American Samoa Colonial Records

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American Samoa

Colonial Records

European Colonization (18th century- 20th century)

European contact with the Samoan Islands began in the 18th century with Dutch and French explorers. In the 1830s British missionaries from the Cook Islands and Tahiti came to the Samoan Islands. During the 19th century, the islands became frequent stopping places for French, British, German, and United States ships. In 1899, during the Tripartite Convention, the islands were partitioned and divided between Germany and the United States.

Record collection	Years covered	Record type	Language	Who is in the records
American Samoa, Vital Records, 1850-1930 at FamilySearch — index & images	1850-1930	Birth, marriage, and death	English and Samoan	Samoans
Samoa Baptisms, 1863-1940 at FamilySearch — index	1863-1940	Baptisms	English and Samoan	Samoans

United States Territory (1900-present)

Originally called Naval Station Tutuila after its annexation to the United States, the islands were renamed American Samoa in 1911. American Samoa is a territory of the United States.

Record collection	Years covered	Record type	Language	Who is in the records
American Samoa, Census Records, 1900-1945 at FamilySearch — index	1900-1945	Census	English	American Samoans
American Samoa, Passenger Lists and Travel Documents, 1918-1965 at FamilySearch — index & images	1918-1965	Passenger lists, passports and travel permits, letters of identity, affidavits of birth, visas and visa requests, and naturalization petitions	English	American Samoans
American Samoa, Vital Records, 1850-1930 at FamilySearch — index & images	1850-1930	Birth, marriage, and death	English and Samoan	American Samoans
Samoa Baptisms, 1863-1940 at FamilySearch — index	1863-1940	Baptisms	English and Samoan	American Samoans
American Samoa, Delayed Birth Registrations, 1962-1972 at FamilySearch — index	1962-1972	Births	English and Samoan	American Samoans
American Samoa, Passports, 1919-1924 at FamilySearch — index	1919-1924	Passports	English and Samoan	American Samoans
U.S. Census Records — links to all major databases	1920-1940	Census	English	American Samoans
Probate records, 1902-1961 at FamilySearch - images	1902-1961	Probate records	English	Property-owning American Samoans
War damage claims, 1946-1953 at FamilySearch — images	1946-1953	Land records	English	Property-owning American Samoans whose property was damaged from WWII