These records chronicle the life’s works of early Italian immigrates and their work with as missionaries to Italian immigrants, but mostly the records record the life’s work of the offspring of these immigrants, namely Matthew Roland Giuffrida, 1908-2002. The collection encompasses his works in the early beginnings of the American Baptist Churches’ efforts at ministry to immigrants and refugees from around the world. These records reflect a remarkable work on behalf of a layman who took to it as a fish would take to water or a “call” without a call, but yet a response to a passion that can only be interpreted as a “call” to ministry.

Following a brief look at his life during his military service during WWII, the records track his involvement in immigration and refugee work beginning as a Field Representative, Department of Christian Friendliness, WABHMS, 1955 thru ABHMS, Asst. Secy of the Community Witness Program, later Parish Witness Program, to Director, Direct Human Services, Division of Social Ministries, National Ministries, ABC. These records reflect MRG’s involvement with a family of program ministries which included Immigration and Refugee Services, Emergency Food Shelter and Farm Crisis Aid, Volunteer Programs and Projects; Ministry with Hostages, National Disaster Response; and International, Intercultural and Interfaith Relations. Also reflected in these records is his work with the World Relief Committee of ABC, Board Member of the Heifer Project, International, the Church World Service Committee of the National Council of Churches of Christ, and records of his work with the US Committee for Refugees, Immigration and Refugee Resettlement Committee.

In addition to reflecting MRG’s entry into missionary lay ministry, the records also provide a vivid insight of Italian Baptist Missionary work through the records of Rev. Roland & Rose Giuffrida. These records portray their work among early Italians immigrates to America. They chronicle their work with the Italian Baptist Missionary Society, Grace Baptist Church, the founding of Christ Baptist Church and the founding of American Baptist Church of the Beatitudes, upon their retirement from ministry. The records of Roland and Rose Giuffrida provide a glimpse into the lineage of the Giuffrida and Raverta families of Italy, as well as some of the professional and political accomplishments of their relatives of Italy.

Content Summary: Correspondence, Personal Files of MRG, 1939-2002; Personal Files of Rev. Roland Giuffrida, 1908-1973; and Personal Files of Rose Raverta Giuffrida, 1911-1995; Organizational Files, 1943-2002 which is comprised of Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society, American Baptist Home Mission Society, National Council of Churches, Church World Service, Heifer Project, International files, the United States Committee for Refugees, Internal Revenue Service files and World Council of Churches files related to Immigration and Refugee work from around the world; Also included are manuscript files, printed materials, reports of Department of Christian Friendliness, Woman's American Baptist Home Mission Society, Community Witness Program, which became Parish Witness Program and later Reports of Direct Human Service, Division of Social Ministries under National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA; audio-visual materials, photographic files, which includes a large rendering of the Giuffrida and Raverta families, 1908-1996; Memorabilia make up the last series which includes a photo album collection, as well as items from the lives of Rev. Roland and Rose Giuffrida.