The U.S. Census Bureau continually strives to ensure an accurate 

count of the people of the United States. For this reason, it has 

always embraced the hiring of a diverse workforce that is 

representative of the local communities. In the middle of the 19th

century, the United States expanded west into areas formerly 

governed by Spain and Mexico. Since many of the citizens and local 

officials only spoke Spanish, the Census Office quickly realized that 

it needed to employ workers fluent in the language. The 

establishment of a permanent Census Bureau in 1903 and increased 

immigration from Cuba and Central and South America expanded 

the need for Spanish-speaking employees, both in the field and at 

headquarters.

Manuel Taitano Charfauros was born on February 24, 

1897, in Guam. A resident of Merizo, Manuel 

excelled at school—by the age of 23, he was one of 

50 teachers in the 13 schools on Guam. Guam’s 

teachers served as an important go-between for the 

people of Guam and the United States Department 

of the Navy, which employed the teachers and 

governed the island. Around 1919, Manuel married 

Joaquina Lujan. Together, they raised ten children.

Guam first fell under U.S. jurisdiction in 1898,

following the Spanish-American War. Between 1710 

and 1897, the Spanish conducted approximately 20

censuses of Guam. The second naval governor of 

Guam, Commander Seaton Schroeder, conducted a 

census in 1901. However, the results were merely

aggregate population numbers divided by gender 

and race. In 1920, the Census Bureau administered

the first official U.S. census on Guam and, in search 

of enumerators that were both competent and 

connected to the people, Census Bureau leadership

chose local teachers for all five positions. 

 Chamorro Teacher and Leader

Daily Pacific Advertiser (Hagatna, Guam) 22 April 

1987.

Merlyn G. Cook School in Merizo where 

Manuel served as principal for several years. From Wikimedia Commons (accessed 27 July 2017).

Charfauros family’s 1940 Census.
In 1930, with Guam now part of the 

regular decennial enumeration, 

teachers once again answered the call. 

This time Manuel, now a veteran 

educator, joined the enumerators’

ranks. The 1930 census expanded on 

the previous enumeration by adding a 

census of agriculture in addition to 

population.

In 1931, Manuel became principal at 

the Merizo school—a job he would 

have intermittently for decades. In 

1934, the people of Merizo elected 

Manuel as their representative to the Commissioners (later Congress) of Guam. 

Manuel again served as enumerator in 1940, for the 16th decennial census. In 1941, the people of 

Merizo again elected Manuel to represent them in the Congress of Guam. This only lasted a short 

time, since, as a possesion of the United States, Guam was a prime Japanese target. On December

8, 1941, just two days after the attack on Pearl 

Harbor, the forces of Imperial Japan invaded and 

captured Guam.

The Japanese military rule over the people of 

Guam was cruel and oppresive as the Japanese 

viewed the Guamanian population as loyal to the 

Americans. In 1944, as the United States was 

systematically rolling back all Japanese gains, 

they knew that Guam would be a high priority. 

On July 15, 1944, Japanese troops marched 

Manuel and his oldest son, Arthur, a U.S. Navy 

steward’s mate, as well as 28 others, to a cave

under the guise of participating in a work detail. 

As the group of 30 rested in the cave, the soldiers

threw in grenades, and following the blasts used 

anyone still moving for bayonet practice. Manuel barely survived with substantial wounds, while 

his son perished.

Following the war, Manuel continued his 

service to Guam by serving in the Institute 

of Ethnic Affairs—a group that advoacted 

for Guam self-governance as opposed to 

the rule of an American naval governor. 

The group realized their goals with the 

passing of the Guam Organic Act of 1950, 

which provided for elections and selfgovernance of the island, while still 

remaining a U.S. territory. Following his 

succesful teaching career, Manuel was 

elected to the Guam Educator’s Hall of 

Fame. He and Joaquina eventually moved 

to San Mateo, CA, where he passed away 

on April 14, 1987, survived by nine

children, 23 grandchildren, and 14 

great-grandchildren. 

The U.S. Census Bureau is grateful for Manuel’s contributions to our mission, Guam, and the

United States.

Three boy scouts from Manuel’s troop rendezvous with 

the USS Indianapolis during the U.S. retaking of Guam, 

1944. From Guampedia.com (accessed 27 July 2017).

1941 Congress of Guam, which included Manuel. from Guampedia.com (accessed 27 July 2017).

President Truman signing the Guam Organic Act of 1950. From Guampedia.com (accessed 27 July 2017).

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