In 1947 the United States Navy created the Hopkins Commission to review and make recommendations about the naval governments of Guam and American Samoa. There was much public criticism of the Navy’s rule over these island territories at the time. Navy officials hoped the resulting report would allay these concerns.
The Hopkins Report Read Post »
Public beaches, parks and other open spaces are such a major part of people’s lives on Guåhan, it may feel as if access to them has always existed. On these community lands, people celebrate birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and family get-togethers; people walk their dogs; search for shells, fish, swim, and snorkel; we spend hours hanging out with friends or admiring seascapes.
History of Guam’s Parks and Public Spaces Read Post »
Current Court system of Guam set up in 1950. All nations operate under a system of laws that generally direct how people live, work, do business, recreate, worship or engage in any other kinds of social interactions. Laws necessarily help societies and governments maintain order. Laws, however, need courts in order to help interpret and apply laws, particularly when individual parties, government units, or businesses are in conflict or dispute. Courts help resolve these disputes. They also uphold limitations to government and protect citizens from abuse. They protect rights, including those of individuals who cannot protect themselves.
History of the Guam Courts Read Post »
Focused on community development. Fifteen VISTA volunteers came to Guam 12 November 1967 on Pan American Airlines with the general goal of assisting with community development. The volunteers were recruited from across the United States to serve a one year contract. They were sponsored by the Guam Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO). Twelve of them had prior VISTA experience. In all, there were five men and 10 women, including three married couples, with ages ranging from 19 to 61.
VISTA Program in Guam Read Post »
Annotated Bibliography. World War II in the Marianas (1941-1945) played a significant role in shaping the islands today. Many papers, articles and books have been written about this era of Marianas history. The following is a list of World War II books that include information about the war in the Mariana Islands, compiled by historian Dave Lotz, as of 2021.
WWII in the Marianas Books Read Post »
In the 1960s (1964 to be exact), in our small village of Toto, Christmas was a joyous time. As a youngster then, I wasn’t aware that it had only been 20 years since the war ended and people’s lives and homes were just beginning to rebuild from the devastation of the bombardment by the US forces in reclaiming the island from the Japanese and two devastating typhoons – Typhoon Lola in 1959 and Typhoon Karen in 1962.
A Toto Christmas, Circa 1964 Read Post »
I’ve grown up with a tremendous fascination for talk story. I’m going to share a bit of folklore in the hope that the young ones will initiate discussions at home especially because stay-at-home situations, as we have throughout this pandemic, foster talking and sharing.
The Guam Preservation Trust offers Ekungok i Estoriå-ta (Listen to Our Stories), an online resource for teaching about Guam’s historic sites. These 10 treasured stories of significant historic sites on Guam are told in CHamoru, both in narrative and song, as the goal of this project is to provide opportunities for teachers to use a variety of teaching methods for place-based learning.
Lesson Plan: Ekungok i Estoriå-ta (Listen to our Stories) Read Post »
Last appointed military governor of Guam. Governor Charles A. Pownall (1887-1975) served as naval Governor of Guam from 30 May 1946 to 27 September 1949. In the aftermath of World War II and the Japanese Occupation, he was the first postwar US governor and also the island’s last appointed naval governor.
Governor Charles Alan Pownall Read Post »
Paul Carano (1919-2020) was a teacher, researcher and one of the founders of the University of Guam’s Micronesian Area Research Center. Carano was the son of John “J.P.” and Mary (Ross) Carano, pioneer residents of Krebs, Tobucksy County, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory. At an early age, he moved to Hanford, California. He was a graduate of Stanford University and pursued other studies at California’s College of the Sequoias at Visalia California State University at Fresno and the University of New Hampshire at Durham.
