The Soza family was founded in 1746 by Jose Maria Soza I, a cavalryman in the Royal Spanish Army who was stationed at Presidio San Ignacio de Tubac in 1774 and was later transferred to the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson, with his wife, Rita Espinosa, with whom he fathered one son and three daughters.

Jose Maria So Soza II was the Civil Administrator of the Tumacacori Mission during the 1830’s and was married to Dona Gregoria Nunes. They had eight children.

Jose Maria Soza III married Solana Mendoza in the early 1850’s. Their daughter, Manuela Mendoza Sosa married Michael McKenna, a Civil War veteran, and they created the McKenna branch of the family.

The descendants of the Manuel and Calistro Sosa branch included the families of Antonio Campa Soza, Placido Campa Soza, Nicolas Campa Soza and Juan Soza. The Juan Soza branch became early settlers of Tempe, Arizona and have roots with the Hayden family. They were later joined by the Placido Sosa branch.

The Antonio Soza branch of the family has long been associated with Tucson and the San Pedro River Valley, where Antonio homesteaded and was engaged in farming and ranching.

Edward Soza  lived briefly at the Soza ancestral homestead ranch at Redington on the San Pedro River. In 1925 the family moved to California. Edward graduated from Pennsylvania State College (now University) in 1946 with a BA degree and was commissioned Ensign USNR. He married his wife Phyllis in 1947 and together they had 3 children. He has published extensively on Soza family genealogy.

Printed material and photographs, 1892-2000, (bulk 1990-1999). The collection primarily consists of genealogical materials and data compiled by Edward Soza on the Soza family and related family lines. The bulk of the material is comprised of correspondence, biographical information, photographs and newspaper clippings focusing on the Soza family. The collection includes materials on the McKenna and Yanez families, among others. The collection also contains printed material including family trees, family reunions, wills and probates, census data, homestead documents and land deeds. Various photographs include individuals and buildings, such as the Tucson Sosa-Carrillo-Fremont House Museum.