The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau manuscripts collection amounts to over 4,000 microfilms and over 150,000 digital pages.
The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau's text-based collections are split into three series:
Primary Landing Page
The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau collections include microfilm, audio recordings, photographs and online and printed publications.
Manuscript Series (PMB)
The PMB Manuscript Series consists of over 1,400 titles holding copies of unpublished records of organizations and people assoiated with the Pacific Islands. The records include manuscripts, diaries, files, minutes, correspondence, linguistic materials and research papers. Use the online catalogue to search for documents in the PMB Manuscript Series.
Printed Document Series (PMB Doc)
The PMB Printed Document Series of Microfilms consists of approximately 540 titles, mainly rare published material, including newspapers, newsletters and other serials published by organizations which have interests in the pacific Islands, as well as semi-published ‘grey literature’. Use the online catalogue to search for documents in the PMB Printed Document Series.
Pacific Manuscripts Bureau master negative microfilm reels in cool storage at W.& F. Pascoe in Sydney.
Oceania Marist Province Archives Series (OMPA)
The Oceania Marist Province Archives Series (OMPA) is the result of a special project during which records of the Catholic Church in islands of the Western Pacific were copied onto 398 reels of microfilm. Individual indexes were prepared for each of the six dioceses and for material copied in Rome. The indexes were published collectively as The Catholic Church in the Western Pacific: a guide to records on microfilm, (Robert Langdon, ed.), Canberra, 1986.
This catalogue has been digitised and can be accessed below. It assembles information on the microfilmed records of the Catholic Church in islands of the Western Pacific entrusted to the Marist Order as a field of evangelisation. Since 1966, the islands have been subdivided into two archdioceses and six dioceses. The archdioceses, called Suva and Noumea, respectively cover the islands of Fiji, including Rotuma, and New Caledonia and its dependencies. The dioceses are those of Wallis and Futuna, Tonga, Samoa and Tokelau, Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides), North Solomons (with Headquarters at Kieta) and South Solomons (with Headquarters at Honiara).
The Marist Order (Society of Mary) which was canonically approved in April 1836 after the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith in Rome had sought means of evangelising the western half of the Pacific. The eastern half had been entrusted to the Sacred Heart (Picpus) Order in 1833. The Marists, originally an informal grouping of diocesan priests, accepted the task in the Western Pacific provided they were recognised as an independent religious order.
The first Marists sailed for the Pacific in December 1836 under the leadership of Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pompallier. The Bishop established his headquarters in New Zealand while some of his missionaries were left on the islands of Wallis and Futuna. However, the huge vicariate under Pompallier's care soon proved too large to be practicable and in 1842 part of it was carved off to form the Vicariate of Central Oceania. This new vicariate comprised the islands of Wallis, Futuna, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Samoa, Tokelau, Fiji, Rotuma, Niue and the Gilbert Islands. A few years later, before any Marist missionaries had set foot there, the Gilbert Islands were made part of a new vicariate of Micronesia. The records described in this catalogue cover the islands embraced by the Vicariate of Central Oceania excluding the Gilbert Islands, plus the North and South Solomons which were reinstated as Marist responsibilities in 1897-98.
As will be seen, the catalogue contains eight separate inventories. Seven of them relate to records of the Marist Order copied on nearly 400 reels of microfilm under a project carried out by Father Theo B. Cook, SM, while serving as archivist of the Oceania Marist Province Archives, Suva, Fiji. The other inventory concerns similar records microfilmed in 1972 by the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau.
The microfilms containing the material described in the first seven inventories are numbered OMPA 1 to OMPA 400 inclusive except that numbers OMPA 75 to OMPA 79 were not used. The microfilms of the remainder bear the prefix PMB. The inventories are individually paginated. They appear in the volume as follows:
1 - 25: Diocese of Tonga (PDF 9.23MB)
26-74 Diocese of Samoa and Tokelau (PDF 17MB)
80-100: Marist Fathers, Rome (PDF 2.9MB)
101-126: Diocese of Wallis and Futuna (PDF 7.61MB)
127-178: Diocese of Port Vila (PDF 3.89MB)
179-360: Archdioceses of Noumea (French) PDF 180KB)
179-360: Archdioceses of Noumea (PDF 10.5MB)
361-400: Oceania Marist Province Archives (PDF 191KB)
PMB (various): Archdiocese of Suva (PDF 1.78MB)
The OMPA collection has been digitised as part of the ANU Library flood recovery project. Most of the digital copies can be accessed via the online catalogue or ANU Open Research.
The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau has two main series of audio recordings. These are available at nine of the PMB member libraries or for purchase. Further information on accessing all PMB collections is available here.
