Chinese Immigrants in Cuba: Documents From the James and Ana Melikian Collection
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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Created1866
DescriptionThis is an oath of allegiance signed by a Chinese settler in order to become a natural citizen of Cuba. Signed in Chinese.
Created1865
DescriptionThese are documents for permanent residency for a Chinese settler, Vieter, originally from Canton in 1865.
Created1873
Description
A letter to the Secretary of the Government of Cuba requesting naturalization of a Chinese settler, Leonardo Valdez. He was originally from Canton, but promises to renounce his rights as a citizen of China if he is make a Cuban citizen. Included are records of his past work contracts and letters of recommendation from past employers.
Created1865
Description
Quentin Madan, a Chinese settler, converted to Christianity in the Church of Our Lady of the Ascension. Madan was originally from Canton. In his baptism, Madan offered his loyalty to the Cuban government and the church in order to eventually receive permanent residency in Cuba, a legal requirement. His godfather was Cristoval Madan and this form was signed by Manuel Miranda, priest of the Church of Our Lady of the Ascension. 1865.
Created1866
DescriptionA contract between, Low Li Yang, a Chinese settler, and B. Solares. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Signed by B. Solares and Jose A. de Orbeta.
Contributors粱, 日全 (Contractor)
Created1866
DescriptionChinese settler contract signed in Canton in 1866. Written is Castilian and Chinese. Visible defects. The Chinese, Liang Riquan was willing to go to Cuba as a worker. This contract was issued to him and he was requested to follow the instruction.
Contributors黃, 昌龍 (Contractor)
Created1866
DescriptionA contract between Vongcheong Lon, a Chinese settler, and R. Solares. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Vongcheong Lon was originally from Fayune. Also features contract in Chinese.
Created1885
DescriptionThese letters detail investigations into illegal Chinese lotteries, including how the police should proceed and the names of people who were interviewed in the proceedings.
Created1886
DescriptionProsecution of a group of Chinese settlers for running an illegal lottery. Police Officer Pablo Delgado discovered the lottery and details those involved, including a settler named Damien.
Created1886-01-27
Description
This collection of documents pertains to the discovery of an illegal Chinese lottery in the home of a Chinese settler, and the ensuing investigation to determine the culprits and amass sufficient evidence against them to determine an appropriate punishment for the crime. An index was provided at the beginning of the packet to outline the various testimonies, minutes, evidence, and sentence included in the packet. Antonio Alli and Jose Alem were the two Chinese settlers who were charged with organizing the Chinese lottery and distributing the lottery ballots. The first document proceeding the index page is the testimony that was provided by Gabriel Gonzalez Reynaldo, the police officer who discovered the ballots in Antonio Alli's home, in which he described the initial suspicions of the unauthorized lottery taking place inside the home and the evidence that he discovered upon entering it on January 27, 1886. Both Antonio Alli and Jose Alem were found together in the house when Gabriel entered and discovered the evidence of the Chinese lottery. Both men were subsequently interviewed upon being arrested. The two men claimed that Jose had been visiting Antonio when an unidentified Chinese settler entered the house to ask if they knew about any job opportunities and forgot the ballots there when he left. An order was issued by the law enforcement to interview Antonio's neighbors and ascertain whether or not they knew about Antonio's involvement in the Chinese lottery. Another order was issued to send the ballots confiscated at Antonio's home to the Chinese consulate to be translated and interpreted, and a third order was made to determine whether Antonio and Jose were the Chinese lottery organizers and distributors or if they merely bought the ballots. All of the neighbors who were interviewed claimed that Antonio was most likely innocent based on their observations of his good work ethic and dedication to his job as a cigar seller. The neighbors of Jose Alem claimed that his involvement in the Chinese lottery was unlikely. A report from the Chinese consulate revealed that the papers sent to them to translate were indeed related to the Chinese lottery. No further evidence was found against the two men, and neither of them had committed any previous infractions. However, both of them were sentenced to serve two months and one day in jail, pay a fine of 1,625 pesos each, and had their voting rights revoked. 1886.