Chinese Immigrants in Cuba: Documents From the James and Ana Melikian Collection
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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Created1866-05-30
DescriptionThis is a labor contract that was shared between Higiorio, a Chinese settler, and his owner, Pedro del Campo; the term of the contract was for one year. 1866.
Created1889-07-23
DescriptionA death certificate for Horentio Bay, who died at the Civil Hospital of Our Lady of Mercy in Havana. He died from tuberculosis and was buried in the general cemetery.
Created1869
DescriptionCedula or identification card for Toribio, a Chinese settler. He was originally from Soltero and is in the process of of fulfilling a contract with a Cuban landowner. 1869.
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.
Created1866-05-20
Description
This is the first labor contract that was shared between a Chinese settler named Leopoldo, and his owner, Felipe Macau, presumably a freed Chinese settler. Leopoldo had already completed a contract with Joaquin Tiago. He was brought from Canton to Cuba to work as an indentured servant in Soltero. The term of the contract with Don Felipe was for six months. 1866. Signed in Chinese by Leopoldo.
Created1862
Description
A contract between Pablo, a Chinese settler, and Engenio de Mora. The contract was to last for two years and lists the legal requirement of both the employee and the employer. Pablo did not negotiate or sign the contract as the signature stipulates that someone else signed for him. Signed by Jose Miguel.
Created1866-12-25
DescriptionAn identity card, or cedula, for Pablo, originally from Canton. Pablo was working for the railroad in Urbana.
Created1865-12-16
DescriptionCertifies that Pablo, a Chinese settler, completed an two-year-contract with his employer, Juan Nepom Ortega.
Created1874
DescriptionDeath certificate for Pablo, a Chinese immigrant. He died in the Hospital de Caridad de San Felipe from lung problems.
Created1870-06-13
DescriptionA death certificate for Andres, a Chinese immigrant from Soltero. He died in the Royal Hospital in San Felipe y Santiago from pulmonary problems.