Jump to Content

Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Matteri (Nydea) Personal Papers
SC.096  
View entire collection guide What's This?
Search this collection
Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Biographical / Historical
  • Preferred Citation
  • Scope and Contents

  • Contributing Institution: Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
    Title: Nydea Matteri Personal Papers
    Identifier/Call Number: SC.096
    Physical Description: 1.9 Cubic Feet 1 records center box; 1 flat box (24.75 x 3 x 20.75)
    Date (inclusive): 1929-2002
    Language of Material: English , Portuguese .
    Container: 1
    Container: 2

    Biographical / Historical

    Nydea Gloria (Azevedo) Matteri (b. 1915 d. 2006), was born in Madera, California, the daughter of parents who emigrated from Saint Jorge Island, Azores, Portugal in 1911. Materri's family attended Saint Joachim Catholic Church in Newman, California, one of several churches in the San Joaquin Valley that historically served a predominately Portuguese Catholic population. These parishes observed Azorean Catholic traditions including the Holy Ghost Festa (Holy Ghost Festival) in which Materri was crowned its Queen in 1929. As a longtime parishioner, Materri worked and volunteered at Saint Joachim Church and it was during that time she began documenting and preserving its history.

    Preferred Citation

    Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Matteri Parish History Files, Box number, Archives of the Archdiocese of San Francisco (AASF).

    Scope and Contents

    The collection contains materials reflective of Portuguese cultural and Catholic traditions like the Sociedad da Irmandade do Divino Espírito Santo (I.D.E.S.) (Society of the Divine Holy Spirit), and the Festas do Espírito Santo (Festivals of the Holy Spirit). Included in the collection are Matteri's historical research notes; copies of local newspaper articles from The Westside published in Newman, California; and original photographs. The collection also includes Matteri's personal worship items from when she was a child; and textile garments made by Matteri's mother, including the cape she wore as the Queen of the Holy Ghost Festival (c. 1920s) and her First Holy Communion outfit.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Portuguese--California
    Catholic Church--California--Stanislaus County--History