Photograph album of American Samoa and (Western) Samoa

Album of photographs of American Samoa and Samoa, taken and compiled by Eddy Williams, a pharmacist who served with the United States Navy 1914-1935. Williams was stationed at the American naval station in Pago Pago Harbour on Tutuila from June to September 1924.

The broad range of images in this collection provide a detailed documentation of Tutuila Island and other Samoan islands in the early 1920s, however the complete lack of captions in this album has resulted in some of the subject matter remaining unidentified.

Images show Tutuila naval station, the islands, European and indigenous people.

The collection includes photographic documentation of the following:

- The built environment - Fale, government administrative buildings, military barracks, school buildings, and dwellings.

- Landscapes - including coastal views, mountains, seascapes and natural features, such as the Alofaaga Blowhole.

- Ships and canoes - including the United States naval cargo and passenger vessel USAT 'Buford', which visited the South Seas in 1924. Also traditional Samoan canoes used for fishing and racing (Fautasi racing).

- Samoan people - both in traditional dress, wearing customary adornments and ceremonial attire, and in uniform for military drill and parades.

- European civilians and naval personnel in both formal and informal settings, including images of visiting officials.

- Samoan children - both individuals and groups, including large group of pupils of The Public School Manu'a.

- Medical and pharmacy - including interior views of naval pharmacy and medical facilities, including medical and nursing staff in uniform.

- From Samoa are images of the tomb of Robert Louis Stevenson.

- United States naval personnel include members of the crew of the USS 'Ontario'.

- Newsclipping from an illustrated journal shows a photographic portrait of a young Samoan female subject with the caption 'Underneath the South Sea moon, famed by song writers, reign beaded beauties like this. She'd win any beauty contest among the 8,000 citizens of American Samoa'.

Originally housed in custom-made clamshell box now at PA1-o-1921.

Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).

Physical Description: Photograph album (labelled: 'Badger Albums - The Heinn Company - The Badger Line - Loose leaf devices'), with silver gelatin photoprints mounted on 48 loose album leaves; illustrated newspaper clipping.