Provenance: Gifted to the Portsmouth Athenaeum in 2019 by daughter of the subjects, Julie M. (Giambalvo) Pouliotte
Citation: Saverio and Mildred Paterson Giambalvo Collection, MS137, Portsmouth Athenaeum
Size: .5 linear feet (1 Hollinger box)
Access: No restrictions
Processed by: Susan Stowe Kindstedt in 2019, revisions in 2025
Scope and Content
The Saverio and Mildred Peterson Giambalvo Collection includes papers documenting the education, employment and volunteer/organizational involvement of Saverio and Mildred. Included are materials related to the couple’s service during World War II, working at Camp Langdon in New Castle. There are also records of Mildred’s studies at Portsmouth High School and the University of New Hampshire. Mildred was active with many societies and organizations, represented in the collection. There are also materials (mostly newspaper clippings, awards and letters) related to Saverio’s time working for the Portsmouth Housing Authority.
Biographical Note
Saverio “Jim” Giambalvo (1915-2007) was born in Brooklyn, New York 1 Apr 1915. He served in the Army during World War II and was stationed at Fort Langdon in New Castle with the 22nd Coastal Artillery Harbor Defense Unit. While at Fort Langdon he met his future wife, 7 May 1944 he married Mildred Florence Peterson, whom he married 7 May 1944. In 1946 the couple returned to Portsmouth to live. Saverio was a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (Local No. 921) and served as treasurer. In 1962 he was appointment to the Board of Commissioners of the Portsmouth Housing Authority From his obituary in the Portsmouth Herald: During his tenure he helped to guide the city’s commitment to urban renewal, historic restoration and the construction of affordable housing units. He encouraged the provision of programs such as nutrition, health and transportation for the elderly and disabled, the Retired Senior Volunteer and Youth Programs, a respite care program for care givers, the Parrot Avenue Senior Center and the state’s first Alzheimer’s clinic.
Mildred Florence Peterson (1914-1999) was born 29 May 1914 in Biddeford, Maine, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Leavitt) Peterson. Mildred graduated from Portsmouth Junior High, Portsmouth High School and the University of New Hampshire (1936). In Portsmouth she worked as a recreational supervisor for the YWCA and as a cashier and stenographer at the Arcadia Theater. She worked as a stenographer with the Works Progress Administration. From 1941 to 1944 she worked at Camp Langdon for the War Department as a clerk and later had a similar position at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Mildred was active in many organizations including the Aircraft Warning Service, the National Rifle Association, the Motor Corp and the American Red Cross. When Saverio and Mildred settled in Portsmouth in 1946, they built a home on Cliff Street in Portsmouth and had three children. Mildred died 16 June 1999 and Saverio died 6 Feb 2007, both in Portsmouth.
Separated materials
Photographs were separated and cataloged as the Giambalvo Family Photograph Collection (P0056).
Folder list
Box 1
Folder 1 Saverio Giambalvo – Pamphlets
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Anniversary, pamphlet, 1951
New Hampshire State Labor Council, AFL CIO, yearbook, 1964
Testimonial Dinner Honoring Saverio Giambalvo, pamphlet, 1982
Recognition Night Honoring Local 921 Retired Members, 1983
Folder 2 Saverio Giambalvo – Ephemera
22nd Coast Artillery, identification card, ca. 1940
Harbor Defense of Portsmouth, Camp Langdon, identification card, ca. 1940
University of New Hampshire Certificate, Understanding the Taft-Hartley Act, 1953
United States House of Representatives, visitor pass, 1958
Dunaway General Store Opening, Strawbery Banke, Invitation by Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, 1967
President Jimmy Carter Inauguration Invitation, 1977
Reunion of the 22nd Coast Artillery, invitation, 1987
Dedication of the Woodbury Manor Recreation Building, 2 copies, 1994
Gift Certificate, Pass to Ride the Senior Citizen Van, Saverio Giambalvo, ca. 1994
Gift Certificate, Free Lunch at the Senior Citizen Center, 2005
Mayor Evelyn Sirrell, business card, ca. 2000
Piscataqua Savings Bank, notecard, undated
Rocking Chair Deserters, round logo, undated
City of Portsmouth, cutout logo, undated
Folder 3 Saverio Giambalvo – Minutes of the Portsmouth Housing Authority
Photocopies of several meetings’ minutes (not complete), 1962-1987
Folder 4 Saverio Giambalvo – Appointments and Recognitions
NH Department of Employment Security, appointment to appeals tribunal, 1961
Portsmouth Planning and Development Council Program, appointment, 1969
Portsmouth Housing Authority, appointment, 1970
Corporator of Portsmouth Savings Bank, letter, 1976
Portsmouth Housing Authority, appointment, 1978
Portsmouth Housing Authority, appointment, 1980
Saverio M. Giambalvo Day, Portsmouth, proclamation, 1982
Portsmouth Housing Authority Chairman, appointment, 1985
Portsmouth Housing Authority, notice of expiring term, 1990
Portsmouth Housing Authority, appointment, 1990
Governor Commendation, 1994
Certificate of Appreciation, US Dept of Housing and Urban Development, 1994
Woodbury Manor Recreation Building Dedication, letter, 1994
Letter of thanks form the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 1994
Portsmouth City Council Recognition of Service, proclamation, 1994
Portsmouth Housing Authority, request for reappointment, 1995
Portsmouth Housing Authority Commissioner, reappointment letter, 1995
City of Portsmouth, notice of expiring term, 2005
