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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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Burial Records

DescriptionBurial records for Chinese settlers, overseen by a bishop. They were buried in a cemetery in Havana. The bishop asked for their to be a special cemetery for Chinese settlers that was to be set up by the Superior Government.
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Report on Interracial Marriage

Created1864
DescriptionA letter from Pedro Sanchez, the secretary of the Bishop of Havana. It details that Chinese settlers do not need a special marriage license if they marry someone who is racially different, including those of mixed ancestry.
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Court Record

Created1867
Description
Records pertaining to the right of a company to not pay for the burial of their employees if they die while contracted. The court ruling does mention that many settlers are poor and that the parish has struggled to find resources to help the poor, but that the bishop did…

Records pertaining to the right of a company to not pay for the burial of their employees if they die while contracted. The court ruling does mention that many settlers are poor and that the parish has struggled to find resources to help the poor, but that the bishop did not help the parishes. The Deposit of Immigrants has been persisting in changing public and legal perception of Chinese settlers as humans who have rights. However, companies are not legally obligated to fulfill a church job.
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Court Record

Created1889
DescriptionRecords indicating that the courts requested paperwork and information on a Chinese settler who is accused of theft and murder. His baptism certificate was requested from the Chinese Consul in Havana.
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Rehire Request

Created1875-04-23
Description5 Chinese settlers completed a contract with Trinidad Amador and was seeking to sign a new labor contract with his original owner. His owner agreed to sign a new one.
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Rehire Request

Created1875
DescriptionThis is a response to a rehire request made by Trinidad Amador, the owner of Yela de Pinos, written and signed by the the count Lagunilla, governor of Cuba. It states that the contracts of five indentured servants, Bernarndo, Candido, Teofilo, Amado, and Alicio will be renewed. No date given.
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Rehire Request

Created1875-10-07
DescriptionFive Chinese settlers completed a contract with their original employer and were seeking to sign a new labor contract. Their owner agreed to sign a new one.
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List of Contracted Chinese Workers

Created1861-03-04
DescriptionThese documents pertain to 19 Chinese settlers who arrived in Havana aboard the American ship "Live Yankee" in 1861. Upon arrival in Cuba, their eight year labor contracts were ceded to a landowner named Juan Poey; he hired them to be fieldworkers. Havana, 1861.
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Rehire Request

Created1872-04-20
DescriptionThis is a formal request that was made on the behalf of Pedro, a Chinese settler, who sought permission to be rehired by his original owner under a new labor contract. 1872.
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Rehire Request

Created1875-10-07
DescriptionThis is a request made to the Cuban government on the behalf of Trinidad Amador, a Spanish bussinessman, in which he sought permission to renew the contracts of five of his Chinese workers. 1875