Samoa Research Checklist
These are some sources which may help you find more information about your Samoan Ancestor. To access these books and records, check with local libraries, inter-library-loan, and commercial libraries. Some of them are available through LDS Family History Centers. This is not intended to be a complete list. There may be other excellent resources not lister here.
General Samoan Research
- Allardice, R.W., A Simplified Dictionary of Modern Samoan , Auckland: Polynesian Press, 1989, c1985.
- Blacklock, William, Newspaper Clippings, etc., Relating to Samoa, 1899-1902 Canberra : Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, 1974. William Blacklock was a trader and United States consul-general in Samoa from the 1880s to 1905; clippings cover the German annexation of Western Samoa, the United States establishing control over Eastern Samoa, and Britain renouncing all claims to the Samoan islands. FHC.
- Bruck, L., The Australasian Medical Directory and Handbook, Sydney : The Australasian Medical Gazette, 1883-1900. 5 v. Includes a list of doctors serving in Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Hebrides, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, and obituaries. FHC.
- Catholic Church in the Western Pacific: A Guide to Records on Microfilm, edited by Robert Langdon., Canberra : Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University, 1986.
- Manual Processing Collections, 1949-1981. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Genealogical Department. Records Processing Division. Samoa: Adam--Togoiu, #1553388, FHC.
- Record of members, 1888-1951, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Samoan Mission. FHC.
- Record of members, 1888-1951, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tutuila District (Samoa).
- Hart, John William. History of Samoa, Pesega, Western Samoa : [s.n.], 1971.
- Krèamer, Augustin Friedrich, Die Samoa-Inseln: Entwurf einer Monographie mit besonderer Berèucksichtigung Deutsch-Samoas. Stuttgart : E. Schweizerbatsche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1902-1903. History, pedigrees, traditions, and ethnology of Western Samoa, formerly German Samoa and includes American Samoa. (An English translation: The Samoa Islands : an outline of a monograph with particular consideration of German Samoa Auckland : Polynesian Press, c1994.
- Laulu, Tauti Auali'itia Faaoleole, Pedigrees of Samoa. FHC.
- Minutes of meetings, June 1836-Jul 1851, March 1898-May 1905. London Missionary Society. Samoan District Committee. Microfilm of mss. in possession of the Archives of the Congregational Council for World Mission, 11 Carteret Street, London, S.W. 1. FHC.
- Major genealogical sources in Samoa, Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, [1967?]. FHC.
- Schultz, E., Proverbial expressions of the Samoans, Wellington: The Polynesian Society, ?1953. FHC.
- Calendar of the George Handy Bates Samoan papers at the University of Delaware prepared by William Ditto Lewis. "These papers represent the documents collected during Mr. Bates' residence as American commissioner in Samoa during the summer and autumn of 1886, together with the protocols of, and communications to and from the Berlin Conference on Samoan affairs in 1889, at which he was one of the three American commissioners." -- Compiler's note. University of Delaware. FHC.
- Villages of the Samoan Islands. FHC.
- Waddoups, William M., Historical and Genealogical Notes on "Samoa" by Turner. FHC.
- Watson, Robert Mackenzie, History of Samoa
- Wood, A. Harold, Overseas missions of the Australian Methodist Church Melbourne, Australia: Aldersgate Press, 1975?-1978.
American Samoa
Adoption Records
- Adoption proceedings, 1922-1966. High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. Some text in Samoan. FHC.
- Adoption Records, 1962-1971. High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC
- Guardianships, 1953-1960. High Court Building, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC.
- Guardianship of the Tominaga Children. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
Census
- Census Returns, 1900-1945. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
- American Samoa, 1920 Federal Census and Soundex. Washington, D.C., The National Archives. FHC.
Court Records
- Bentley, Elizabeth Petty. County Courthouse Book. Baltimore : Genealogical Publishing Co., c1995. Contains current addresses and phone numbers, of key courthouse records such as probate, land and vital records; helps the reader to know whether search services are provided, what fees are involved, and whether there are alternative locations for the records.
- Civil Cases, 1900-1965. Includes Civil cases, civil dockets, and day journal. High Court Building, Pago Pago, American Samoa. Microfilms at FHCs.
- Contracts, 1904-1925. Native agreements. San Francisco Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
- Court records, 1903-1952. Includes Pardons and paroles, commitments to prison, misc. court records, Niue Island court proceedings and village court records. FHC.