Resignation of Commissioner of Portsmouth Housing Authority,.2005
Mayor’s Award, invitation letter, 2005
Portsmouth City Council Recognition of Service, proclamation, 2005
Folder 5 Saverio Giambalvo – Correspondence
1966 Dec 16, Hubert Humprey, President of the United States of America, to Saverio Giambalvo, appreciation for meeting
1968 Jan 29, Thomas J. Pitarys, NH State Labor Council AFL-CIO, to Saverio Giambalvo, election to Secretary-Treasurer
1982 ca., Dick Carpenter, Smith, Batchelder and Rugg, to Saverio Giambalvo, acknowledging a recent news article
1982 Mar 17, James Hunt to Dave Copp, Local Union 921, unable to attend event
1982 Apr 6, Hugh J. Gallen, Governor of New Hampshire, to Saverio Giambalvo, thanks for recent meeting and for service
1982 Apr 16, John Mendolusky, International Chemical Workers, to Saverio Giambalvo, unable to attend event
1982 Apr 28, Odore J. Gendron, Diocese of Manchester, to Saverio Giambalvo, thanks for service
1982 Apr 30, Raymond Closson to Saverio Giambalvo, congratulations on career
1982 May 6, David L. Nixon to Saverio Giambalvo, congratulations on career
1982 May 7, Benjamin C. Adams, NH Department of Employment Security, congratulations on career and retirement (enclosure of newspaper article)
Folder 6 Saverio Giambalvo – Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Man of the Year, 1968
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Meeting, ticket, 1968
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Meeting, program, 1968
Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Meeting, annual report, 1968
Newspaper clippings regarding Giambalvo being chosen ‘Man of the Year’
Folder 7 Saverio Giambalvo – Newspaper Clippings, 1963-2007
Folder 8 Saverio Giambalvo – Retirement Scrapbook Clippings
Head Start Center Open House, 1986
Feaster Apartments Open House, undated
Newspaper Clippings related to service with Portsmouth Housing Authority, 1968-2005
Folder 9 Saverio Giambalvo – Letterhead
Folder 10 Mildred Peterson – Portsmouth Junior High School, Ephemera, 1932
Portsmouth Junior High School, graduation exercises, 1932
Folder 11 Mildred Peterson – Portsmouth High School, Ephemera
Football schedule, 1932
PHS vs. Rochester, football game ticket, 1936
Senior Reception, souvenir booklet, 1933
PHS vs. Laconia, football game ticket, undated
PHS vs. Edward Little, football game ticket, undated
PHS vs. Sanford All Stars, football ticket, undated
“In the Next Room,” play program, undated
Folder 12 Mildred Peterson – Portsmouth High School, Class of 1932
Graduation Exercises, program, 1932
Class Ode by Anna Latham
Diploma, 1932
Folder 13 Mildred Peterson – Portsmouth High School, Autograph Books (2), 1932
Folder 14 Mildred Peterson – Portsmouth High School, Class of 1932 Reunions
Reunion ticket, Ocean Wave Hotel, Rye Beach, 1952
20th Reunion, program and menu, Ocean Wave Hotel, Rye Beach, 1952
50th Anniversary Reunion Program, reprint of 1932 program, 1982
50th Reunion, program and menu, Ashworth by the Sea, 1982
55th Reunion, notice, 1987
“PHS ’32 Notes Taken From Christmas Cards, 1985,” typescript
“Class Will of PHS Seniors,” typescript
Folder 15 Portsmouth High School, Class of 1948
Baccalaureate Service, program, 1948
Folder 16 Mildred Peterson – University of New Hampshire
UNH Usher, ribbon, undated
Poem, typescript, undated
66th Commencement Exercises, program, 1936
Diploma, 1936
Freshman Week Program, 1932
“Trial Study List for the Student,” list of courses, undated
Transcript, ca. 1936
Handwritten notes concerning classes
Folder 17 Mildred Peterson – University of New Hampshire, Ephemera
Folder 18 Mildred Peterson – Employment History
Letters related to Mildred’s employment including a license for teaching, a certificate for proficiency in stenography and resumes.
Folder 19 Mildred Peterson – Aircraft Warning Service
Identification card for Mildred as a volunteer with the Aircraft Warning Service, US Army and letter to volunteers of the Aircraft Warning Service dated 1944.
Folder 20 Mildred Peterson – Rifle Association
Piscataqua Rifle and Revolver Club, membership card, 1943
Ranger Rifle Club, membership card, 1945
National Rifle Association, membership card, undated
NRA patch, undated
Folder 21 Mildred Peterson – Civilian Civil Defense
Resident Combination License, 1938
New Hampshire State Council of Defense, identification card, undated
Motor Mechanics, course completion card, 1943
Civilian Civil Defense, arm patch
Folder 22 Mildred Peterson – Red Cross
Red Cross Motor Corps, notebook
American National Red Cross, junior instruction card, 1937
American National Red Cross, identification card, 1942
American National Red Cross, standard first aid course completion card, 1942
American National Red Cross, advanced first aid course completion card, 1942
American National Red Cross, identification card, 1943
Volunteer Special Services Certificate, 1944
American National Red Cross, identification card, 1947
American Red Cross Volunteer Nurse’s Aide Time Record
American Red Cross, arm patch
Folder 23 Mildred Peterson – Certificates
Certificate of Merit from the Governor of NH, 1940
Certificate of Appreciation from the President of the United States, 1941
Certificate of Merit for Service as a Class A Pay Reservation Plan, 1943
Army Air Forces I Fighter Command Ground Observer Corps, 1943
Army Air Forces I Fighter Command, 1944
Certificate of Recognition for work as Campaign Treasurer of the USO, undated
Folder 24 Mildred Peterson – Miscellaneous
Folder 25 Mildred Peterson – Newspaper Clippings
Folder 26 Mildred Peterson – Identification Cards
Folder 27 Giambalvo House on Cliff Street, Portsmouth
Folder 28 Senior Citizen Center, Parrott Ave., copy of sketch
