Pete Souza

Birth Name: Peter Joseph Souza

Place of Birth: New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S.

Date of Birth: December 31, 1954

Ethnicity: Azorean Portuguese

Pete Souza is an American photojournalist. He served as Chief Official White House Photographer, from 1983 to 1989, and again, from January 20, 2009 to January 20, 2017. He was stationed with The Chicago Tribune’s Washington, D.C. bureau. He was spotlighted in the documentary The Way I See It.

His father, Alfred Anthony Souza, was a boat mechanic. His mother, Lillian May (Piva), was a nurse. All of his grandparents were Portuguese emigrants from Azores. Pete is married to Patricia Helen “Patti” Lease.

Pete’s paternal grandfather was Manuel Joaquim de Souza (the son of Manuel Joaquim de Souza and Claudina Xavier). Pete’s grandfather Manuel was a Portuguese emigrant, from São Miguel Island, Azores.

Pete’s paternal grandmother was Ana “Anna” do Amaral (the daughter of José Jacinto do Amaral and Ana da Silva). Pete’s grandmother Ana was also from São Miguel Island.

Pete’s maternal grandfather was João “John” Piva (the son of João M. Paiva and Joana Moura). Pete’s grandfather João was a Portuguese emigrant, from Ribeira Grande, São Miguel Island, Azores.

Pete’s maternal grandmother was Maria “Mary” de Medeiros (the daughter of Manuel F. de Medeiros and Maria do Carmo de Farias). Pete’s grandmother Maria was a Portuguese emigrant, from Porto Formoso, Ribeira Grande, São Miguel Island, Azores. Manuel was the son of Manuel de Medeiros and Joaquina Rosa da Silva. Pete’s great-grandmother Maria was the daughter of Manuel de Farias and Antónia de Jesus.

Pete’s matrilineal ancestry can be traced back to his fifth great-grandmother, Joana de Araujo Silva.

Sources: Genealogy of Pete Souza – https://gw.geneanet.org

Marriage record of Pete’s paternal grandparents, Manuel Joaquim de Souza and Ana “Anna” do Amaral – https://www.familysearch.org

Baptismal record of Pete’s maternal grandmother, Maria “Mary” de Medeiros – http://culturacores.azores.gov.pt