MARC Publications

University of Guam Richard Flores Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center, commonly referred to as the MARC, is a premiere research center in Micronesia that sprang from a visionary concept and humble beginnings.  In 1967, Dr. Antonio C. Yamashita, president of the College of Guam (predecessor of today’s University of Guam), gathered Guam’s noted scholars – such as Paul Carano, co-author of A Complete History of Guam, a professor of Guam History at the college, and the center’s first director; Dr. Lucius Eldredge of the UOG Marine Lab; college student, Emilie G. Johnston; and Guam’s St. John’s School Principal Marjorie Driver—to discuss the need to establish a research library in and about Micronesia.

Public Law 9-106, authored by Guam Congressman Richard Flores Taitano (who the MARC would later be renamed after), formally created MARC as “a separate and distinct program of the College.” Guam Governor Manuel F. Guerrero transferred $10,000 from the Chamorro Language Commission to begin the process of creating the MARC.

Though considered a research center, its start was anything but auspicious. Located in a room of the now demolished Building B at the University of Guam, the three researchers set up shop to begin molding MARC after the Bernice P. Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawai’i. Later, MARC moved to the university’s RFK Memorial Library and expanded its faculty to include Felicia Plaza, MMB; Thomas B. McGrath, SJ; and, Rosita Duenas as well as its general collection of published materials.

In the next several years additional staff and faculty were added including Spanish historian Teresa del Valle and librarian Albert L. Williams, and Johnston was placed in charge of the growing photo collection. Its primary development was focused on translating and publishing Spanish documents. Then from 1979 and 1995, MARC concentrated on developing its research. Complementing Dr. Dirk Ballendorf’s prodigious research and writing was noted Micronesian archaeologist Dr. Hiro Kurashina and numerous American, European, and Asian linguists who translated French, German, and Japanese materials.

Dr. Monique Carriveau Storie is the MARC director.