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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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Reports

DescriptionThis is a series of reports files by the mayor of Guanabacoa concerning the treatment of Chinese settlers in Cuba, including punishment for crimes and the death penalty.
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List of Runaway Chinese Workers

Created1858
DescriptionList of Chinese settlers who have run away from their owners and were later captured in Guanabacoa in 1858.
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List of Runaway Chinese Workers

Created1858
DescriptionList of Chinese settlers who had run away from their owners and were captured in Guanabacoa in 1858. Their names, ages, and physical descriptions are listed.
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Application Documents for Permanent Residence in Cuba

Created1865
Description

5.Application Documents "Letter Home" (permanent residence on the island of Cuba), 1865. Contains: Identity card of Chinese settlers legalized with a police seal; letter of recommendation from the owner certifying that fulfilled his contract of 8 years; Chinese settlers statements; Government contract (Guanabacoa).

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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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Labor

Created1956-07-16
DescriptionNotice from Dr. Jesus M Gonzalez y Fuente, doctor and lawyer, to Vicente Lee and Manuel Chiang allowing them to open their store, Lee and Chiang in Guanabacoa.
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Death Certificate

Created1874
DescriptionThis is a death certificate for Jose, a Chinese settler, who died in the Hospital of Saint Philip and Saint James in Havana.
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Cedula

Created1860
DescriptionPaperwork for the black worker, Jose, and the Chinese settler, Casimira.
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Shipping Record of the ship Glessanox

Created1873
DescriptionRecords for the ship Glessanox, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba. On this trip, the Glessanox brought 130 settlers from China to work. The ship was captained by D. Capella
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Runaway Workers

Created1858
DescriptionList of Chinese settlers who ran away from their owners and were later captured. After capture, they were held in the Municipal Slave Deposit in Santa Maria del Rosario. Their names, ages, and nationality are listed along with the dates of their escape and capture.