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The Chinese Immigrants in Cuba collection includes hundreds of original documents, manuscripts and photos covering the migration of 125,000 Chinese who signed up to be cheap labor in Cuba from 1847 until the later 1890s. The archive continues until the 1970s and records the Chinese community in Cuba and is rich with photos. This massive collection, from the archive of James and Ana Melikian Collection, is probably the largest one in private hands concerning Chinese in Cuba. At present, the physical collection contains over 1,341 records and about 8,000-9,000 pages.

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Permanent Residency

Created1867
DescriptionRelates that Federico, a Chinese settler, was granted permanent residency in Cuba after fulfilling the legal requirements. He worked for the Gran Azucaria, a sugar cane producer.
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Application Documents for Permanent Residence

Created1868
Description

This is an application for permanent residency for a Chinese settler, Ysidoro, who worked for Dolores Hernan in Cardenas, 1868.

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Rehire Request

Created1865-06-06
Description
This is a formal rehire request that was written on behalf of Sebastian, a Chinese settler, who had just completed a labor contract and was seeking to sign a new one for the duration of one year. Sebastian sought to sign a new contract to work on the railroads with…

This is a formal rehire request that was written on behalf of Sebastian, a Chinese settler, who had just completed a labor contract and was seeking to sign a new one for the duration of one year. Sebastian sought to sign a new contract to work on the railroads with a railroad company under Maximo Mora. The subsequent documents include a second contract, his baptism certificate, and a formal written request for his carta de domicilio, or permanent residence card, that was signed on June 6, 1866. Other documents included in this selection are testimonies that were written by Sebastian's past owners describing his good conduct and dedication to his work. 1865.
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Residency Documents

Created1858
Description
Record of a Chinese settler letter for home. Contains: application for a certificate of naturalization of Chinese settlers. Signed in Chinese, chinese settler original contract in spanish Cardenas 1867 signed in chinese, Record of baptism 1866, recommendations of good conduct from the Captaincy of Lagunillas, nature tasting request signed in…

Record of a Chinese settler letter for home. Contains: application for a certificate of naturalization of Chinese settlers. Signed in Chinese, chinese settler original contract in spanish Cardenas 1867 signed in chinese, Record of baptism 1866, recommendations of good conduct from the Captaincy of Lagunillas, nature tasting request signed in Chinese, original contract Macao Chinese settler written in Chinese and Spanish in 1858 and signed in Chinese, pledge of allegiance to the Spanish crown Chinese settler
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Second Contract

Created1867-02-04
Description
This is a second work contract that was shared between Yledfonso- a Chinese settler, and his owner D. Fernando Hernandez; the length of the contract was for one year. The document that follows the last page of the contract is a certificate that indicates that Yldefonso completed his first eight…

This is a second work contract that was shared between Yledfonso- a Chinese settler, and his owner D. Fernando Hernandez; the length of the contract was for one year. The document that follows the last page of the contract is a certificate that indicates that Yldefonso completed his first eight year commitment and second one year commitment with D. Fernando Hernandez satisfactorily; this certificate was signed on February 3, 1868. Signed in Chinese.
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List of Contracted Chinese Workers

Created1864
DescriptionList of 47 Chinese settlers brought to Cuba on the ship "Auguste y Gustave" they were hired to work on the Ingenio Faith in 1864.
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Report on Chinese Immigration

Created1865
DescriptionA report on the results of Chinese immigration to Cuba, the average ages of these immigrants and what they have done since coming to Cuba. 1865.
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Shipping Record

Created1856
DescriptionRecords for the ship American Eagle, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Jose Castro and Jose Manuel.
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Shipping Record

Created1855
DescriptionRecords for the ships Hound and Sky Lark, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Manuel B. de Pereda. On this trip, the Sky Lark brought 532 settlers from China to work.
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Ship Documentation

Description
Dossier formed to enter the island of Cuba in a shipment of Chinese settlers in the French ship “Eugene & Adele”. General information to the Captain of the island that has hired a French ship to bring Cuba Chinese settlers: boarding list of the 466 Chinese settlers in Macao;…

Dossier formed to enter the island of Cuba in a shipment of Chinese settlers in the French ship “Eugene & Adele”. General information to the Captain of the island that has hired a French ship to bring Cuba Chinese settlers: boarding list of the 466 Chinese settlers in Macao; some official communications on the subject; list of the 466 boarding Chinese settlers received in Havana; superior civil government documents on the authorization of the shipment; investigation into the death of 43 Chinese settlers on the trip to Cuba; list of the dead with their data, latitude and longitude; research (appointment of scribe, translator, questions and answers from the captain; questions and answers from the pilot; questions and answers of several sailors; questions and answers of the translator; questions and answers from the Chinese translator; questions and answers from the ship’s doctor; questions and answers of some Chinese settlers.)