Born in 1913 to Izora da Graça and Sebastian José Soares, Edwin José Soares was a Cape Verdean jazz pianist in Rhode Island. His brother was Arthur Sebastian Soares (1916-1987), who was the father to Sylvia Ann Soares, Anita Louise Fernandes, and Arthur John Soares. Soares’ uncle, through his mother, was Eduardo da Graça, and his great-uncle was Deacon Joseph Andrews.
Edwin Soares played in multiple jazz and swing bands over his career in Providence, Rhode Island, and Boston, Massachusetts. He performed with Louie Armstrong sometime in the 1950s at Paul Fillipi’s Celebrity Club in Providence. Soares played piano in Tony Tomasso’s The Jewels of Dixie jazz quintet for more than thirty-five years; the band opened for Dave Brubeck at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1962. Aside from the Jewels of Dixie, Soares played in Phil Edmund’s Boston-based ten-piece swing band and the Eddie Soares Trio, featuring Peter Peligian and Bob Petteruti. He recorded his solo album, ‘Like, WOW!” in the mid-1970s. Edwin Soares died on March 2, 1993.
Eduardo da Graça was born in 1903 and immigrated to the United States from Cape Verde in 1925, settling in Rhode Island. He then became a chef at the Minden Hotel on Providence’s East Side. In 1953, he became a United States citizen under the name Edward Grace.
The collection contains the papers and personal photographs of the Soares and da Graça family, compiled by Sylvia Ann Soares, including letters, newspaper and article clippings, citizenship materials, recipes, a Portuguese grammar book, and a Bible.
Researchers are advised to contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for questions regarding permissions to reproduce, distribute, or otherwise publish material from this collection. Although Rhode Island College has physical ownership of the collection, it does not necessarily hold literary rights. It is up to the researcher to determine the owners of the literary rights and to obtain any necessary permissions from them.
The collection is open for research.
Soares and da Graça family papers, MSS-0072, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
The collection has been arranged into the following series:
The collection was initially donated in 1992 by Sylvia Ann Soares, with a deed of gift signed by Soares at that time. Additions were made to the collection by Soares in 1995 and 1996.
The collection was initially arranged and described by Rhode Island Special Collections staff circa 1995. In 2023, a finding aid was created using current archival standards, and the collection was re-described by Special Collections intern, Melissa Moniz, under the supervision of Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Veronica Denison.
Works used in preparation of inventory: Biographical information was taken from material in the collection.
The International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1329 financial ledger, MSS-0095, was separated from this collection and made into its own collection. Please contact Rhode Island College Special Collections for further information.
Select materials have been digitized, and some are available online through RIC Digital Collections. The audiocassette, “Like, WOW!” by Eddie Soares, was digitized and is available to be listened to in the Rhode Island College Special Collections Reading Room. For information regarding remote access, please contact Special Collections.
The series includes a typed biography of Edwin (Eddie) José Soares (1913-1993) by his niece, Sylvia Ann Soares, in addition to photographs, clippings regarding Soares’ career as a jazz pianist, and programs.
The audiocassette has been digitized and is available for listening in the Special Collections Reading Room. Please contact Rhode Island College Special Collections regarding remote access.
The series contains documents and materials pertaining to Soares’ uncle, Eduardo da Graça, including a certificate of naturalization, a U.S. citizenship study book, letters written in Portuguese, a Bible, prayer cards, a Portuguese grammar book, and recipes.
A recipe book in this folder has been digitized and is available on
The series contains photographs of Edwin’s mother, Izora da Graça; father, Sebastian José Soares; and brother, Arthur Sebastian Soares (1916-1987). Additionally, the series contains a photograph of Deacon Joseph Andrews and his wife, Angelica. Deacon Andrews was the uncle of Izora da Graça and the first Cape Verdean Deacon of Central Congregational Church Portuguese Chapel on Sheldon Street in Providence, Rhode Island. Photographs include woodworking classes and Boy Scouts Troops at the First Community Parish, which was previously named the Portuguese Chapel. Also included are photographs of unknown men, women, and children, most likely family members.