Directory Information Library: American Samoa Community College, Learning Resources Ctr. (School Library) Address: POB 2699, Pago Pago AS 96799 Contact: Telephone: (684)699-4673 Fax: (684)699-2062 Http: http://www.samoanet.com/asg/asgascc97.html E-mail:

History & Collections


American Samoa is a United States territory about 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii. Six of territorys seven islands are divided among three groups- Tutuila and Aunuu; Ofu, Olosega, and Tau (the Maua roup); and Rose. These islands are in the Samoan chain. The seventh, Swains Island, lies 200 miles (320 kilometers) north. The Jennings family has owned Swains island since 1856. That vear, Eli Jennings, an American, and his Samoan wife settled there. The largest and most important island is Tutuila. Pago Pago (pronounced PAHNC oh PAHNG oh), the capital of American Samoa, lies on Tutuila on one of the best and most beautiful harbors in the South Pacific. Pago Pago is the territorys only port and urban center. American Samoa's 48,000 people are nationals, but not citizens, of the United States. They may freely enter the country at any time. Many people of Samoan descent live in Hawaii and the continental United States.


History. Samoa has been occupied by Polynesian peoples for at least 2,000 years. They probably migrated from eastern Melanesia. European explorers first reached Samoa in 1722 (see Western Samoa [Historyl). In 1872, the Samoans agreed to let the United States use Pago Pago Bay as a naval coaling station. Later, theUnited States was given trading rights in the islands. In 1899, the United States, Germany, and Britain signed a treaty dividing Samoa between the United States and Germany. Germany took control of the western islands in 1900. The United States took control of Toiuila, Aunuu, and Rose Island in 1900, and the Manua group in 1904. Swains Island was annexed in 1925. The islands were administered by the U.S. Navy until 1951, when they were transferred to the Department of the Interior. Afterward, the governor of American Samoa was appointed by the secretary of the interior. In the early 1970rs, the United States proposed that the territory elect its governor. But Samoan voters rejected the proposal three times. Many believed the change would weaken their ties to the United States. American Samoans approved the proposal in 1976. They elected a governor in 1977.


Depository Libraries in American Samoa (AS)
American Samoa Community College Library
Address: P.O.Box 2609, Upper Campus Road, Pago Pago, AS96799-2609
Contact: Steven Lin
Telephone: (684)699-9155:77
Fax: (684)699-2062

Sources:

Robinstein, Donald H. "American Samoa", The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book, Chicago, v.1 (1997) 429.
More Information "Samoa & Samoa: The Two Samoa's" http://www.escapeartist.com/samoa/samoa.htm
Photo from "American Samoa" http://www.iPacific.com/samoa/samoa.html
Tyler, Thomas G. "Depository Libraries in American Samoa (AS)" Federal Depository Library Directory http://www.du.edu/~ttyler/pras.htm
"Samoa, American", World Guide to Libraries, 13th. ed. v.2, S-Z (1998) 591.