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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Created1866-06-20
DescriptionRecords for the ship Mina, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza. On this trip, the Mina brought settlers from China to work for Jose D. Sanchez Benitez.
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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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Created1864
DescriptionThese are the records of Jose Dolores, a Chinese settler brought from China to Cuba for work. The documents include handwritten contracts with various owners and recommendation letters, detailing his good behavior as a worker. His certificate of nationality is also included and was accepted by the governor of Cuba.
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Created1866
DescriptionRecords for the ship Oldenburg Ammerland, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Y. M. Zangroniz y Co. On this trip, the Oldenburg Ammerland brought fourteen from China to work for the sugar plantation "La Palma". 1866
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Created1868-07-30
DescriptionThis is the first labor contract that belonged to a Chinese settler named Benigno, and his owner, Ramon Felipe. Benigno was brought from Soltero to Cuba to work as an indentured servant. The term of the contract was for one year. 1868. Signed in Chinese.
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Created1860
DescriptionThis is the first contract between Joaquin, a Chinese settler, and Francisco Carrera for the period of one year. 1860.
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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.
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Created1868-06-28
DescriptionThis is a second labor contract that was shared between Celestino, a Chinese settler, and his owner, Pablo Momilo; the term of the contract was for one year. Details regarding Celestino's wage, food, clothes, and work hours were stipulated in the document. 1868. Signed in Chinese.