Central Archives of Fiji and the Western Pacific High Commission
Biography
The Central Archives of Fiji and the Western Pacific were created in 1953, and opened in January 1954, when the roles of Governor of Fiji and Western Pacific High Commissioner (WPHC) were separated and the office of the WPHC relocated to Honiara, Solomon Islands. As part of this restructure the pre 1920 records of the WPHC were transferred to the Central Archives rather than being moved to Honiara. Over time surviving non-current records from the New Hebrides British Service (NHBS), the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP), the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (GEIC), the British Agent and Consul to Tonga (BCT) and Pitcairn (PIT) were also transferred to the Central Archives.
In addition to housing, preserving and listing the records the Central Archives offered a reference service to the colonial administration and Pacific scholars.
When Fiji became independent in 1970 records relating to Fiji were transferred to the new Fiji National Archives, and the remaining collections renamed the Western Pacific Archives (WPA). With the disestablishment of the WPHC in 1978 the WPA also closed.
Found in 120 Collections and/or Records:
Western Pacific High Commission general correspondence, 300 - 400 series, relating to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony
I. Indexes and registers to general correspondence files, 300–400 series. 1967–1971. II. General correspondence files, 300–400 series, relating to the GEIC. 1967–1971. (1966–1973).
Western Pacific High Commission general correspondence, 300 - 400 series, relating to the New Hebrides
I. Indexes and registers to general correspondence files, 300–400 series. 1967 – 1971. II. General correspondence files, 300–400 series, relating to the New Hebrides. 1967–1971. (1965 – 1972).
Western Pacific High Commission general correspondence relating to Pitcairn and Tonga
Series: I. General correspondence from WPHC MP series relating to Pitcairn and Tonga. 1875 – 1941 (1934 – 1941). II. General correspondence files from WPHC 1–100 series relating to Pitcairn and Tonga. 1942 – 1954. (1942 – 1952). III. Indexes and registers.
Western Pacific High Commission inwards correspondence files, MP series, 1875-1878
Files from 2/1875 to 91/1878.
Western Pacific High Commission inwards correspondence files, MP series, 1879
Files 1/1879 to 113/1879.
Western Pacific High Commission inwards correspondence files, MP series, 1880
Files 1/1880 to 160/1880
Western Pacific High Commission inwards correspondence files, MP series, 1881
Files 1/1881 to 201/1881
Western Pacific High Commission inwards correspondence files, MP series, 1882
Files 1/1882 to 164/1882
Western Pacific High Commission inwards correspondence files, MP series, 1883
Files 1/1883 to 176/1883
Western Pacific High Commission inwards correspondence files, MP series, 1884
Files 2/1884 to 271/1884