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.
Displaying 11 - 20 of 80
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- All Subjects: First Contract
- All Subjects: Lottery
Created1867
DescriptionA contract between Atanacio, a Chinese settler and Juan Becio. The contract was to last for a year and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Signed by the governor, Juan Becio, and Atanacio, who signed in Chinese.
Created1868-05-26
DescriptionThis is a second labor contract between a Chinese settler named Tadeo and Augustus de Sagua, a Chinese landlord. The term of the contract was for one year. It was signed by the governor of Cuba, Augustus de Sagua, and Tadeo. Signed in Chinese by Tadeo.
Created1868
DescriptionThis is the first contract between Nicolas Eblao and Vicente Vega in Guanajay. The length of the contract is not stated. Signed in Chinese.
Created1866-10-18
DescriptionThese are two first contracts that were issued for two Chinese settlers in 1866 and in 1867. Signed and dated in Spanish.
Contributors黃, 昌龍 (Contractor)
Created1866
DescriptionA contract between Vongcheong Lon, a Chinese settler, and R. Solares. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Vongcheong Lon was originally from Fayune. Also features contract in Chinese.
Created1872
Description
This is a first contract that was signed by Li Naiye, a Chinese settler, in which he agreed to travel to Cuba to work as an indentured servant for eight years. He was brought to Cuba on the patronage of Rosendo Mayos and the Company of Hacendados. Several contracts are included and it is later stated that the contracts were fulfilled.
Created1885
DescriptionThese letters detail investigations into illegal Chinese lotteries, including how the police should proceed and the names of people who were interviewed in the proceedings.
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.
Created1886-01-27
Description
This collection of documents pertains to the discovery of an illegal Chinese lottery in the home of a Chinese settler, and the ensuing investigation to determine the culprits and amass sufficient evidence against them to determine an appropriate punishment for the crime. An index was provided at the beginning of the packet to outline the various testimonies, minutes, evidence, and sentence included in the packet. Antonio Alli and Jose Alem were the two Chinese settlers who were charged with organizing the Chinese lottery and distributing the lottery ballots. The first document proceeding the index page is the testimony that was provided by Gabriel Gonzalez Reynaldo, the police officer who discovered the ballots in Antonio Alli's home, in which he described the initial suspicions of the unauthorized lottery taking place inside the home and the evidence that he discovered upon entering it on January 27, 1886. Both Antonio Alli and Jose Alem were found together in the house when Gabriel entered and discovered the evidence of the Chinese lottery. Both men were subsequently interviewed upon being arrested. The two men claimed that Jose had been visiting Antonio when an unidentified Chinese settler entered the house to ask if they knew about any job opportunities and forgot the ballots there when he left. An order was issued by the law enforcement to interview Antonio's neighbors and ascertain whether or not they knew about Antonio's involvement in the Chinese lottery. Another order was issued to send the ballots confiscated at Antonio's home to the Chinese consulate to be translated and interpreted, and a third order was made to determine whether Antonio and Jose were the Chinese lottery organizers and distributors or if they merely bought the ballots. All of the neighbors who were interviewed claimed that Antonio was most likely innocent based on their observations of his good work ethic and dedication to his job as a cigar seller. The neighbors of Jose Alem claimed that his involvement in the Chinese lottery was unlikely. A report from the Chinese consulate revealed that the papers sent to them to translate were indeed related to the Chinese lottery. No further evidence was found against the two men, and neither of them had committed any previous infractions. However, both of them were sentenced to serve two months and one day in jail, pay a fine of 1,625 pesos each, and had their voting rights revoked. 1886.
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.