The Australian Library Journal

Curating books on remote islands: the fate of the de Brum Library on Likiep Atoll, Marshall Islands

Dirk HR Spennemann and Jon O'Neill

Manuscript received April 2004

This is a refereed article

Introduction

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) extends over about 1 950 000 km² of the Pacific Ocean, but has only 171 km² of land. It comprises twenty-nine coral atolls and five islands that are arranged geographically in two chains trending north-west to north-east in an area between 4°-19° North latitude and 160°-175° East longitude. Likiep Atoll forms part of the eastern-most chain (Ratak or Sunrise) and is located at 10° North, 169° East, about 450 kilometres northwest of Majuro, the capital of the RMI. With a lagoon area of 425 km², it includes sixty-five islands totalling only ten km² of land. According to the 1988 census the total population was 482 resulting in a population density of 48 per km² (Office of Planning and Statistics, 1989).

Likiep Island is at the south-eastern most point of Likiep Atoll. Although far enough north to escape most of the typhoons that develop in the northern Pacific, Likiep has endured its share of these devastating storms. The highest point in the Marshall Islands (12 metres) occurs on Likiep and is a direct result of the power of a typhoon as coral rubble was torn from the reef platform, combined with coral aggregate from the island and piled into a wall by storm driven waves.

At its widest point Likiep Island is less than 200 metres from ocean to lagoon. In most places it is less than fifty metres. Trade winds are an almost constant presence as they gently blow across the island bringing moisture, salt laden air, and a perception of coolness into every house and building. Average temperature is about 28 degrees Celsius with a variation between summer and winter of only two or three degrees. Coral sands, swaying coconut palms, tall spreading breadfruit trees, translucent water and sun combine to present a stereotypical picture of a quintessential tropical coral island. Such descriptions sound ideal to many and perhaps they are, but they are also ideal conditions for most elements of decay.

It is true that decay is inevitable, but in the warm, moist, tropical conditions of Likiep it is accelerated markedly. Micro fauna and flora are abundant and prolific in these conditions and are critical to the environment on coral atolls such as Likiep which are the most marginal human habitats on earth. Their impact on cultural heritage material is just as marked and they provide continuing and very considerable difficulties for preservation management.

The Joachim de Brum House and Collection

The great significance of Likiep Atoll results directly from its unique history and the life of its most celebrated son, Joachim de Brum. The first site in Micronesia to have been included on the Historic Site Register of the United States is on Likiep Island. Joachim de Brum's house and associated buildings form its centrepiece: it 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 books, phonograph rolls and glass plate negatives, it provides a unique insight into both the living conditions of affluent planters during the late 19^th and early 20^th century, as well as into the mind of an exceptional Marshallese man, Joachim de Brum.

Joachim was born on Jaluit Atoll on 22 February 1860(?) the eldest son of the Portuguese whaler and trader José Anton de Brum and Likemeto, a relative of Jortoka, the supreme chief (Iroij laplap) over much of the Ratak chain. His success as a self-taught businessman, builder, artist, engineer, shipbuilder, and amateur scientist is remarkable, especially considering the remoteness of his island home. It is astounding to consider that he also learned sufficient medical skills to provide basic medical services and established clinics at his own expense on Likiep and nearby islands. The emerging science of photography fascinated him as both engineer and scientist. He became an artist of remarkable ability and vision, producing a spectacular portfolio that is highly significant from artistic, medical, cultural and historical viewpoints. A prolific builder, many of the houses he designed and constructed between 1890 and 1920 are still used by descendants of those for whom they were originally built. Most remain substantially unchanged. Joachim died on 10 January 1937, aged 77, leaving his library and tools to his family. He stated in his will that all his tools and books should be 'kept as a memorial' of him and that while both could be loaned out, they could 'not be sold' (Spennemann et al 2003).

De Brum commenced his collection around 1890 by acquiring all books that could be obtained from local traders and individuals working for the German colonial administration or the German trading companies operating in Micronesia. Later he struck up a business relationship (that quickly grew into a close friendship) with Frank H Phillips of Sydney, who supplied him with books. In addition, Joachim de Brum seems to have ordered large numbers of newspapers and magazines, and also obtained book catalogues from book dealers as well as directly from publishers. In its heyday, his library comprised over 1500 volumes (Spennemann and O'Neill in press).

