In April 1898, a photograph was taken in Apia showing the students and staff of the London Missionary Society’s Papauta Girls School, just six years after it was founded. The school was led at the time by its founding principal, Miss Valesca Schultze, a German teacher who sat in the second row back, far left in white.
Alongside her stood Pastor Etene Sa‘aga (1868–1950), who can be reliably identified in the image. He is third row back, slightly to the right of centre, next to a woman believed to be his wife, Mrs Sose Sa‘aga. Pastor Sa‘aga served the LMS Theological College at Malua for 47 years and was closely associated with Papauta School during its early period, possibly in a pastoral or cultural support role for the European teachers.
The photograph, now digitally restored and shared, was originally kept by Miss Schultze after she returned to Germany in 1916. Samoans affectionately called her “Missy Sulesa,” a name she cherished. In her diary, she described Samoa as “wunderschön”, wonderfully nice. Her sisters, Ludovica and Thusnelda, also served in Samoa as teachers.
Miss Schultze died in 1935 and is buried in Bad Suderode, in the Harz Mountains of northern Germany. Her gravestone includes stars representing the Southern Cross, reflecting her lifelong connection to the South Pacific. At Papauta School, one of the four dormitories is named Fale Sulesa in her honour, a reminder of her legacy.
The image has been published in full, then cropped into three sections to help with identifying the students. Papauta School remains in operation today, continuing a legacy that began over 130 years ago with a group of young women, their teachers, and a commitment to education.
This article is based on an original historical post by Tony Brunt, with additional editorial input from the Samoa Newshub team.
About the Author
Tony Brunt
Tony Brunt is a writer, historian, and photo archivist based in Auckland, New Zealand. He serves as Photo Archivist & Consultant at the Museum of Samoa. His work brings light to overlooked Pacific histories using personal archives, photography, and field research. Tony has also served in various public and civic roles in New Zealand, including on the Wellington City Council and as a former Executive Councillor at the NZ Academy of Fine Arts.
