In 1898 German New Guinea came under the direct adminstration of the Reich. Prior to this, from 1885, the area comprising the north-eastern part of the New Guinea Mainland, known as Kaiser Wilhelmsland, and the Bismarck Archipelago, were administered by the New Guinea Compagnie. The territory was later expanded to include other island groups.

Each report covers the period April of one year to March of the following year. The reports, photocopies of the originals, are bound into 5 volumes. Volume 1: 1898 - 1900/1901. Volume 2: 1901/1902 - 1902/1902. volume 3: 1903/04 - 1904/05. volume 4: 1905/06. volume 5: 1906/07 - 1907/08. They contain reports and statistics on administrative and commercial activities, climate, geology, botany and progress reports on education and the work of various missions. The Pacific Colonies represented in these reports are: German New Guinea: Caroline Islands: Solomon Islands: Mariana Islands and Palau.