Significance

In a coastal tropical environment such as Micronesia organic material does not usually survive. Climatic events, such as typhoons, as well as biological agents such as termites and fungi destroy what human disinterest and neglect does not achieve earlier. Moreover, much of Micronesia was ravaged by the fighting and bombing during World War II, resulting in wide-spread destruction and as a result heritage properties dating from that period are rare. Even more rare are properties that have retained much of their original appearance and furnishings. Large private libraries were rare throughout Micronesia. This library is culturally significant because:

1. It forms an integral part of the de Brum House, a unique entity comprising the building itself, outbuildings and curtilage, as well the material culture associated with the property, namely the furniture, the glass plate negatives, the phonograph records and recordings and, not least the library.
2. It is associated with Joachim de Brum, a largely self-educated true 'renaissance man' who through his interests and activities was the 'pater familas' for Likiep Atoll and as such shaped the fate of Likiep Atoll and its inhabitants during part of the German and the critical early part of the Japanese administration period.
3. It has been compiled by an individual of mixed Portuguese and Marshallese parentage, thus bridging indigenous Marshallese and colonial European cultural traditions against a background of German administrative and business concepts, and the spiritual influences of American Protestantism via the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
4. It is the only surviving privately collected colonial period library in Micronesia and as such illustrative of the reading habits of colonial planters in Micronesia: it has informative value for the entire Pacific.
5. It spans the period from the 1890s to the 1930s and in its composition (through the imprint dates) is reflective of the political and trading history of the region.

The evolution and eventual decay of Joachim de Brum's library underwent significant changes in probably five clearly defined phases (Spennemann et al 2003).

Phase one

This first development period (from 1890 to about 1900) seems to have continued for several years and involved a comparatively slow and perhaps haphazard expansion of the library as his business and personal networks across the Pacific were established. His voracious appetite for information and knowledge developed along with a catholic taste in literature that was entirely characteristic. It may be that his book purchases were not as organised as they later became.

Phase two

This lasted until Joachim's death in 1937. Involving consolidation and continuing expansion both in number of books and variety of subjects, it is closely associated with his friendship with Frank Phillips. Throughout his life, Joachim continued to use and augment his library with whatever material aroused his interest. Phillips organised regular shipments to Likiep of selections of books that he obtained from several sources. Joachim regarded this personal relationship as very important and held Frank Phillips in high regard. So much so, in fact, that he specifically requested in his will that Phillips be a guide and mentor for his children. De Brum accessed his library regularly and extensively before his death and other people on Likiep, particularly the immediate family, also seem to have used it as a general library. Children do not appear to have been excluded and parts of the library (including religious books, indoor and outdoor recreation, and games books) are clearly intended for their use or by those responsible for them. His son Leonard recalled that he and his other brothers and sisters were responsible for dusting and cleaning every book in the library as well as each bookcase at least once every year, and certainly every Christmas. The Christmas cleaning of the bookcases continued for some years after his death, but gradually became less important and was performed less frequently. The present condition of the books and bookcases suggests it is no longer done at all.

Phase three

The third period followed Joachim's death in 1937 through to 1947, which was another pivotal year in the history of the site. In 1947 the family secured the house, arranged for it to be protected by local caretakers, and moved away. During these ten years, the library gradually became less and less a feature of life in the de Brum household. Joachim was held in the deepest of respect and everything associated with him was treated accordingly. But nobody used the library as intensively as he did and there was probably little further acquisition of books. Nevertheless, the house remained in use by members of the family as their home and the library and other elements of the house and curtilage were better maintained than later.

Phase four

The fourth period continued from 1947 until the late 1970s. Its major feature is continued decay through disuse. Nobody lived in the house regularly during this period although Leonard would usually stay there whenever he visited Likiep. Once family members vacated the house and moved to other islands or other houses on Likiep, decay and deterioration were inevitable. Reports from both the 1977 (Jelks and Jelks 1977) and 1984 (Roberts 1984) preservation and maintenance projects describe the decay in some detail. Naturally, the library and all the books, documents and photographs associated with it decayed along with everything else.

