Am. Samoa Archives Month 2021!

The Sixth Annual American Samoa Archives Month!

Despite the potential threat of COVID-19, American Samoa’s Office of Archives and Records Management conducted it’s sixth annual American Samoa Archives Month! In addition to promoting the importance of good archiving and record-keeping, it served to encourage adaptation to the new COVID-19 culture norm developing across the United States and the World. This year’s theme copied the SAA Society of American Archivist’s topic “The Power of Collaboration” ie., “Malosiaga o le Aufa’atasiga”. Am. Samoa Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga kindly allowed Territorial Archivist James Himphill’s request to declare October as “American Samoa Archives Month”. An official Proclamation and Program were accordingly released and printed in the Samoa News and shared online at Facebook, Twitter, and the archives website: https://www.dasoarmasg.net/ .

Activities started with free online Council of State Archivists COSA educational webinars and online opportunities that enabled people to converse with local and national Archivists via Twitter’s “Ask An Archivist Day” and “Electronic Records Day”. There was also an annual street wave in front of the Tafuna Records Center and McDonalds along Airport Road. A highlight of this year’s events was Governor Mauga’s remarks during the dedication of a collaborative Am. Samoa Constitution Office display at the Feleti Barstow Library. 1960 and 1967 Am. Samoa Constitutions replicas and originals were featured for the 61st Anniversary of Am. Samoa’s founding document. The Governor’s Constitution Office and the Office of Archives and Records Management had worked together for several weeks to replicate original documents and photographs of American Samoa’s premier document. American Samoa's Constitutional Office is also planning a 2022 Constituional Convention for traditional and elected representatives to consider potential changes and amendments.

Am. Samoan historical nostalgia continued with a display of political documents and photographs at the Archives and Records Center in Tafuna. A secondary display of Am. Samoa’s strange experiences with COVID-19 did not materialize however and had to be postponed. However, the Territorial Archivist and office staff did practice a safe social distancing dinner party/awards ceremony, along with safe traditional Halloween decorations, candy and costumes. Attached therefore herewith are various images of American Samoa Archives Month 2021 for your enjoyment. For additional information about regular services and public functions, call us M-F, 8-4 or schedule an appointment. Gratitude for misc. funding to host this year’s event is cordially extended to Director Eliki Afalava of the Dept. of Administrative Services; Mr. Mrs. Muliufi Siliva of Nu’uuli, Territorial Archivist James Himphill; ASG Public Health Cancer Coalition; Dept. of Administrative Services and Governors Office personnel, Osini Faleatasi Inc. dba Samoa News and all who contributed.