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 1 - 10 of 40
Filtering by
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.
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.
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.
Created1886-03-26
Description
Records indicating that the police located and broke up an illegal Chinese raffle in Havana under the orders of the Chief of Police, Maria de Rala y Aranaz. The raffle, Chiffa, was located near a fruit stand and the Consulate in Havana. Jose Manuel Ledon investigated and Jose Afa, a Chinese settler, was arrested in connection with the lottery.
Created1886-03-26
DescriptionRecords indicating that Chinese Consul in Havana gave the courts the paperwork of Jose Afa, a Chinese settler and permanent resident in Cuba, who was detained by police in connection to an illegal lottery. Details the actions of the police and the court in their investigations.
Created1886-03-26
DescriptionRecords indicating that Chinese Consul in Havana gave the courts the paperwork of Jose Afa, a Chinese settler and permanent resident in Cuba, who was detained by police in connection to an illegal lottery. Details the actions of the police and the court in their investigations.
Created1886-03-27
DescriptionRecords indicating that Chinese Consul in Havana gave the courts the paperwork of Jose Afa, a Chinese settler and permanent resident in Cuba, who was detained by police in connection to an illegal lottery. He was held in the royal jail in Havana.
Created1861
Description
Letter to the governor from Diez, discussing the legal requirements for Chinese settlers to be granted permanent residency in Cuba. Mentions that most settlers, after completing an eight year contract and being granted residency, preferred to enter into more contracts rather than seek work separately. Also discusses the abuses by employers who break their contracts with Chinese settlers.