Micronesian Histories: An Analytical Bibliography And Guide To Interpretations

Traditionally, the history of Micronesia has been dominated by outside European interpretations and standards. More recently, both European and indigenous historians have begun to examine historical interpretations from the perspectives, values, and actions of Micronesians themselves, thereby rendering contextually richer and more realistic interpretations of the past. A core title for individuals interested in Pacific history and historiography, this bibliography provides a critical summary and analysis of the scholarship on Micronesian history, as it has been constructed through both standardized European approaches and the more recent integration of indigenous viewpoints.

Beginning with introductions which review the issues of Micronesian historiography and Pacific historiography in general, this book challenges current thinking and perceptions of bibliography as it relates to the Pacific. As suggested by the plural histories in the title, the approaches to Pacific history are multifaceted. Focusing on scholarly works that are intentionally historical in nature, the authors provide readers with an opportunity to explore the specifics of Micronesian histories as they have evolved through four separate European periods of governance.

NICHOLAS J. GOETZFRIDT is Professor of Library Science and Acting Dean at the University of Guam. His most recent books include Indigenous Literature of Oceania: A Survey of Criticism and Interpretation (Greenwood, 1995) and Indigenous Navigation and Voyaging in the Pacific (Greenwood, 1992).

KAREN M. PEACOCK is Head of Special Collections and Curator of the Pacific Collection at the University of Hawaii Library at Manoa. She is editor of the Resources Section of The Contemporary Pacific: A Journal of Island Affairs.