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 Rev. Joseph Johnston (1814-1892) left England for Tahiti as a missionary of the London Missionary Society in the ship 'Camden' in April 1838. He reached Tahiti in the following March, and served there until late 1849. In Tahiti he married Miss Harriet Platt, daughter of the Rev. George Platt. After his return to England in May 1850, he went to Fremantle, Western Australia, as a Congregational minister. He died there in 1892.

The microfilm contains the following documents:

• Diary kept in the Camden en route to Tahiti, 26 April-28 October 1838.
• A history and impression of Tahiti, with a narrative of the voyage in the Camden, 1838.
• Diaries kept in Tahiti, 8 November -14 December 1838; 28 May-6 November 1839; and 6 January-30 December 1840.
• Diary kept in the Camden during a tour of LMS mission stations in the Pacific, 16 March-19 July 1842.
• Diaries kept in Tahiti 2 March-26 March and 11 April-26 May 1839.
• Diaries kept in Tahiti, on return voyage to England, on voyage to Western Australia, and in Western Australia, July 1844-August 1852.
• Diaries kept in England, on voyage to Western Australia and in Fremantle, 1852-55, 1864-68, 1869-71.
• Letter from Johnston to Mr Gallop, dated Fremantle, 25 December 1884.
• Reminiscences of Mrs S.F. Moore (nee Eliza Mary Johnston), Johnston's daughter.

Times and Seasons, which was published at Nauvoo, Illinois, was a publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints before the split that resulted in the establishment of the Reorganized Church in Lamoni and later, Independence, Missouri, and the Church at Salt Lake City, Utah.

The letters were written by Addison Pratt, Benjamin Grouard and Noah Rogers, the first missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to serve in the South Pacific. They were mainly on the island of Tubuai, Austral Islands. For other publications of the Reorganized Church see also PMB 92, 93 and 100 for The Saints Herald; PMB 94 and 109 for Autumn Leaves; PMB 104 for Zion's Ensign; and PMB 105 for Journal of History.

Letters from missionaries in French Polynesia. The last three letters, dated August 1884, are from Joseph Smith III, President of the Reorganized Church, to (1) the French Consul in San Francisco, (2) the US Consul in Tahiti, and (3) the Church Mission in Tahiti.

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.

Items on Pacific Islands from reports of annual and semi-annual conferences associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church was active in French Polynesia, including Tahiti, Tuamotu Islands, and Tubuai, as well as Hawaiian Islands, Samoa and Tonga in the period covered.

The 15 manuscript items on this microfilm were bought by the Territory of French Polynesia at an auction of Pacific manuscripts in Paris in June, 1969. They were formerly part of the Ropiteau-O'Reilly collection.

The 15 items are:

1. A six-page account of Tahiti by Chenard de la Giraudais, commander of 'l'Etoile', the consort of Bougainville's ship 'La Boudeuse', which visited Tahiti in April, 1768.
2. Letter written in Tahiti on February 6, 1799, by the L.M.S. missionary John Harris.
3. Journal of the missionaries Henry Nott and James Elder describing a preaching tour, Tahiti in 1802.
4. Letter from King Pomare II to the L.M.S., London, dated January 1, 1807.
5. Journal kept by the missionaries William Henry and John Davies during a preaching tour on the island of Huahine in 1809.
6. Letter from Pomare II dated September 25, 1812, to the missionaries on Moorea informing them of his determination to abandon false gods and ancient rites against evil spirits.
7. Letter from the missionaries John Williams, L.E. Threlkeld and J.M. Orsmond from Raiatea to the L.M.S. in London, dated September 5, 1819. Collective report on affairs at the missions on Raiatea and Tahaa.
8. Letter from the missionary George Platt from Bora Bora, dated May 28, 1828, describing a visit to the island of Maupiti.
9. Letter from Queen Pomare IV and her second husband Ariifaaite to the missionary Henry Nott dated February 4, 1836, asking to be readmitted to church membership.
10. Letterbook (pp71) copies of 19 letters by George Pritchard, British Consul in Tahiti - November 26 1836 to February 15 1837.
11. May 11, 1846 letter from Queen Pomare IV at Raiatea to the directors, L.M.S., stating she would never live under the French protectorate.
12. 94-page report, 'Look Again, or a few observations on the affairs of Tahiti from 1845 to 1849 by an eye-witness' by Rev. J.M. Orsmond to President of France.
13. & 14. Letters from Queen Pomare IV to President of France (August 26, 1851) re government of her country and French Governor (September 18, 1872) re funeral of her small daughter.
14. Account book 1877-1882 by Pomare V Tahiti's last king, d.1891