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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Created1868
DescriptionA contract between Nicolas, a Chinese settler, and Ramon and Carlos Jonts. The contract was to last for a year and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Signed by Ramon, Carlos Jonts, and Nicolas, who signed in Chinese.
Chinese Lottery
Created1886
DescriptionProsecution of a group of Chinese settlers for running an illegal lottery. Police Officer Pablo Delgado discovered the lottery and details those involved, including a settler named Damien.
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Created1867-01-06
DescriptionThis is a second labor contract that was shared between a Chinese settler and his owner, Ramon; the term of the contract was for one year. 1867. Signed in Chinese.
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Created1874-11-27
DescriptionDeath certificate for Ramon, a Chinese immigrant. He died in the Hospital de Caridad de San Felipe y Santiago.
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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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Created1860-03-31
DescriptionRecord of business deals for Luis Lusini and Cayetano with the Society of Asian Colonization concerning the importation of Chinese settlers to Cuba to work.
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Created1866
DescriptionAn identity card, or cedula, for Ramon. Ramon was thirty-seven years old when this card was issued.
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Created1886-04-12
DescriptionDescribes the actions of the District Attorney in Havana to prosecute Pedro Amador, a Chinese settler, who was prosecuted in relation to the illegal Chinese lottery, Chiffa.
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DescriptionThe Superior Civil Government investigates the Society of Bustmante y Troncaso's hiring practices, relating to the illegal hiring of Chinese settlers under the age of 14. Many of their contracts did not mention the age of the settlers as to avoid the legal age requirements.
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Created1860-12-06
Description
Records of business deals of the Society of Troncaso Bustamante, specifically relating to their hiring practices and the ages of their settlers. Relates their illegal hiring of settlers under the age of 14. Article 8 of the laws concerning the hiring of Chinese settlers stated that the hiring of people

Records of business deals of the Society of Troncaso Bustamante, specifically relating to their hiring practices and the ages of their settlers. Relates their illegal hiring of settlers under the age of 14. Article 8 of the laws concerning the hiring of Chinese settlers stated that the hiring of people under the age of 14 was illegal.