Jean P. Haydon Museum receives donations for artifacts and history collection

By Teri Hunkin news.newsroom@samoatelco.com — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:52:39 GMT

In a small ceremony held this past Wednesday at the Jean P. Haydon Museum in Fagatogo, the museum’s Executive Director Leala Elisara Pili was given two separate donations for the museum’s collection of Samoan artifacts and history.

The first donation was presented by long-time resident businessman and photographer John Newton, who donated to the museum a photo which he took during the territory’s 2006 Flag Day celebrations.

Covering the traditional fautasi race, Newton took a photo of the Manu’a fautasi, the “Matasaua” which he believed captured the strength and struggle of the longboat crew better than any photo he had ever taken — and he has lived in American Samoa for 40 years. He had the photo— a long piece at 40 inches wide —professionally printed on “archival quality” canvas and professionally framed before making the donation.

Asked why he chose to donate the painting, Newton stated: “I think we need to give our ‘National Treasure’, the fautasi, more international exposure. I would love to see the museum establish a fautasi section and collect more pictures, perhaps even better than this one. That way, visitors to our island can see the fautasi and spread the word about this incredible sporting event.”

The second donation came in the form of mail received by museum curators from one Shelley Azbell Garvey of Solvang, Calif., who sent historical artifacts for the museum collection in the form of a beautiful tapa cloth and old photographs circa 1940.

The tapa, with an inscription on the back that it was made in 1927, came enclosed with a letter explaining that her father had purchased the tapa in 1940, and it was a “cherished possession” which he kept until his death. She said, “Now that my father has passed away, I thought it would be nice to return the art work to Pago Pago.”

Also enclosed were five photographs taken by her father, along with permission to say they were taken in July, 1940 by USS Nautilus submariner Bill Azbell.

The donations can be seen along with other historical artifacts daily at the Fagatogo museum.

Director Leala Pili said she was very grateful to those who take time to donate to the museum collection, noting that many of the museum pieces which are now in their collection came from generous families and individuals, such as Newton and Garvey, who were willing to part with their cherished possessions for everyone in the territory to enjoy.

Jean P. Haydon Museum Blog

Jean P. Haydon Museum receives donations for artifacts and history collection