Series 523 - Correspondence and unpublished manuscripts of Sione Latukefu

Rev Dr Sione Latukefu was born at Kolovai on Tongatapu in 1927. He was ordained a minister of the Free Wesleyan Church in 1960. Following teacher training in Tonga and at the University of Queensland he undertook PhD studies at the Australian National University, graduating in 1967 with a thesis that explored the subject of Church and state in Tonga during the period from 1826-1875. Lātūkefu was appointed an historian at the University of Papua New Guinea (founded in 1965) where he remained for 18 years. He wrote a history of the Tongan Constitution in 1975 to celebrate its centenary and worked actively to promote the study of Pacific history. In retirement, he became principal of the Pacific Theological College in Suva, Fiji, 1989-1991. He took the leading role in founding the Tongan History Association in Ha’apai in 1989 and remained its president until his death.