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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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Contract

Contributors陶, 秀 (Contractor)
Created1861
Description

A contract between Tau and Torices, Puente and Company. The contract was signed in Macao and Torices, Puente and Company agreed to bring Tau from China to Cuba to work. He was to be hired by another employer upon arrival.

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Shipping Records

Created1861
DescriptionRecords for the ship Kate Hooper, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Ferran y Dupierris and Torices, Puente y Co. On this trip, the Kate Hooper brought six settlers from China to work in the fields.
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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.
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Business Record

Created1875
DescriptionRecord of business deal for various agents with Torices, Ferran, Dupierris y Co and La Positiva concerning the importation of Chinese settlers to Cuba to work.
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Marriage Report

Created1864-05-20
DescriptionRelates that Zaldo Ferran y Dupierris solicited the civil government to create a separate book in parish churches for the marriages of Chinese settlers and blacks or people of mixed race.
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Government Report

Created1964-04-29
Description
Relates that Leonardo Sanchez, a permanent resident of Cuba and a baptized Catholic, married Marcelina Diaz. She was born in Matanzas and they had two daughters, who were both baptized and registered in the book for those of European descent in their parish church. Report concerns whether or not their…

Relates that Leonardo Sanchez, a permanent resident of Cuba and a baptized Catholic, married Marcelina Diaz. She was born in Matanzas and they had two daughters, who were both baptized and registered in the book for those of European descent in their parish church. Report concerns whether or not their children, who were of "mixed race," could be considered white, determined by which book their baptisms are recorded in. Churches would use different books for Europeans, whites, and minorities. The Governor rules that children born to one white parent were to be considered the same racial classification in terms of their baptism.
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Naturalization Document

Created1873-03-13
DescriptionOfficial naturalization document of Juan Ley Acheu, a Chinese settler, who was granted his carta de naturaleza, or naturalization documents. Relates that Juan had take an oath of loyalty and obedience to the Cuban government that was required of him.
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Ship Record of the "Flora"

Created1866-08-10
Description

Records for the ship "Flora," which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba. On this trip, the Flora brought three hundred settlers from China to work. The telegraph states that the Flore docked in Havana and recorded their arrival with the Seaboard of Santidad del Marial.

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Ship Record of the "Flora"

Created1866-06-21
Description

Records for the ship "Flora," which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Torices, Puente y Co. On this trip, the Flora brought 589 settlers from China to work. The ship was captained by Lafontaine.

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Ship Record of the "Francis P. Sage"

Created1861-05-18
Description

Records for the ship Francis P. Sage, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Compania Asiatica, Torices Puente y Co and Ferran y Dupierris. On this trip, the Francis P. Sage brought workers from China to work in the fields.