Phase five

Extending from the late 1970s to today, this final period has seen several notable events that have impacted on the library. Active steps have been taken to preserve the house and curtilage as a registered historic site and two major preservation projects have been undertaken. The first was in 1977 under the supervision of Edward B Jelks from the University of Illinois (Jelks & Jelks 1977). The second was in 1984 when, under the supervision of Gerald R Knight, further preservation and maintenance of the site was completed with Noel Bigler as project manager (Roberts 1984). In September 1982, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands chartered the Joachim de Brum Memorial Trust Corporation as a not-for-profit organisation (Roberts 1984). Formed to preserve this highly significant site, it continues today under the chairmanship of Leonard de Brum, Joachim's youngest son. In 2001 an Australian aid funded project began to digitise the glass plate negatives (Rosof et al 2001).

Protective mechanisms

The house and its contents were nominated for inclusion on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1976 (Curtis 1986) which in theory ought to have ensured preservation. Yet, given that the Marshall Islands are an independent nation affiliated with the United States of America through a Compact of Free Association (United States of America 1989; 2003), management decisions on the fate of colonial period heritage places are subordinate to political decisions (O'Neill & Spennemann 2001; 2002). Furthermore, as Likiep Atoll is the only atoll on the Marshalls in private ownership (albeit by a very extended family) and as the de Brum House is in private hands, managed nominally by the Joachim de Brum Memorial Trust Corporation, local political disagreements are being played out to the detriment of funding and interventional management decisions. The political constraints to management are impeding desperately needed action in the face of adverse environmental conditions.

Status of the library

Completeness

At the time of the first conservation assessment in 1977 it was estimated that there were some 1500 books (Pangelinan 1978). The 1999 documentation found only 726 volumes (48.2 per cent of the 1977 total), with another 103 volumes located in the Alele Archives, identified from correspondence or listed in Jelks & Jelks 1977 report. While it can be assumed that the 1977 estimate would have been rough, it is unlikely that it would have been wildly incorrect. Clearly, new shelving installed in 1983 as part of that conservation management exercise was made to suit the then available volume of books. Overall, an extrapolated loss of some 450 to 600 books, or about one third of the library, occurred between 1977 and 1983. (Spennemann et al 2003).

We can only guess where these books would have gone. Some may well have been removed to the Alele Museum on Majuro where they may have ended up in the Pacific Studies room without specific notation as to their provenance. Others may have been dispersed on Likiep, over time, while others may well have been removed by unauthorised visitors. At least one instance of theft by visiting yacht people is on record, which relates to an item whose absence was readily noted. It is very unlikely that the theft of individual books would have been noted: further, these are small, piecemeal losses.

Preservation

Environmental conditions on Pacific Islands are not conducive to the survival of organic materials and low-lying island locales such as Likiep are particularly prone to a range of destructive processes. Determining the possible combinations of factors involved in any decay process is an essential step in planning effective management. Several were seen to be active during the survey on Likiep (table 2). Those most immediately relevant to books stored in the bookcases in Joachim de Brum's house and others found in a neighbouring house were biological in nature and included moulds and fungi, and insects. Likiep is further north of the main track of tropical cyclones than are other atolls, and has consequently not suffered as much damage from tropical cyclones as have Majuro and Jaluit for example (Spennemann 1996). Nevertheless it is not immune from such events (Spennemann & Marschner 1995), which pose a major hazard by virtue of their high impact and widespread destruction.

However, it must be acknowledged that anthropological factors have also contributed. This may be most clearly seen through neglect of basic maintenance procedures, which, if properly implemented, could have reduced the impact of the biological factors, and lack of use. Environmental conditions on Likiep were essentially the same before Joachim de Brum died as they are now. The one major difference is the factor of management - while he remained alive his library was well used and books and bookcases were regularly cleaned, aired and dusted. The house itself was aired and well maintained. A leaking roof would not have been tolerated for long when the house was occupied, but it leaks now. Panels of roofing material are missing and galvanised iron roof capping has corroded so badly that it now offers little protection. Water stains are evident in the parlour, and rafters were twice seen to be wet following typically brief but heavy squalls of rain.

There are two large windows in the northern wall of the northern bedroom and southern wall of the southern bedroom. When they and the large doors were opened, air would circulate freely in each room and throughout the house. However, when a valuable family heirloom was stolen by visiting yacht people, the family decided to seal the house more securely, lock all doors and lock and board up the windows. Thus the three doors and two windows in both bedrooms, the large double doors opening from the parlour to the veranda, and the large vents to the gable roof are all tightly sealed. The flow of air within the house has been reduced to an absolute minimum.

