Reports offer a rich research resource
28 June 2010
FOR PNG, REPORTS from government patrols represent a major source of primary information on the pre-independence era.
Patrol officers and other officials wrote detailed documents reporting on all aspects of the work carried out by patrols.
These documents give first hand accounts on many events - first contacts, censuses, tax collection, healthcare, courts, agriculture, missions, anthropology and tribal warfare, to name just a few.
The library of the University of California, San Diego reports that it has acquired extensive microform sets of these reports and accompanying materials in its Melanesian Studies Resource Centre.
These documents include files of correspondence, journals and patrol reports of British New Guinea and Papuan outstations from 1890-1941 and Papua and New Guinea patrol reports from 1922-55.
The Library notes that microfiche versions of these documents may be purchased directly PNG’s National Archives (PO Box 1089, Boroko).
It’s good to know that this is one aspect of the Australian legacy in PNG that it is still valued and making a productive contribution.
Spotter: Assoc Prof Martin Hadlow
Hi there - Complete sets of the patrol reports on microfiche are also held in the National Archives of PNG, the libraries of the ANU and the University of Auckland.
Partial sets are available for use in the libraries of the University of Hawaii (Manoa), University of Sydney, Mitchell Library, University of Adelaide, University of Queensland, and the National Library of Australia.
Kathy Creely
Melanesian Studies Librarian, UC San Diego
Posted by: Kathryn Creely | 20 January 2011 at 05:55 AM