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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Created1861
DescriptionRecords for the ship Alice Thorndike, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Torices, Puente y Co. On this trip, the Alice Thorndike brought 342 settlers from China to work.
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Created1855-01-30
DescriptionRecord of business deal for Benigno Gonzalez Alvarez and Luis Lusini with the Society of Asian Colonization concerning the importation of Chinese settlers to Cuba to work.
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Created1870-02-16
DescriptionRecord for business deals between la Positiva and Torices, Ferran, y Dupierris under Clemente Calero, Jose Galan, and Luis Lusini, who went to China to import settlers as workers. These contractors were paid as agents for these companies.
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Created1870-02-09
DescriptionRecord for business deals between la Positiva and Torices, Ferran y Dupierris under Luis Susini, who went to China to import settlers as workers.
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Created1858
DescriptionRecord of Luis Susim, who contracted Chinese settlers to move to Cuba to work. He worked with Ferran, Dupierris y Co and Carlos de Zaldo.
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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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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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Created1886-02-13
DescriptionA letter to the judge of the District of Prado concerning Pedro Amador, a Chinese settler, as the judge investigated Amador's past records.
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Created1866-06-06
DescriptionRelates that Serafin, a Chinese settler, was granted permanent residency in Cuba after fulfilling the legal requirements.
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Created1865
Description
A contract between Serafin, a Chinese settler, and Vidal Delioguez. The contract was to last for a year of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Notes that the company Serafin completed a contract with La Pura y Limpia previously. Signed by Vidal Delioguez

A contract between Serafin, a Chinese settler, and Vidal Delioguez. The contract was to last for a year of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Notes that the company Serafin completed a contract with La Pura y Limpia previously. Signed by Vidal Delioguez and Serafin, who signed in Chinese.