Following work undertaken during the restoration program in 1984, books were cleaned, brushed, and transferred to six new bookcases purpose built of mahogany for storage of the collection. These bookcases are well built and have close-fitting and lockable glass doors, but when closed and locked they further restrict airflow within the bookcase. Elements of the library that have been stored in locked bookcases in the southern bedroom of his house on Likiep were inventoried during the 1999 survey. A musty smell characteristic of mould was very noticeable when the locked bookcases were opened. A thick layer of dust and termite frass covered shelves and books, and silverfish frequently hid as books were removed for recording. Damage was extensive throughout the library.

Pages and covers of many books were very brittle, accretion of pages was common, even between whole books. Some books were in such poor condition that they were not removed from the bookcase shelves for identification because it was feared that without appropriate treatment they could be damaged further before they could be properly cared for. In hindsight that was possibly the wrong decision to make. In total the contents of five shelves, containing approximately eighty books, could not be identified. The library's condition continues to deteriorate as it suffers the natural ravages of decay in largely unprotected tropical conditions. The main physical causes of this deterioration are insect damage and moisture, both of which are closely linked to lack of regular use. It is possible that the books were too tightly packed in the shelves which has compounded the effect of moisture ingress.

Likiep Atoll consists of sand cays with an average elevation of less than 1.5 metres above high water level. High temperatures, high humidity, and high levels of atmospheric salt are a normal part of life and are not conducive to long-term preservation of books and fragile documentary material. Minute salt crystals cover everything to a greater or lesser extent and available moisture is absorbed and retained, creating damp conditions for longer periods of time. In this instance, naturally occurring high temperatures and humidity combine with limited circulation to result in higher humidity over a longer period - ideal conditions for insects to breed, and moulds and fungi to propagate. The fact that books have been tightly packed into the shelves has compounded the effects of moisture ingress. Some lower quality paper absorbs moisture more readily than other paper and consequently may suffer damage from damp, mould and mildew more easily. Combine this environment with a lack of maintenance and physical care, and the consequence is that insects and moulds are again present despite extensive cleaning and treatment during the preservation project in 1984. Many books are now so badly damaged as to be almost unidentifiable.

Implications

An abundance of authoritative material on preventing decay of books, other printed material, and other paper-based records such as hand-written diaries, business ledgers, personal correspondence is available. Much of it concentrates on the particular problems associated with historic preservation in tropical climates (cf. Teygeler et al 2001). Knowing how to preserve such fragile historical material is one thing, having the desire and the resources to do so is another. An issue of paramount importance to heritage preservation generally is that involving knowledge of, interest in, and ownership of, historic property. Government interest in the library as part of Marshallese heritage is high. Ownership is clearly recognised and accepted. Nevertheless, historically and culturally important books were found stacked in very poor environmental conditions in a disused and leaking house because they were not recognised by local villagers as having any relevance to the Capelle/de Brum heritage which is so much a part of their history. When their historic importance was recognised, immediate steps were taken to protect them temporarily until more permanent and effective archival care could be arranged. Despite two expensive conservation programs (in 1977 and 1983) the loss to the historic fabric of the buildings and loss to the inventory continues (O'Neill & Spennemann 2000). A recent preservation program focused on the glass plate negative collection (Rosof et al 2001), to the exclusion of material culture contained in the building and no consideration whatsoever being given to the library.

What does the future hold for this once extensive library? Such an eclectic collection of books, journals, magazines, business ledgers and other personal documents has enormous historical and cultural significance. The books are decayed to such a degree that much is well and truly beyond salvage. For some of the borderline material that might be saved one has to ask whether they are indeed worth saving given the expenditure involved: but it is their provenance that is of interest here. Many of the books in the collection can be easily and cheaply obtained on the second-hand book market and thus are neither unique nor rare items. Following this line of thought, the knowledge of the contents of the library as such and the combination of books kept by de Brum is of greater significance than the individual books themselves. There is an urgent need to identify the books that were seen in 1999 as so far decayed that their titles and editions could not be ascertained. While eventually the physical books may be gone, at least their identity needs to be recorded. This is, in essence, the end game for the major privately held library in Micronesia. A sad ending. Yet we should be grateful that it survived long enough for much of its content to be recorded.

