The Manuscript Mission Histories are, in fact, mainly collections of chronologically arranged newspaper clippings, with some typescript entries, concerning the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Pacific Islands. The histories cover the following territories and periods: French Polynesia (1849-1959), Hawaii (1850-1959), Samoa (1871-1959), Tonga (1891-1959).

The articles mainly concern Hawaii, the Society Islands in French Polynesia, New Zealand/Aotearoa, Samoa, Tonga, Pitcairn Island and Fiji. The Juvenile Instructor was published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City. For other publications of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints see also PMB 110 for Improvement Era; and PMB 113 for Contributor.

To 1969, Improvement Era was being published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City.

The articles mainly concern the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Pacific Islands. The church was largely active in the period in French Polynesia, including Tahiti, Tuamotu Islands and Tubuai, as well as being active in the Hawaiian Islands, Samoa and Tonga. For other publications by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints see also PMB 112 for Juvenile Instructor; and PMB 113 for Contributor.

Items on Pacific Islands from the minutes and reports of the annual general conferences (1879-1964) of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Missionaries and the Church were active in French Polynesia at the time, including Tahiti, Tubuai, and the Tuamotu Islands, as well as being active in the Hawaiian Islands, Samoa and Tonga.

Ogden (1873-1948) was a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The journal and papers relate to Ogden's missionary work in Samoa. The papers include: missionary call, certificate of ordination, missionary certificate and blessing, letters from Samoan mission president.

Alden was an officer in the sloop-of-war 'Vincennes', the flagship of the United States Exploring Expedition which spent four years in the Pacific under the command of Commodore Charles Wilkes.

The journal gives an account - but not a day-by-day account - of the Vincennes voyage which took in the Tuamotu Archipelago, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, the Antarctic, Hawaii, the Gilbert (Kiribati), Ellice (Tuvalu) and Marshall Islands. See also PMB MS 124-146 and the Bureau's newsletter, Pambu, Dec. 1971:25, pp. 4-7.

Heinrich Neffgen was Government Interpreter in Samoa in 1916. At that time, Samoa was under New Zealand military occupation.

The papers comprise two documents:

1. An English translation of a report on Samoa by Dr W.H. Solf, the first Governor of German Samoa. The report contains general notes, notes on the Protestant and Roman Catholic missions, and notes on the advisability of not attempting to colonise Samoa with small people from Germany. The report was written for the Imperial Colonial Office in Berlin, but, according to a note by Neffgen, it was not forwarded, as a result of an order dated November 21, 1907
2. Six Samoan sketches by Neffgen entitled: 1. The Samoan race; 2. Fa'asamoa; 3. The Prescriptive Law of the Samoans; 4. On invectives - Upu Palauvale; 5. Samoan High Titles and the Distribution of Fine Mats; 6. On Aitus.