Historic Times

The Friends of the Museum Group was at the Jean P. Haydon Museum of American Samoa's old Naval Commissary wing recently to open a commemorative Mural by the talented young American Samoa artist Talanoa Lagafuaina. His latest work captures the historic day that the first Constitution of Am. Samoa was signed on April 27, 1960. Reknowned Samoan Siapo Artist Reggie Meredith Fitiao Wilson joined the group and presented Talanoa with a Golden Brush award during a ceremony attended by Congresslady Aumua Amata Radewagen, who graced the event with special remarks. The Mural honors and celebrates American Samoa's primary document in conjunction with Am. Samoa's Aug 30-Sept 2 Constitutional Convention and will remain on display during September and October. Territorial Archivist Himphill James is a member of the Friends and helped arrange several displays with the help of Territorial Librarian Emma Penn. He also observed the Convention as an Historian and noted that eleven 11 Constitutional Amendments resulted for individual voting on November 8th. Funding for the Mural opening and Exploration of American Samoa's Democracy origins was from the National Endowment for the Humanities via the Amelika Samoa Humanities Council.