Land Records
- Plantation records, 1942. Records provide the name of the plantation, the owner and who depended upon the plantation for support including the name, age, sex and relationship to the plantation owner). San Francisco Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
- Land claims, 1901-1965. High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC.
- Matai title court files, 1902-1973. High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC.
- War damage claims, 1946-1953. Includes applications for settlements of claims against the United States government for damages caused by the U.S. Marines, 1942-1944, on the Island of Tutuila, American Samoa with affidavits and other supporting documents. San Francisco Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
- Land records, 1900-1959. Includes land appraisals, description and location of property. Office of Registrar of Titles. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
- Registers of Matai names and titles, 1895-1972. Includes claims of succession to Matai title with supportin affidavits and certificates permitting the usage of the title. The Matai name was the name taken taken by the head of the clan after election and entitled the clan chief to act in behalf of the clan to control and administer the communally owned property. Lands & Titles Division of the High Court, Pago Pago, Americam Samoa. Federal Records Center, San Francisco, California. FHC.
Immigration and Emigration Records
- Immigration and emigration records, 1918-1965. Includes Passenger lists; passports and travel permits; letters of identity; birth affidavits; visa requests; visas; naturalization petitions; travel permits; taxpayer lists; lists of arrivals. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
- Passports, 1919-1924. High Court Building, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC.
Public Records
- Insanity records, 1941-1962., Department of Public Health Records. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
- Village Affairs, 1900-1956. Includes names, office, district, date of appointment, county and residence of native officials; petitions and reports; village policemen; applications for government positions; and petitions to governor. High Court. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
Probate Records
- Estate of Jane S. Foster. FHC.
- Probate records, 1902-1961. High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
School Records
- School Census, 1921. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California FHC.
- School Registers, 1937. Federal Records Center, San Bruno, Calif. Text in Samoan. FHC.
Vital Records
- Births
- Affidavits of Delayed Registration of Births, 1962-1972. Original records at the High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC.
- Birth certificates, 1850-1972. Including some delayed birth records. High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC.
- Register of births, 1900-1928. Registrar of Vital Statistics. FHC.
- Divorces
- Divorce Proceedings, 1900-1965. Originals at the San Francisco Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California and at the High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC.
- Deaths
- Death certificates, 1900-1972. Registrar of Vital Statistics. FHC.
- Registers of deaths, 1900-1938. Registrar of Vital Statistics. FHC.
- Marriages
- Marriage Licenses and Certificates, 1900-1968. High Court, Pago Pago, American Samoa. FHC.
- Marriage registers, 1900-1912. Registrar of Vital Statistics. Including some late registration of marriages. FHC.
- Miscellaneous records pertaining to vital statistics, 1906-1965. Includes Birth & death certificates; duplicate certificates and related correspondence, late registration of births and deaths, marriage permits, affidavits of deaths, births, name changes, etc. San Francisco Federal Records Center, San Bruno, California. FHC.
Western Samoa
Church Records
- Correspondence and other papers, 1848-1934 Catholic Church. Vicariate of Samoa. Canberra : Pacific Manuscripts Bureau, 1972. FHC.
- W. Karl Brewer, Armed With the Spirit: Missionary Experiences in Samoa, Brigham Young University, 1976
- Carl R. Harris, Samoa Apia mission history, 1888-1983, FHC.
- Correspondence with teh German Administration, Samoa, 1905-1915, Manuscript collection in possession of Congregational Council for World Mission (romerly London Missionary Society) in London; P.M.B. manuscript no. 143; FHC.
Military Records
- Bach, John, The Australia Station: A History of the Royal Navy in the South West Pacific, 1821-1913, , Kensington, N.S.W.: N.S.W. University Press, c1986.
Probate Records
- Probate Case Files, 1920-1978; Probate Registers and index, 1920-1978, Probate Office, Apia Court House, Apia, Western Samoa; FHC
Vital Records
- Births Within the District of the British Consulate at Samoa, 1852- 1915. Original records at Government Office, Apia, Western Samoa; FHC.
- Deaths Within the District of the British Consulate at Samoa, 1875-1913. Original records at Government Office, Apia, Western Samoa; FHC.
- Register of Deaths, 1895-1899; Births 1889-1900. manuscript. FHC.
