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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Created1866-06-20
DescriptionRecords for the ship Mina, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza. On this trip, the Mina brought settlers from China to work for Jose D. Sanchez Benitez.
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Created1866
DescriptionRecords for the ship Oldenburg Ammerland, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Y. M. Zangroniz y Co. On this trip, the Oldenburg Ammerland brought fourteen from China to work for the sugar plantation "La Palma". 1866
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Created1860
DescriptionThis is the first contract between Joaquin, a Chinese settler, and Francisco Carrera for the period of one year. 1860.
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Created1868-06-28
DescriptionThis is a second labor contract that was shared between Francisco- a Chinese settler, and a Cuban landlord named D. Pedro L. Garcia; the contract term, as specified within the contract, was for one year. 1968. Signed in Chinese.
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Created1868-06-28
DescriptionThis is a second labor contract that was shared between Celestino, a Chinese settler, and his owner, Pablo Momilo; the term of the contract was for one year. Details regarding Celestino's wage, food, clothes, and work hours were stipulated in the document. 1868. Signed in Chinese.
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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.
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Created1866-06-30
Description
These documents pertain to a Chinese "cult" in Havana that alarmed several government officials who were concerned that not taking any measures to disband the cult and to successfully convert the Chinese settlers to Catholicism could be dangerous for the integrity of the Catholic faith in Cuba, and for Cuban

These documents pertain to a Chinese "cult" in Havana that alarmed several government officials who were concerned that not taking any measures to disband the cult and to successfully convert the Chinese settlers to Catholicism could be dangerous for the integrity of the Catholic faith in Cuba, and for Cuban citizens. 1866.
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Created1866
DescriptionSummary of an examination into the relationship between Catholicism and the Chinese settlers that had been baptized, labeling it "deplorable" because complete integration had not taken place and that the settlers were still worshiping "idols" due to their isolation in agricultural work. 1866.
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Created1868-03-28
Description
This is a second labor contract that was shared between Federico, a Chinese settler, and his owner, Francisco Cairo. Federico was brought to Cuba from China to serve as an indentured servant and the term of the contract was for one year. Details regarding Federico's wage, food, clothes, and work

This is a second labor contract that was shared between Federico, a Chinese settler, and his owner, Francisco Cairo. Federico was brought to Cuba from China to serve as an indentured servant and the term of the contract was for one year. Details regarding Federico's wage, food, clothes, and work hours were stipulated in the document. 1868. Signed in Chinese by Federico.
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Created1868-05-30
DescriptionThis is a second labor contract that was shared between a Chinese settler, Aristoteles, and la Empresa del ferro carril, the railroad company; the term of the contract was for one year. 1868. Signed in Chinese.