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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Created1864-04-06
DescriptionRecords for the ship Vasco de Gama, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza and Ferran y Dupierris. On this trip, the Vasco de Gama brought two settlers from China to work for Jose Campos.
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Created1864
DescriptionList of 29 Chinese settlers brought to Cuba aboard the ship "David". They were hired to work on the factory San Pablo in 1864 by Alejandro de la Torriente.
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Created1864
DescriptionList of 4 Chinese settlers brought to Cuba aboard the ship "David". They were hired to work in the field in 1864 for Antonio de Lordova.
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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.
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Created1867-01-06
DescriptionThis is the first labor contract that between a Chinese settler named Eleuterio, also known as Santiago, and his owner, Don Juan. The term of the contract was for one year. This document is signed by the governor of Colon, Don Juan and Eleuterio. 1867.
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Created1866
DescriptionA contract between Santiago, a Chinese settler, and Julian Aranga. The contract to last for one year and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Signed by Julian Aranga, Benardo Martinez, and Santiago, who signed in Chinese.
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Created1874
DescriptionDeath certificate for a "free" asian settler. He died in el Hospital de San Felipe y Santiago. 1874.
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Created1874-11-20
DescriptionDeath certificate for Santosa Chinese immigrant. He died in the Hospital de Caridad de San Felipe.
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Created1874
DescriptionDeath certificate for Panteleon, a Chinese immigrant. He died in the Hospital de Saint Phillip and Saint James.
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Created1874
DescriptionThis is a death certificate for Ysidora, a Chinese settler. He died in the Hospital of Saint Philip and Saint James in Havana.