79725-Thumbnail Image.jpg

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.

Displaying 1 - 10 of 68
Filtering by

Clear all filters

78735-Thumbnail Image.png

Cedula

Created1864
Description

The cedula or an identity record for a Chinese settler, Francisco. He was brought from Soltero, China to Cuba to work for M. B. Pereda for eight years. Then, his contract was transferred to R. A. Leull for an additional eight years. 1864.

78620-Thumbnail Image.png

Cedula

Created1864
DescriptionThis is a neighborhood identity card (cedula) that belonged to Francisco- a Chinese settler, who was 33 years old, and in the process of completing his eight year labor contract as an indentured servant working for a railroad company at the time that the ID card was issued. 1864.
78947-Thumbnail Image.png

Ship Manifest

Created1873
DescriptionShipping list of Chinese settlers brought to Cuba in the Spanish ship "Juan" in 1873 with 727 settlers from Macao.
78792-Thumbnail Image.png

Contract

Created1865
Description

A contract between Juan, a Chinese settler and Luis Alonso. The contract allowed Luis Alonso to bring Juan from China to Cuba to work. Juan was contracted by an employer upon arrival in Havana; this contract lasted for two years.

78815-Thumbnail Image.png

Shipping Records

Created1865
DescriptionRecords for the ship Encarnacion, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with _____. On this trip, the Encarnacion brought at least 268 settlers from China to work. Eleven of them were hired by Joaquin Marquez at the Trinidad factory.
78485-Thumbnail Image.png

Contract

Created1868-06-28
DescriptionThis is a second labor contract that was shared between Francisco- a Chinese settler, and a Cuban landlord named D. Pedro L. Garcia; the contract term, as specified within the contract, was for one year. 1968. Signed in Chinese.
78265-Thumbnail Image.png

Rehire Request by Tedeo Morales

Created1872
DescriptionEight Chinese settlers completed contracts with Tedeo Morales and were seeking to sign new labor contracts with their owner.
77345-Thumbnail Image.png

Identity Card

Created1867
DescriptionAn identity card, or cedula, for Francisco. He was 34 years old when this card was issued. He was employed by Diego Fonseca.
77346-Thumbnail Image.png

Contract

Created1859-06-30
DescriptionA contract between Cheng or Francisco, a Chinese settler, and Vargas y Co. 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 Vargas y Co and Francisco, who signed in Chinese.
77347-Thumbnail Image.png

Identity Card

Created1868
DescriptionAn identity card, or cedula, for Francisco. He was 34 years old when this card was issued. He was employed by Diego Fonseca.