Guide to the PJ and Laulua Epling collection of Social Science Farm materials (University of California, Irvine) AS.200

Finding aid prepared by Elvia Arroyo-Ramirez and Sarah Glover, 2019.

Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries

(cc) 2019

The UCI Libraries

P.O. Box 19557

University of California, Irvine

Irvine 92623-9557

spcoll@uci.edu

URL: http://special.lib.uci.edu

Contributing Institution: Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries

Title: PJ and Laulua Epling collection of Social Science Farm materials (University of California, Irvine)

Creator: Epling, PJ

Identifier/Call Number: AS.200

Physical Description: 0.25 Linear Feet (1 half document box)

Date (inclusive): 1966-1968

Abstract: The collection contains letters, photographs, financial records, press clippings, and a press release produced in 1966-1968 pertaining to the creation of the Samoan canoe on display at UC Irvine's Social Sciences Farm (known colloquially as "The Farm") and daughter of a Samoan high chief and former Peace corps language instructor, Sarona Sotoa's class instruction at UCI. Includes correspondence written in Samoan between PJ and Laulua Epling to Taloolema'agao Uliulileava Olago (Uli Uli Olago), who built the canoe, and Lipine Fualau.

Language of Material: English .

Access

The collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Copyrights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or to publish, please contact the University Archivist.

Preferred Citation

PJ and Laulua Epling collection of Social Science Farm materials (University of California, Irvine). AS-200. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Jessica Irvine, 2019.

Processing History

Processed by Elvia Arroyo-Ramirez and Sarah Glover, 2019.

Historical Background

The University of California, Irvine Social Sciences Farm (known colloquially as "The Farm") was founded on campus by members of the Social Sciences faculty in 1968. The Farm invited craftspeople from Guatemala, Mexico, and Samoa to share their skills in civic and environmental responsibility. In 1967-1968 PJ and Laulua Epling invited Taloolema'agao Uliulileava Olago (Uli Uli Olago) to demonstrate canoe building at the Farm School. The correspondence, in Samoan, is evidence of the logistics in travel arrangements to get Uli Uli and Sarona Sotoa to UCI.

Collection Scope and Content Summary

The collection contains letters, photographs, financial records, press clippings, and a press release produced in 1966-1968 pertaining to the creation of the Samoan canoe on display at UC Irvine's Social Sciences Farm (known colloquially as "The Farm") and daughter of a Samoan high chief and former Peace corps language instructor, Sarona Sotoa's class instruction at UCI. Includes correspondence written in Samoan between PJ and Laulua Epling to Taloolema'agao Uliulileava Olago (Uli Uli Olago), who built the canoe, and Lipine Fualau.

Collection Arrangement

The materials are arranged in their original order.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

University of California, Irvine

Canoes and canoeing -- Samoa

Epling, PJ

box 1, folder 1

Correspondence 1967-1968

Language of Material: Samoan.

Scope and Contents

Contains four letters:

1. Letter dated 10/14/1967 from Uli Uli (the builder of the canoe) to Dr PJ Epling and Laulua Epling in Samoan. Uli Uli is thanking them for the opportunity to come to UC Irvine to build the boat and making arrangements. 2. Letter dated 11/13/1967 from Laulua Epling on UC Irvine stationery communicating logistics. Laulua often translated for PJ Epling, whose command of Samoan wasn't enough to handle complicated matters like this. 3. Letter dated 1/17/1968 from Lipine Fualau to Dr. Epling and family - Lipine was Laulua's brother and a police officer. He also assisted in helping Uli Uli make arrangements to travel to the United States. 4. Letter dated 1/26/1968 from Lipine Fualau to Dr. Epling and family with additional requests for funds and more logistical communication.

box 1, Folder 2

Photographs 1967

Language of Material: English.

Scope and Contents

Contains five black and white photographs: three of Sarona Sotoa, daughter of a Samoan high chief and former Peace Corps language instructor demonstrating the use of a conch shell in Samoan culture. Pictured in two of these photographs is PJ Epling (holding cigarette). One 8x10 photo of Uli Uli and Roy (the two boat builders). It looks like Uli Uli is instructing Roy in how to use a traditional tool. One 8x10 photo of Uli Uli handling timber for the boat construction.

box 1, folder 3

Correspondence and final proposal for Samoan Canoe Project 1966-1968

Scope and Content Note

Folder contains correspondence between P.J. Epling and Duane Metzger about the Samoan Canoe Project in 1966, final proposal submitted to Dean Gerard in 1967, with handwritten notes by P.J. Epling in 1968.

box 1, folder 4

Financial records and correspondence 1968

Scope and Content Note

Folder contains financial records, correspondence, and documents related to the logistics of the canoe project, 1968.

box 1, folder 5

Press clippings 1967-1968

Scope and Content Note

Folder contains press clippings detailing the canoe project when it was completed, launched, and displayed in 1968, and press clipping from Sarona Sotoa's class instruction at UCI published in "The Samoan" newspaper, circa 1967.

box 1, folder 6

Press release from UCI Public Affairs Office 1967

Scope and Content Note

Folder contains a press release from the UCI Public Affairs Office about Sarona Sotoa teaching at UCI as part of a special anthropology project organized by Duane Metzger, associate professor in the School of Social Sciences.