various universities throughout the world. Many of the student theses cover both Christian and Samoan values and traditions.

See Finding aids for details.

Dr. Andras Balint was a linguist based at the University of Papua New Guinea from 1965-1973, with an ongoing interest in ‘the emerging New Guinean dialect of English’, or Tok Pisin. He promoted the use of Tok Pisin in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea and amassed an extensive collection of Tok Pisin publications, mainly published by the Territory of Papua and New Guinea government and various missionary presses.

Tok Pisin publications on agriculture, health, education and literacy, government, religious texts, children’s books, grammars and phrase books, etc. Also some publications in local indigenous languages (Tok Ples) such as Fore and Atzera, some English publications concerning Tok Pisin, and one short typescript manuscript in Tok Pisin on an account of a first time visit to Port Moresby.

The Balint collection is divided under the following headings: Agriculture, Bible stories, Religious tracts etc., General, Health, Literacy/Primers/Readers/Grammars and Tok Pisin pubilcations.
A summary of the content of each of the collections is below.

Agriculture
This collection ranges from the late 1960s to early 1970s. It includes various guides and public awareness publications focusing on increasing agricultural skills and output. A number of topics are coveredincluding growing rubber, passion fruit and coconuts along with guides on animal husbandry. These texts are primarily in Tok Pisin and English.

Bible stories, Religious tracts etc.
This collection includes publications from the 1930s until the early 1970s. The texts focus on bibles stories, extracts from the bible translated into Tok Pisin and stories of missionaries to PNG. There are also publications of reports on PNG by Christian organizations and hymns recorded in Tok Ples (local language). Publications are either in English, Tok Pisin or bilingual.

General
These publications date from the early 1970s. They are a collection of short stories and information booklets recorded in Tok Pisin and Tok Ples. Their content focuses on public awareness and covers topics such as the introduction of currency, local and international geography, insurance and basic skills and knowledge of carpentry. There is also a collection of short stories and poems.

Health
This collection ranges from the late 1960s to early 1970s. The publications cover various illnesses and include information such as prevention, symptoms and treatment. Public awareness and treatment of Malaria is of a particular focus.

Literacy/Primers/Readers/Grammars
This collection includes publications from the 1950s to the early 1970s. It includes a number of shorts stories and grammars in both Tok Pisin and local languages. The majority of these texts are design to supplement and assist in understanding, speaking and writing in Tok Pisin. This collection also includes a trilingual English, French and Tok Pisin phrase book.

Tok Pisin
These publications range from the 1950s to the early 1970s. They examine Tok Pisin and language in PNG in detail. Some of the texts focus on currents affairs in language and also more broadly with one publication in a newsletter format.

See Finding aids for details.

"Papua New Guinea: Memories and recorded events, 1971-1973" was written by Ms.Clingan to document her memories of her time in Papua New Guinea from 1971-1973. It covers all aspects of her life in the Western Highlands in PNG, including the mission station, her work as a nurse, the hospital, clinic visits, daily living, food and cooking, the weather, census and health surveys, Christmas, visits to other nearby missions and reflections. The manuscript also includes annotated photographs, paintings and drawings by Clingan as well as maps of the area.