By ASG Territorial Archivist James Himphill
Last Friday Oct. 19th some of American Samoa’s early morning commuters came upon the 3rd annual American Samoa Archives Month street wave in Tafuna. It was held by the Dept. of Adm. Services Office of Archives and Records. The 7-8 am activity had about 50 staffers in Archives Months T-Shirts braving light rain to display colorful posters and banners conveying Archives Month messages. Some said “We Are Made By History”,“Masina O Fa’amaumauga”, “Celebrate Our Archives Month” and “Puipui Teuga Pepa”. These and other jingles were meant to encourage public awareness about the work that archivists and recordkeepers perform on a daily basis. Lots of waves, glances, smiles, shouts, car honks,sirens and signals were exchanged throughout the activity. Some of our wavers also honored Samoa Cancer Society day with pink balloons and local politicians Lucia Bartley and Amata Coleman graced us with their presence.
ASG archives and records workers are therefore celebrating their official October 1st, 2018 Archives Month Proclamation from the Governor’s Office. Great thanks are therefore due to the “People First” administration of Governor Moliga, Lt. Governor Mauga and Adm. Services Director Malaepule for allowing this festivity. Events include several TV interviews; a Grade Level 6 - 12 Student Contest to make an “Am. Samoa Archives Month” Poster with the theme “Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow”; Some reproduction displays of the 1900 Deed of Cession and the 1960 and 1967 Am. Samoa Constitutions; a Samoan Costume Staff Party; and “A Night At The Archives” Halloween.
Student Poster Contest entries close on Friday Oct. 26th and winners will be announced and awarded on Oct. 31st Halloween Night. Three Judges will score for a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Any Student Posters will be on public display at the Tafuna Archives Records Center up to November 2nd. And there is still time for individuals and businesses to be recognized for Poster Contest donations or prizes. For Rules and Regulations or more info just call 699-6848 M-F 730-400.
American Samoa Archives Month is the territorial version of the national American Archives Month created by COSA, the Council of State Archivists. American Archives Month has been acknowledged by the majority of state and territorial archives and records centers, historical societies, research libraries and other recordkeeping organizations across the nation. This year, SAA, the Society of American Archivists celebrated with an “#AskAnArchivist Day” Twitter hashtag. And COSA held it’s 8th annual “Electronic Records Day” on October 10th to urge digital archives and records awareness. The U.S. National Archives, Hawaii State Government and the American Library Association are just a few of the many other organizations recognizing “American Archives Month”. For an example, see the U.S. National Archives Archives Month page at https://www.archives.gov/news/topics/american-archives-month . We hope you’ll enjoy American Samoa Archives Month and find time to visit us if you can. We’re more than glad to help you locate your village census records, Matai and Land Title cases, archival conservation and disaster preparedness info, One U.S.N. Parent evidence, ASG archives and records document copies, or whatever else we might be able to provide. Happy Archives Month!
#ArchivesMonth