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Pacific Manuscripts Bureau

Contact

Street address
Room 4201, Coombs Building, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra.
Postal address
PMB, RSPAS, Australian National University, ACT 0200
Phone
(02) 6125 2521
Fax
(02) 6125 0198
Email
pambu@coombs.anu.edu.au
Website
http://rspas.anu.edu.au/pambu/

About

Officer in charge
Executive Officer
Hours & facilities
Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. General reference assistance available. Copying services for microfilms and published indexes, guides and catalogues available for sale. Introductory brochure available.
Access
Advance notice of visit required.
Acquisition focus
The Bureau is a joint copying project, supported by ten Pacific research libraries, and, with the owner's permission, copies on microfilm and in digital format archives, manuscripts and rare published and semi-published materials in or relating to the Pacific Islands. Particular emphasis is placed on preservation reformatting of material in private hands and/or at risk of loss or destruction from poor storage, adverse climate, civil unrest etc. so that material is preserved for future research.
Quantity
2000 titles. Approximately 3800 reels 35mm microfilm.
Major holdings
  • American Whalers: New England Microfilming Project (NEMP) 18th/19th Century (420 reels).
  • Catholic Church: Oceania Marist Province Archives (OMPA) 19th Century (380 reels).
Guides
  • Entries in National Library of Australia Guide to Collections of Manuscripts Relating to Australia.
  • Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Complete Annotated Catalogue, Manuscript Series Microfilms PMB 1-1030. Canberra: 1991.
  • Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Complete Annotated Catalogue, Printed Document Series Microforms PMB Doc 1-400. Canberra: 1991.
  • Index to Quarterly Jottings from the New Hebrides: Nos 1-284. Canberra: 1988.
  • Pacific Manuscripts Bureau Book of Pacific Indexes. Canberra: 1988.
  • American Whalers and Traders, Canberra: 1978.
  • On-line searchable database catalogue at http://rspas.anu.edu.au/pambu/finals/searchLong.php
References
  • Cunningham, A. and Maidment, E., 'The Pacific Manuscripts Bureau: preserving and disseminating Pacific documentation', The   Contemorary Pacific, 1996, 8(2), 443-454.
  • Wehner, M. and maidment, E., 'Ancestoral Voices: aspects of archival administration in Oceania', Archives and Manuscripts, 1999, 21(1), 22-41.
  • Maidment, Ewan 'Who is collecting Pacific Islands archives in Australia now?', in S Cochrane and M Quanchi (eds), Hunting the Collectors: Pacific Collections in Australian Museums, Art Galleries and Archives, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle UK, 2007, 307-325.
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Last updated: 15 October 2008