KOROR, Palau — Palau has secured the rights to more than 300 historic photographs documenting traditional life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s cultural preservation efforts. The official transfer of the images from Germany’s Grassi Museum was announced at a press conference on March 26, 2025, at the One Stop Shop in Koror, Palau.
The Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism & Development, Minister Ngirai Tmetuchl led the official handover ceremony, bringing together officials from the Bureau of Cultural and Historic Preservation (BCHP), local historians, German partners in Palau, and visiting representatives from the Grassi Museum in Leipzig under the Dresden State Art Collections.
The photographs, many captured during the 1901 Hamburg South Seas Expedition, document traditional life in Palau during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The digital files were officially transferred to Palau under a signed agreement between the State Ethnographic Collections of Saxony (SES) and BCHP.
Dr. Sylvia Karges and Dr. Birgit Scheps-Bretschneider signed the agreement on behalf of SES, while BCHP Director Kiblas Soaladaob and Palau National Registrar McMichael Mutok Jr. signed for Palau.
“These historical pictures are the rightful heritage of Palau,” said Director Soaladaob. “Though housed in the Grassi Museum, Palau holds the copyrights, and anyone wishing to use them must seek permission from Palauan authorities.”
The agreement grants Palau the right to use the images for scientific, educational, and cultural purposes and aligns with Palau’s National Code (Title 19) on the preservation of historical and cultural materials accessible to the Public.
The collaboration between Palau and Germany extends beyond this transfer, with ongoing projects that include translating early ethnographic texts, conducting archaeological research, and hosting cultural preservation workshops for youth. While discussions on the physical repatriation of artifacts are still ongoing, both sides emphasized the importance of digital access in making these historical materials available to the public.
As part of this initiative, a public slideshow of the photographs will be held at the New One Stop Shop Building near the first OEK building in Koror, giving the community a chance to explore Palau’s visual history. Additional details will be announced soon.
The event concluded with commitments to further cultural preservation efforts and continued cooperation between Palau and Germany in safeguarding shared heritage.