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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Created1861
DescriptionDocument with a list of Chinese settlers who will fulfill his contract Tenure Bejucal Government April 1861. Contracts: List of Chinese Workers about to Complete their Contracts in Bejucal- April 1861
Created1864-02-29
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 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.
Created1864-03-05
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 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.
Created1870-10-14
DescriptionRecords indicating that the courts requested paperwork and information on Pedro o Poncho, a Chinese settler, from the Chinese Consul in Havana. He was originally from Canton. He ran away from his employer, was captured, and held in the Deposit of Runaways.
Created1877-05-10
DescriptionRecord for Candelaria Maria, the child of a Creole, Clara and an unknown father. Her grandmother was Jacoba Loria. Her godfather was Angel Grey Valdes and her godmother was Maria Medina who was a slave of Carlos Dias Arguelles. She was baptized in Cerro.
Created1869-06-07
DescriptionCandelaria, a slave, converted to Christianity. She was the slave of Juan Sibario and was the daughter of the Chinese settler, Eustaguia. Her godmother was Merced Sonata Cruz, a creole slave. She was owned by Antonio Agustin Villa.
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.
Created1870
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 Bejucal. Their names, ages, and nationality are listed along with the dates of their escape and capture.
Created1870-10-14
Description
This is a report concerning Miato, a runaway Chinese worker, and the record of his interrogation signed on October 17, 1870. The document begins with an opening statement describing a mandate to perform a thorough investigation and interrogation of the circumstances leading to Miato's escape and the appointment of witnesses; the latter half documents the interrogation. Bejucal- 1870.
Created1861-05-20
Description
These death and identity records pertain to Felipe, a Chinese settler. The first document indicates that when Felipe died he was 51 years old, in the process of completing his preliminary eight year contract as an indentured servant, and he was working as a fieldworker for D. Antonio G. Solar. The second document in this selection is the death certificate that was written for Felipe on March 29, 1861; the cause of his death was described within this record. The final document in this selection is Felipe's cedula, or neighborhood identity card. According to the cedula, Felipe originally shared his eight year contract with Jose M. Morales, but was ceded by Morales to Antonio G. Solar. The cedula was signed on December 10, 1860.