References

Curtis, Carol (1986) US National Park Service National register of Historic Places Nomination Form.

Jelks, E B, & J C Jelks, (1978). Stabilisation and inventory, 1977: the Joachim de Brum House, Likiep, Marshall Islands.

Look, David W. & Dirk H R Spennemann (1996) 'In a tropical marine climate: conservation management of historic metals.' APT Bulletin vol 27 nº 1-2, pp60-68

McGrath (1973) 'The Joachim de Brum Papers.' Journal of Pacific Affairs pp181-185.

O'Neill, Jon G & Spennemann, Dirk H R (2001) The management of German colonial heritage in post-colonial Micronesia. Cultural Resources Management vol 24 nº 1, pp46-47.

O'Neill, Jon G & Spennemann, Dirk. H R (2000) Conservation Assessment of the Joachim de Brum House. Likiep Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. Johnstone Centre Report nº 151. Albury, NSW: The Johnstone Centre, Charles Sturt University.

O'Neill, Jon G & Spennemann, Dirk H R (in press) The Joachim de Brum House, Likiep Atoll, Marshall Islands - an outstanding example of Micronesian plantation architecture. (The Micronesian Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences submitted for publication).

Office of Planning and Statistics (1989). Census of population and housing 1988: final report. Majuro Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands: Office of Planning and Statistics, Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Pangelinan, JB (1978). Participation of Jesus Pangelinan to the stabilization project of Joachim de Brum House of Likiep Atoll, Marshalls District, first acquisition and development project in the Trust Territory. Report to Office of the High Commissioner, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Saipan (Serial:HP-952; File:178.67.36).

Roberts, Michael (1984) Completion Report for Rehabilitation of the De Brum House, Likiep Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Rosoff, Sue, Lindborg, Cristina and Lindborg, Eric (2001) The Joachim de Brum Photograph Project; Digital Restoration and Archiving in Micronesia. International Cultural Heritage Informatics Meeting: Cultural Heritage and Technologies in the Third Millennium. 3-7 September 2001. Archives and Museum Informatics. Plitechnico di Milano

Spennemann, Dirk H R (1996) Dreading the next wave: non-traditional settlement patterns and typhoon threats on contemporary Majuro, Marshall Islands. Environmental Management vol 20 nº 3, pp337-348.

Spennemann, Dirk H R (in press) Libraries in German Micronesia 1885-1914. Library History (submitted for publication).

Spennemann, Dirk H R and David W Look (1994) Impact of tropical vegetation on historical cultural resources: a photographic case study from the Marshall Islands. (The Johnstone Centre for Parks, Recreation and Heritage Report nº 18) The Johnstone Centre for Parks, Recreation and Heritage, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW 1994.

Spennemann, Dirk H R and Ian G Marschner (1995) 'Association between ENSO and typhoons in the Marshall Islands.' Disasters vol 19 nº 3, pp194-197.

Spennemann, Dirk H R and Jon G O'Neill, (in press) 'A library in paradise: the de Brum Library on Likiep (Micronesia).' Libraries and Culture.

Spennemann, Dirk H R, Jon G O'Neill and Joan O'Neill, (2003) A rapid assessment of the library of the Joachim de Brum House, Likiep Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. (Johnstone Centre Report nº 196). Albury, NSW: The Johnstone Centre, Charles Sturt University.

Teygeler, René, et al., (2001) Preservation of archives in tropical climates: an annotated bibliography. Paris: International Council on Archives. Paris: International Council on Archives

U S National Park Service (1984). Likiep Village Historic Reserve. National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form.

United States of America (1986) Compact of Free Association between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, signed 14 January 1986.

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Biographical information

Dirk HR Spennemann can be reached at the Johnstone Centre and School of Environmental and Information Sciences, Charles Sturt University, PO Box 789, Albury 2640, dspennemann@csu.edu.au

Jon O'Neill has an Applied Science Degree in Parks, Recreation and Heritage with First Class Honours. He has conducted research in several Micronesian political entities including Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. He is a doctoral student at Charles Sturt University where he is presently researching heritage issues in Micronesia. Particular attention is being given to: changes in preservation management that may have occurred following self-government, evolving Micronesian perceptions of heritage values and the extent to which indigenous decision-makers have been empowered.

Appendix:

Table 1 Chronology of de Brum house Likiep

Table 2. Observed decay factors on Likiep Atoll