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PDF file separated into five parts for ease of download THE JOHNSTONE CENTRE REPORT Nº 197 A Rapid Assessment This is of the Part 1 Library of the Joachim deBrum comprising pages House, Likiep Atoll, i-iv, 1-32 Republic of the Marshall Islands Dirk H.R. Spennemann If you print the whole Jon O’Neill Joan O’Neill report, discard this page Albury Australia THE JOHNSTONE CENTRE REPORT Nº 197 A Rapid Assessment of the Library of the Joachim deBrum House, Likiep Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands Dirk H.R. Spennemann Jon O’Neill Joan O’Neill Albury Australia © The authors, 2003. All rights reserved. The contents of this study are copyright in all countries subscribing to the Berne Convention. No parts of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law. CIP Spennemann, Dirk H.R. 1958— A Rapid Assessment of the Library of the Joachim deBrum House, Likiep Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands / by Dirk H.R. Spennemann, Jon O’Neill and Joan O’Neill Albury, NSW: Charles Sturt University, The Johnstone Centre, 2003. 1 v.ill., - (Report / Johnstone Centre of Parks, Recreation & Heritage, no. 197) ISBN 1 86467 146 7 DDC 015.9683 LCC Z4744.S* 2004 1. Micronesia—Marshall Islands—History. 2. Micronesia—Marshall Islands—Biography. 3. Libraries—History—19th Century I. O’Neill, Jon. II. O’Neill, Joan. III. Title. IV. Series — [ ii ] — CCOONNTTEENNTTSS CONTENTS....................................................................................III INTRODUCTION.............................................................................1 Survey History....................................................................................................1 Notes to the Chapter........................................................................................2 HISTORY ........................................................................................3 Likiep Atoll..........................................................................................................3 Joachim deBrum and the deBrum House...................................................6 Notes to the Chapter......................................................................................10 LIBRARIES ...................................................................................13 Libraries in the German colonies in Africa ................................................13 German vs British Public Libraries in the Pacific .....................................14 Libraries in German Micronesia..................................................................16 German Schools in Micronesia ...................................................................21 The role of individuals....................................................................................21 Notes to the Chapter......................................................................................28 DEVELOPMENT ...........................................................................33 Developing a library on a remote atoll........................................................33 The legacy........................................................................................................41 Notes to the Chapter......................................................................................43 COMPOSITION.............................................................................45 Discrepancies between the 1977 enumeration and today ....................45 Composition in 1999 .....................................................................................46 Notes to the Chapter......................................................................................50 — [ iii ] — MANAGEMENT ............................................................................51 Status quo in 1999......................................................................................... 51 Chronology of Management......................................................................... 55 Notes to the Chapter ..................................................................................... 66 PRESERVATION...........................................................................69 Environmental conditions at Likiep ............................................................ 69 Decay processes observed......................................................................... 69 Notes to the Chapter ..................................................................................... 77 SIGNIFICANCE.............................................................................79 FUTURE........................................................................................81 Notes to the Chapter ..................................................................................... 82 REFERENCES ..............................................................................83 CATALOGUE................................................................................91 DeBrum house Likiep, Book case #1........................................................ 91 DeBrum house Likiep, Book case #2........................................................ 96 DeBrum house Likiep, Book case #3......................................................102 DeBrum house Likiep, Book case #4......................................................108 DeBrum house Likiep, Book case #5......................................................115 DeBrum house Likiep, Book case #6......................................................119 Items listed by Edward Jelks but no longer extant ................................122 Items contained in deBrum papers, Alele Museum, Majuro Atoll...........................................................................................................124 Items not located but referenced in deBrum correspondence ...........127 INDICES......................................................................................129 Author List......................................................................................................129 Title List..........................................................................................................133 List of Publishers Represented................................................................139 — [ iv ] — 11 IINNTTRROODDUUCCTTIIOONN DDIIIRRKK HH...RR... SSPPEENNNNEEMMAANNNN && JJOONN OO’’’NNEEIIILLLL The deBrum House on Likiep Island, Likiep Atoll, Marshall Islands is a cultural heritage site, which is unique in the Marshall Islands, in Micronesia and in fact in most of the Pacific. As a complete colonial period homestead replete with much of the original furnishings, including ornaments, books, phonograph rolls and glass plate negatives, it provides a unique insight into both the living conditions of affluent planters during the late 19th and early 20th century, as well as into the mind of an exceptional Marshallese man, Joachim deBrum. SSuurrvveeyy HHiiissttoorryy The fieldwork of Jon O’Neill as part of his Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) project into the management of German colonial heritage,1 provided an opportunity to conduct a rapid assessment of the library of the deBrum house and to assess its condition in a very general manner, Joan O’Neill, accompanying her husband, agreed to record the books as well as possible. The data collection was limited by two constraints: the bad preservation of many books and the bibliographic inexperience of the recorder. During the Likiep documentation, many books were deemed too fragile to remove from the shelf for inspection. As a result, only information discernable from the spine was obtained. Six bookcases were found arranged in the southern bedroom of the deBrum house. This room has one internal and two external doors, all of which were securely locked and barred. It also has two windows (both on the southern wall) that were also locked and nailed fast with wooden shutters. Each bookcase had glass doors that were also shut and locked. Only on rare occasions when the veranda and parlour doors were opened could light and fresh air enter the room. Where their condition permitted, books were removed from the shelves and catalogued. However, many were so damaged that it was not possible to decipher all their bibliographic details. In some cases, books were accreted together and the paper so fragile that it was not possible to get any details without severe risk of further extensive damage – these books are listed as “unknown”. Where books could be removed from the shelves but were in especially poor condition, they were simply dusted and returned unopened—they are listed as “Unable to Identify”. — [ 1 ] — TThhee LLiiibbrrraarrryy oofff ttthhee JJooaacchhiiimm ddeeBBrrruumm HHoouussee,,, LLiiikkiiieepp AAtttoollllll,,, MMaarrrsshhaallllll IIIsslllaannddss Pangelinan reported there were approximately 1,500 books stored on shelves in the house in 1977.2 In 1999, only 736 books that could be separated and catalogued individually were found in the bookcases. After books had been catalogued, cleaned and dusted, the shelves were also cleaned before the books were returned. NNootteess ttoo tthhee CChhaapptteerr 1 O'Neill, Jon G. (2000). Management of German Colonial Heritage in the Pacific. Honours dissertation, Charles Sturt University - Murray, Albury, NSW. Australia 2 Pangelinan,