Archival Records
Pacific Church History Research Guide
Archival records are typically those items and collections that are unique or rare and were often unpublished. This includes manuscripts, photographs, correspondence, and oral histories, to name a few.
Local Unit Records
The following is a small sample of the local unit records available for the branches, wards, districts, and stakes in the countries of the Pacific. These have been selected because they are available online and provide a view of the various kinds of local records kept.
Discover information on many similar records through the Church History Catalog. You can perform searches using the names or unit numbers of specific branches, wards, etc., but the number of results can vary widely. Additional information on these types of records in general can be found in the Local Unit Records Research Guide.
Dargaville Branch Relief Society minutes and records, 1963-1968
All organizations were tasked with keeping minutes and records. This collection offers an example of the types of records the Relief Society kept, specifically in the Dargaville Branch on the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ha'akame Ward general minutes, 1913-1935, 1952-1973
Clerks were supposed to keep minutes of sacrament meetings, local conferences, presidency meetings, high council meetings, bishopric meetings, or other priesthood leadership meetings. This collection is the general minutes for the Ha’akame Ward (originally the Ha’akame Branch and now the Ha’akame 1st Ward), located on the Tonga island of Tongatapu.
Guam District annual historical reports, 1981-1982, 1986, 1990-1992
This collection includes annual histories and reports from the district headquartered in Guam. The record contains information regarding areas in Belau (Palau); Guam; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Nauru; several islands in the Northern Mariana Islands including Rota, Saipan, and Tinian; and several islands in the Federated States of Micronesia including Kosrae, Ponape (Pohnpei), Truk (Chuuk), Uman Island, and Yap.
Kalaupapa Branch Young Women's Mutual Improvement Association minutes and records, 1935
The minutes kept by the Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association, precursor to the Young Women organization, of the Kalaupapa Branch in Hawaii are included in this collection.
Tahiti Papeete Mission manuscript history and historical reports, 1843-1978
Initially a compiled history and eventually annual reports and other records from the mission in French Polynesia. The mission was previously known as the Society Islands Mission, French-Polynesian Mission, and Tahitian Mission.
Other Archival Records
The following is a sampling of other types of archival records held at Church History facilities, including journals, manuscripts, oral histories, and photographs. Unlike other sections, this list is a mixture of records available online or on-site at the Church History Library (CHL) or Pacific Church History Centre (PCHC). Additional collections can be found by searching the Church History Catalog for specific countries, individuals, and other relevant terms.
Fiji, Suva Mission - The first years, 1954-1959, circa 1959
This volume contains a history of the Church in Suva, Fiji, from 1954–1959. It also includes a history of the Suva Branch and building construction at the time, as well as a list of missionaries who served. Church account login required to view online.
Grant Underwood audiovisual collection, 1994-1998
This collection of video recordings, made by Grant Underwood, includes interviews with Latter-day Saint pioneers of the Church in the South Pacific. Church account login and access request required to listen online.
Hawaii Temple photograph collection, circa 1919-1940s
Views of the Laie Hawaii Temple under construction, the landscape and grounds, statues, and completed temple. The collection includes colour-tinted and aerial photographs. Church account login and access request required to view online.
History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Niue Island
Compiled by Relva R. Price in 1973, this document provides a brief history of the Church in Niue. Church account login and access request required to view online.
Kia Ngawari Trust Church College of New Zealand collection, 1956-2009
Records created by and about the Church College of New Zealand (CCNZ), including articles, programmes, correspondence, play scripts, building plans, school records, memoranda, and a history of Clifton E. Boyak, first principal of the school. Found at the MCPCHC under call number NZ-01-00007.
Louis G. Hoagland papers, 1905-1938
Contains correspondence from missionaries and Church members in Aotearoa New Zealand to Hoagland, who served as mission president there from 1905 to 1907. Also includes mission reports, Māori genealogy, and records of baptisms and temple work. Found at the CHL under call number MS 4693.
Māori Agricultural College oral history transcript collection, 1969-1990
Oral history transcripts of individuals involved with the Māori Agricultural College including the president, builders, local family members, and students. Also includes accounts of serving in the Māori Village at the Polynesian Cultural Center and military service in World War I and World War II. Church account login required to view online.
Māori Book of Mormon manuscript
Manuscript of the Māori Book of Mormon translation done in the late 1880s. It was translated into Māori by a team of missionaries and local members. This manuscript only contains the introduction through the Book of Helaman and was likely transcribed by Georgina Marriott.
Newton R. Passauer Guam Church history collection, 1986-2014
A collection of histories, programs, conversion stories, and photographs compiled by Passauer documenting the history of the Church in Guam and the Micronesia Guam Mission. Church account login and access request required to view online.
Pacific Church histories collected by LeGrand R. Curtis, 2022
This is a small collection of missionary and conversion histories relating to Tasmania and Tahiti, which were given to Curtis during his tour of the Pacific Area as Church Historian and Recorder in Spring 2022. Found at the CHL under call number MS 34135.
Polynesian Cultural Center photograph collection, 1950-2019
A collection of images of people and events associated with the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) located in Laie, Hawaii, from 1960 to 2019. Includes special events, performances, farewells, anniversaries, construction projects, employees, special guests, celebrities, dignitaries, General Authorities, PCC board of directors, and PCC presidents. Church account login and access request required to view.
Samoa and American Samoa oral history project, 2024
Oral histories with pioneering members of the Church in Samoa and American Samoa and their experiences, such as conversions, service, callings, significant events, and testimonies. Church account login and access request required to listen online.
Victoria Cornish Vanuatu oral histories, 1999, 2004
This is a collection of oral history interviews, conducted by Victoria Cornish, with foundational families in Vanuatu about their conversion and personal histories. Church account login and access request required to listen. Interviews were conducted in Bislama.