Scope and Contents

A view showing the three wrecked ships in Apia harbour after the 1889 hurricane. The loss of these ships highlights the chaos of the storm; in the overcrowded harbour ships battered each other uncontrollably. 43 men died from the ‘Vandalia’, only one from ‘Trenton’.

Scope and Contents

83 x 55 mm. An amateur snapshot showing the home of Robert Louis Stevenson. The name in Samoan means ‘place of five streams’, although in fact there were only four.

Scope and Contents

195 x 135 mm. The building on the left, which Robert Louis Stevenson moved into in 1890, was the original Vailima. The building at the right, which eventually became larger than the first house, was added in 1893. The enclosed portion of the upstairs verandah was his workshop and library.

Scope and Contents

A studio portrait of Vau in elaborately decorated clothes. Vau was the daughter of Chief Seumanutafa, a great friend of Robert Louis Stevenson. Print number 45.

Scope and Contents From the Fonds: A collection of glass lantern slides, 82 x 82 mm, mostly of Samoa, taken by John Snowden Smithson. Smithson visited Samoa on holiday and presumably the remaining slides (5 of them unidentified, 13 of Yosemite National Park and 10 of Ceylon), together with a map, date from the same period. None of the slides are captioned, but the first 91 slides have numbers on their left hand corners, running from 20/10 to 30/9, with a few gaps, and presumably represent the sequence in which the...

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '28/12' next to '21. View from road to Vailima'.

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '30/2' next to '80. From main street in Apia'.

Scope and Contents

A view looking along the beach at Apia showing the ferocious surf, with merchants’ premises in the background. ‘W. Blacklock’, owner of a hotel in Pago Pago, can be read on the roof of a store near the shore. Print number 21.

Scope and Contents

A coloured lantern slide showing the Apia waterfront. The steep hill behind the town is Mount Vaea, on which Robert Louis Stevenson is buried; his grave lies at the summit directly above the white building at the furthest left of the picture. A duplicate in black and white, reversed, is at 40A. Print number 40.

Scope and Contents

A view showing the Apia waterfront. The steep hill behind the town is Mount Vaea, on which Robert Louis Stevenson is buried; his grave lies at the summit directly above the white building at the furthest left of the picture. A duplicate of Y309993A(LS)/2, reversed and in black and white, Print number 22.

Scope and Contents From the Fonds: A collection of glass lantern slides, 82 x 82 mm, mostly of Samoa, taken by John Snowden Smithson. Smithson visited Samoa on holiday and presumably the remaining slides (5 of them unidentified, 13 of Yosemite National Park and 10 of Ceylon), together with a map, date from the same period. None of the slides are captioned, but the first 91 slides have numbers on their left hand corners, running from 20/10 to 30/9, with a few gaps, and presumably represent the sequence in which the...

Scope and Contents From the Fonds: A collection of glass lantern slides, 82 x 82 mm, mostly of Samoa, taken by John Snowden Smithson. Smithson visited Samoa on holiday and presumably the remaining slides (5 of them unidentified, 13 of Yosemite National Park and 10 of Ceylon), together with a map, date from the same period. None of the slides are captioned, but the first 91 slides have numbers on their left hand corners, running from 20/10 to 30/9, with a few gaps, and presumably represent the sequence in which the...

Scope and Contents From the Fonds: A collection of glass lantern slides, 82 x 82 mm, mostly of Samoa, taken by John Snowden Smithson. Smithson visited Samoa on holiday and presumably the remaining slides (5 of them unidentified, 13 of Yosemite National Park and 10 of Ceylon), together with a map, date from the same period. None of the slides are captioned, but the first 91 slides have numbers on their left hand corners, running from 20/10 to 30/9, with a few gaps, and presumably represent the sequence in which the...

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '25/5' next to the following notes: '17. View of Apia from Rosabel - Tivoli hotel - tower, church no windows singing melodious. Vaea mountain. R.L.S. buried at top [Robert Louis Stevenson's tomb is situated on the summit of Mt. Vaea]'.

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '22/6' next to the following notes: '15. Apia early morning - cocoa and palms coming down to the water's edge behind which long line of mountains covered with vegetation - misty - Upolu of which Apia is the capital is an island of about 45 miles x 14 and contains 580 square miles - the town consists of one long road running down the beach containing various stores and also government offices, no native houses are on the street but are to be found close behind'.

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '24/6' next to the following notes: '16. Apia can hardly be called a harbour for when the wind blows in a certain direction it is more dangerous to be inside the reef than outside - In March 1889 it was visited by a fearful hurricane in which 3 American and 3 German men of war were wrecked and about 150 lives lost, the British boat Calliope being the onlt [sic] that escaped - To this day the hulk of the German Adler lies on the shore - '.

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '26/4' next to '77. View in Savaii extinct volcanoe'.

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '26/6' next to '78. View in Savaii extinct volcanoe'.

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '29/11' next to '18. From Balcony of Hotel landing stage, no pier or wharf for steamers as water is so shallow'.

Scope and Contents

Smithson has pencilled '28/6' next to the following notes: '24. group of natives P in Savaii - flowers'.

Scope and Contents

A view looking along the jetty towards the timber-frame hotel which stands at the water’s edge. With the American flag flying from the roof. Print number 52.

Scope and Contents

196 x 143 mm. A view looking across the harbour at Apia, with Samoan craft in the foreground, and three unidentified men-of-war at anchor beyond. Probably taken during the 1899 crisis.

Scope and Contents

133 x 109 mm. A view showing a group of Samoans standing at the top of a waterfall.

Scope and Contents

133 x 109 mm. A view showing a group of Samoans standing at the top of a waterfall.

Scope and Contents

140 x 101 mm. A view of the same waterfall seen in Y309B/37-39 but with a mixed party of Samoans and Europeans standing on the rock above the falls. Wilfred Powell can be identified at the centre of the group.