Joseph F. Souza, Jr. was born in São Nicolau, Cape Verde Islands and raised in Lisbon, Portugal and New Bedford, Massachusetts. Upon graduating from Worcester State College, he would become an officer for the U.S. Air Force where he would serve for 28 years. A trained counseling psychologist, Souza devoted time during his career with the U.S. Air Force to provide therapy within the military community. He also taught extensively at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, the Air Command and Staff College, the Portuguese Air Force Academy, and the NATO Defense College in Rome. After retirement, Souza moved to Lisbon where he found his own self-therapy in his music and art, both of which he is self-taught. He was an active member of the Cape Verdean Veterans Association of New Bedford and, along with his wife Dawn Blake Souza, was involved in many cultural and public service activities within their communities. Souza and his wife would eventually move to Avondale, Arizona. On July 28th, 2021, Souza passed away at the age of 83.
Note: Biographical Note was written utilizing materials from collection, for more information see Item 1 “Brief Biography of Joseph F. Souza, Jr.”
The collection contains several charcoal drawings, as well as prints, by Joseph F. Souza, Jr., highlighting the different head scarf styles of the Cape Verde Islands. Of the drawings, four are original prints and two are copies of the original. The drawings demonstrate the differences in fashion trends amongst the Cape Verde Islands, displaying the variations in head scarf style.
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.
Joseph F. Souza, Jr. drawings, MSS-0148, Special Collections, James P. Adams Library, Rhode Island College.
The collection is arranged in chronological order.
The collection was donated to Adams Library Special Collections in 2018 by Joseph and Dawn Blake Souza.
The collection was described in 2024 by Hydin Stallman, Special Collections student worker, under the supervision of Veronica L. Denison, Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian.
Works used in preparation of inventory: Silvia, Michael. “Fort Taber Flag to Honor Dr. Joseph ‘Zach’ F. Souza, Jr. 27 Year Military Career.” NewBedfordGuide.com. October 11, 2021. accessed August 6, 2024. https://www.newbedfordguide.com/fort-taber-flag-to-honor-dr-joseph-zack-f-souza-jr- 27-year-military-career/2021/10/11
Rhode Island College Special Collections holds further collections relating to Cape Verde. Please review the
Several items in the collection were duplicates of already existing materials. While a few of these duplicate copies remain in the collection several were removed for space and storage purposes.
This collection has not been digitized. For information about obtaining digital copies, please contact the Rhode Island College Special Collections.