Solf (1862-1936) became president of the municipality of Apia, Western Samoa, in 1899, after serving as a district judge in German East Africa. In 1900 he became governor of Western Samoa when that country became a German colony. He remained in that post until 1911 when he became Secretary for the colonies in the German government. After World War I, he served as German ambassador in Japan. The Solf papers have been filmed on reels PMB 581 - 589.

The papers comprise:

1. letters to family (3 volumes), 1885-1935
2. personal honours, 1927-34
3. congratulations on 70th birthday, 1932
4. publications, speeches, etc. 1886-1932 (Continued on PMB 582)

Please see PMB 581 for full entry.

Correspondence with private individuals including Albert Hahl, governor of German New Guinea, from 1902-14. The correspondence with Hahl covers the period 1903-16. Other correspondents represented on the microfilm are: Albert Einstein, 1918-30; Mathias Erzberger, 1914-19; Richard Fisk, 1913-29/35; Bruno Fuchs, 1914-18; H. Gerlich, 1889-95, 1915-18; Otto Glein, 1911-16; Fritz Haber, 1924-29; Maximilien von Hagen, 1918-35; Ewald Herker, 1914-20; Edmund and Elizabeth von Heyking, 1914-24; Alfred von Heymel, 1912-14; Gottlieb von Jagow, 1914-34 (Continued on reel PMB 587)

Please see PMB 581 for full entry.

The documents comprise:

1. publications, speeches, etc. 1915-32 (Continued from reel PMB 581)
2. letters, 1908, re his publication 'Eingeborene und Ansiedler auf Samoa'
3. publications re war treaties, 1916-18 (3 vols)
4. correspondence with publishers re publications and memoirs, 1918-34
5. press reviews, 1919-20, re his publication 'Kolonialpolitik' (short title)
6. lectures and essays on Japanese problems, 1923-33
7. press opinions on Solf's lectures and publications, 1926-33
8. official and political papers re the German Consulate-General in Calcutta (his first post)
9. official and political papers re East Africa, 1897-99
10. official and political papers re Apia municipality, 1899.