The first series (PMB Audio 1-35) is a set of oral histories recorded by Marsali MacKinnon as part of a Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
The second series (PMB Audio 36-46) is Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal in 2000.
A listing of PMB Audio recordings is below. The Bureau's Member Libraries have copies of these recordings. Please contact the Bureau if you wish to purchase any of these recordings.
All recordings come on 1 CD
"Hagens hear their first gramophone..." Image and caption by Peter Grimshaw, from 'Peter Grimshaw collection of Papua New Guinea photographs' (PMBPhoto5-025)
PMB AUDIO 1
Moira Hedstrom (née Deitrich) interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 17 Jul 1998. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum. 1 CD
PMB AUDIO 2
Hubert “Jumbo” Sabben interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 18 Jul 1998. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum. 1 CD
PMB AUDIO 3
Bill Miller interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Interview No.1, Part 1, 17 Sep 1998. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum. 1 CD
PMB AUDIO 4
Bill Miller interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Interview No.1, Part 2, 17 Sep 1998. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum. 1 CD
PMB AUDIO 5
Bill Miller interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Interview No.2, Part 1, 9 Oct 1998. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum. 1 CD
PMB AUDIO 6
Bill Miller interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Interview No.2, Part 2, 9 Oct 1998. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 7
Dorothy Walker interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 16 Nov 1998. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 8
Maureen Southwick (née Storck) interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 4 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 9
Henry Sahai interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 11 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 10
Tui Levuka interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 12 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 11
George Gibson interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 16 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 12
William Moses interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 18 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 13
Dora Patterson interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 20 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 14
Fred Vollmer interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Part1, 19 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 15
Capt. Fred Vollmer interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Part 2, 19 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 16
Nicky Yoshida (née Ashley) interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 21 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 17
Bertha Wendt interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 25 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 18
Alice Mahabir interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 25 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 19
Sir Len Usher interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Part 1, 26 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 20
Sir Len Usher interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Part 2, 26 Feb 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 21
“Pa” Hazelman and Noleen Billings interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 3 Mar 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 22
Thomas Fenton interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 4 Mar 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 23
Jess Jackson interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 4 Mar 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 24
Betty Simpson interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 5 Mar 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 25
Lema Low interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 5-6 Mar 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 26
Rodney Acraman interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Interview No.1, Part 1, 9 Mar 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 27
Rodney Acraman interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Interview No.1, Part 2, 9 Mar 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 28
Rodney Acraman interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Interview No.2, 2 Apr 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 29
Judy Zundel interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 8 Apr 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 30
Daryl Tarte interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 12 Mar 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 31
Sir David Ragg interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Part 1, 5 Apr 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 32
Sir David Ragg interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Part 2, 5 Apr 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 33
Don Burness interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, 6 Apr 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 34
Bill Clark interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Part 1, 7 Apr 1999. Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 35
Bill Clark interviewed by Marsali MacKinnon, Part 2, 7 Apr 1999.Fiji Oral History Project in association with the Fiji Museum.
PMB AUDIO 36
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 1, 25-30 Nov 2000, 45min, 25sec. Closed Access until 2022.
PMB AUDIO 37
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 2, 25-30 Nov 2000, 47min, 4sec. Closed Access until 2022.
PMB AUDIO 38
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 3, 25-30 Nov 2000, 47min, 4sec. Closed Access until 2022.
PMB AUDIO 39
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 4, 25-30 Nov 2000, 47min, 4sec. Closed Access until 2022.
PMB AUDIO 40
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 5, 25-30 Nov 2000, 47min, 5sec. Closed Access until 2022.
PMB AUDIO 41
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 6, 25-30 Nov 2000, 47min, 4sec. Closed Access until 2022.
PMB AUDIO 42
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 7, 25-30 Nov 2000, 47min, 5sec. Closed Access until 2020.
PMB AUDIO 43
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 8, 25-30 Nov 2000, 30min, 56sec. Closed Access until 2020.
PMB AUDIO 44
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 9, 25-30 Nov 2000, 61min, 46sec. Closed Access until 2022.
PMB AUDIO 45
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 10, 25-30 Nov 2000, 47min, 6sec. Closed Access until 2022.
PMB AUDIO 46
Jai Ram Reddy interviewed by Brij Lal, Part 11, 25-30 Nov 2000, 26min, 18sec. Closed Access until 2022.
The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau has digitised over 100 photographic collections, and we continue to add to this material. These photos, posters, and slides are available in digital format. Many of the PMB photographic collections can now be viewed on our catalogue online from any location.