- Birth Registers, 1923-1992., Registrar General's Office, Apia, Western Samoa. FHC
- Birth Registers, 1923-1993., Civil Registry Office, Savai'i; FHC.
- Birth Registers, 1876-1920., Registration from 1876-1900 by German consul; Registration of births during the German occupation, 1876-1917; during the British military occupation, 1917-1920; FHC.
- Death Registers, 1923-1966., Registrar General's Office, Apia, Western Samoa. FHC
- Vital Records, ca. 1917-1920, Government Office, Apia, Western Samoa; FHC
- Register of Births Within the British Military Occupied Territory of Samoa, 1917-1920, Government Office, Apia, Western Samoa; FHC
- Births Within the British Military Occupied Territory of Samoa, v. 1-8, 1917-1961, Government Office, Apia, Western Samoa; FHC
- Delayed registratiosn of births, 1948-1993, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Apia; FHC
- European Birth Registres, v. 1-55, 1920-1962, Government Office, Apia, Western Samoa; FHC
- Old register of Samoan births, 1905-1922, Government Office, Apia, Western Samoa; FHC
Family Histories
- Fuimaono, Toli M., Fuimaono Family Biographical and Genealogical Data, 1888-1984, typescript, 1984. Descendants of Mateo Maeli Fuimaono (b.1888) of Apia, Upolu, Samoa, and of his wife, Pe'iu Toli Seiuli (b.1888) of Sapapali'i, Savai'i, Samoa. Includes family names of Fuimaono, Alai'asöa, Iloilo, Iosua, Laulu, Manutai, Moananu. FHC.
- Oral Genealogy Interviews. A set of 6 tapes at the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. 1973. Walter Key, Miller T. Salima, Va'a Malolo, Ta'afuni Salima, Oliver and wife Ah Mu.
- Oral Genealogy Interviews. Tapes at LDS Family History LIbrary in Salt Lake City, Utah. Includes: Lauolefiso Fa'amaligi (descendants of Tuitele Maiva); Fotulafai Matuauto; Mataniu Tuia Fonoimoana; Sipuao Josephine Matuauto (ancestry back to Malaganaga'e and Malagaganaifo; Mulivai Purcell. Microfilm transcipt. FHC.
- Leha'uli, Sione Ikapunaimoana, Oral Genealogy Interview of Sione Ikapunaimoana Leha'uli of Pelehake, of Tongatapu, Tonga. Sione Leha'uli's grandparents came from Samoa. FHC.
- Nisbet, Henry, Journals and other papers, 1836-1876. Reverend Henry Nisbet was a missionary for the London Missionary Society from 1841 to the end of his life in 1876. FHC.
- Ole amatagaole faatagataina o Samoa. FHC.
- Samoan pedigrees. Oral genealogies. FHC.
- Te'o, Ieti Fua, Samoa mai le amatage : gafa ma talaaga o tuaa of Ieti Te'o. Includes Family of Fili Alapapa and Timena; children of Ieti and Lolini; familes of Fausaga, Upolu, Western Samoa; Mesepa, Tutuila, American Samoa branch records; Ieti; Lolini; Va'afusuaga; Aiolupotea; Tiumalumatua; Lilomaiava; Tauatama; Valomua; Tiumalumatua; Vaasiliega; Lafai; Alaivaega; Aulama; Lauifi of Savaii; Taua'a; Tonumaipe'a; Taituave; Tuiavii and Puipuifatu; Såa Tupo; Taufa; Samoanagalo; Leifi; A'aone; Masinamua; Genealogy of the kings of Samoa; Nofoasaefåa; Taeoali'i; Timena of Fausage; Va'atuia; Laumatia; Luatimu; Såa Ta'aloga. FHC.
- Tuinei Family: Record Book. Includes Salanoa, Alo, Nofoasefa, Faga, Lealali, Salamasina, Sa Tualåa, Malietoa, Tagaloa, Tuiatua, Faleasuo, Manamanaifatua, Matasepu, Tuia'ana, Fuiavailili, Lesagalala, Vai'i, Tanuvasa Manaia, Levaga. FHC.
- Calkins, Fay G., My Samoan Chief: with drawning Mircea Vasilu Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii, c1962. FHC.
- Samoan Oral Genealogy Project; Oral Genealogy Interviews, 1968-1977; Transcripts - many families included. FHC
- Setu, O le gafa fa'asolo o Setu ma Poufa u : 1700s-1981., FHC.