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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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Shipping Record

Created1864-06-30
DescriptionRecords for the ship Alfonso de Albuquerque, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba. On this trip, the Alfonso de Albuquerque brought settlers from China to do fieldwork.
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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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List of Contracted Chinese Workers

Created1863
DescriptionPaper and hiring of 25 Chinese Settlers brought to Cuba aboard the Italian ship "Queen of England" They were hired to work on the field in 1864 and then contracted by Jose Antonio S. Argudin and Pedro Morales in August 1865.
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Contract

Created1867
DescriptionThis is the first contract between Napoleon, a Chinese settler, and Juan Smith, his owner for the term of one year of work in Colon.
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Second Contract

Created1867-01-27
DescriptionThis is a second work contract that was shared between a Chinese settler named Figaro, and a Cuban landlord, Carlos Aomingues; the term of the contract was for six months. 1867. Signed in Chinese.
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Contract

Created1867
DescriptionA contract between Atanacio, a Chinese settler and Juan Becio. The contract was to last for a year and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Signed by the governor, Juan Becio, and Atanacio, who signed in Chinese.
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Contract

Created1861
DescriptionThis is a contract between Antonio, a Chinese settler, and J. Smith for the term of one year. 1861. Signed in Chinese.
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Contract

Created1866-05-20
Description
This is a second labor contract that was shared between Jose, a Chinese settler, and his owner, Luis de Alda. He was brought to Cuba to serve as an indentured servants and the term of the contract was for six months. Details regarding Jose's wage, food, clothes, and work hours…

This is a second labor contract that was shared between Jose, a Chinese settler, and his owner, Luis de Alda. He was brought to Cuba to serve as an indentured servants and the term of the contract was for six months. Details regarding Jose's wage, food, clothes, and work hours were stipulated in the document. 1866. Signed in Chinese.
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Contract

Created1866
DescriptionThis is a contract between Bartolo, a Chinese settler, and his owner in Colon. 1866.
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Cedula for Domiciled Settlers

Created1865
Description
This is an example of a type of cedula that was issued for domiciled Chinese settlers and Yucatecs, and this cedula in particular was issued for a Chinese settler named Santiago. Santiago was 34 years old at the time that this cedula was issued for him, and he was employed…

This is an example of a type of cedula that was issued for domiciled Chinese settlers and Yucatecs, and this cedula in particular was issued for a Chinese settler named Santiago. Santiago was 34 years old at the time that this cedula was issued for him, and he was employed as a fieldworker for Agustin Ferran. Other details regarding his origin in China as well as basic physical descriptions were included in the document. 1865.