All of the images on the PMB catalogue are in low resolution format. Depending on the permissions and copyright status of individual items, it is possible to order high resolution copies of images. Please contact the Bureau if you would like to discuss an order, or have any other questions about our photographic collections.
'EVERY MONTH BEFORE AND AFTER BABY IS BORN VISIT THE CLINIC. SISTER WILL HELP TO MAKE YOUR BABY STRONG. GO TO HOSPITAL WHEN BABY IS READY TO BE BORN.' J. Chambers, Port Moresby, Infant Welfare Section, Department of Public Health, Papua New Guinea, n.d.. (PMBPhoto9-011)
The following Pacific Manuscripts Bureau publications can be purchased.
Please contact the Bureau if you would like to order any of these publications.
Casting the Net: papers on digital resources for Pacific research presented at the millennial conference of the Pacific History Association, 29 June 2000
(Ewan Maidment, Ed.) Canberra, 2002. ISBN 0-7315-3347-X.
Soft bound: $22, plus postage.
The Catholic Church in the Western Pacific: A Guide to Records on Microfilm
(Robert Langdon, ed.), Canberra, 1986 (rpt. 1992). ISBN 0 86784 789 1. Soft bound (1150 g): $33, plus postage.
Complete Annotated Catalogue, PMB Manuscript Series Microfilms PMB 1-1030
(Gillian Scott, ed.), Canberra, 1991, 872pp. ISBN 0 7315 1292 8. Case bound (2500 g): $44, plus postage. Soft bound (2350 g): $33, plus postage.
Complete Annotated Catalogue, PMB Printed Document Series Microforms PMB Doc. 1-400
(Bess Flores, ed.), Canberra,1991, 158pp. ISBN 0 7315 1293 6. Case bound (750 g): $22, plus postage. Soft bound (350 g): $22, plus postage.
Honolulu Centre of Trans-Pacific Trade: Shipping arrivals and departures 1820 to 1840
(Rhys Richards, Comp.), Canberra, 2000, 326pp. ISBN 0-7315-5210-5. Soft bound: $33.00, plus postage.
Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Manuscripts Series Short Title Catalogue and Index: microfilms PMB 1-1135
Canberra, 1997, 73pp. ISBN 0 909524 06 8. Soft bound: $11.00, plus postage.
Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Printed Document Series Short Title Catalogue and Index: microfilms PMB 1-428
Canberra, 1997, 24pp. ISBN 0 909524 07 6. Soft bound: $1.10, plus postage.
Cumulative Index to the "Pacific Islands Monthly", volumes 16 to 25, August 1945 to July 1955
(Margaret Woodhouse & Gaye Tryon, comps; Robert Langdon, ed.), Canberra, 1984, 386pp. ISBN 0 86784 474 4. Case bound (1400 g): $33, plus postage. Unbound: $22, plus postage.
An Index to "Quarterly Jottings from the New Hebrides", 1893-1966 (Nos 1-284)
(Robert Langdon, ed.), Canberra, 1988, 179pp. ISBN 0 7351 0352 X. Case bound (700 g): $33, plus postage. Unbound: $22, plus postage.
Pacific History Journal Bibliography
(Clive Moore, comp.), Canberra, 1992, 445pp. ISBN 0 7315 1487 4. Case bound (1850 g): $44 Soft bound (1200 g): $33, plus postage.
The P.M.B. Book of Pacific Indexes
(Robert Langdon, ed.), Canberra, 1988, var. pages (220). ISBN 0 7315 0351 1. Case bound (850 g): $33, plus postage. Unbound: $22, plus postage.
Tahiti and the Society Islands: Shipping arrivals and departures 1767-1852
(Rhys Richards and Robert Langdon), Canberra, PMB and Boglio Martime Books, 2008, 257pp. ISBN 978-0-9806653-0-7. Soft bound: $39.60, plus postage.
Where the Whalers Went: An index to the Pacific ports and islands visited by American whalers (and some other ships) in the 19th century
(Robert Langdon, ed.), Canberra, 1984, 318pp. ISBN 0 86784 471 X. Soft bound: $33, plus postage.
Women in the Pacific: a guide to the records on microfilm written by, or about, women in the Pacific copied by the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau
(Gillian Scott, comp.), Canberra, 1992, 56pp. ISBN 0 7315 1346 0. Soft bound (200 g): $11, plus postage.
Yankee Maritime Activities and the Early History of Australia
Nigel Wace and Bessie Lovett, RSPAS Aids to Research Series No.A/2, Canberra, ANU, 1973, 131pp. ISBN 0 7081 0821 0. Soft bound: $22, plus postage.