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 collection contains over 1341 records and about 8,000-9,000 pages.
- Chinese Immigrants in Cuba Labor Series
- 15 Chinese Immigrants in Cuba Ship Records Series
- La Alianza
- 15 Macao
- 9 Dupierris
- 9 Ferran y Dupierris
- 9 Havana
- 8 R. Calderon
- 6 Ferran
- more
- 6 First Contract
- 6 Luisita
- 6 Vasco de Gama
- 5 Countryside
- 4 Contract
- 3 A. R. Ferran
- 3 Alfonso de Albuquerque
- 3 Jose M.
- 2 Contracted
- 2 Domenach
- 2 Indentured Servant
- 2 J. G. Domenech
- 2 Juan
- 2 Sagua la Grande
- 2 Tuton y Hijo
- 1 Aguedita
- 1 American
- 1 Amoy
- 1 Arturo
- 1 Bakery
- 1 Baldomoro
- 1 Belgian
- 1 Bread
- 1 Calixto
- 1 Camoens
- 1 Cardenas
- 1 Chan Jui
- 1 Chan Quai
- 1 Chau In
- 1 Chin Chin
- 1 Choing Seug
- 1 Cimarrones
- 1 Colon
- 1 Contracted Workers
- 1 Dane Lao
- 1 Domenech
- 1 Donato
- 1 Emmanuel
- 1 Encarnacion
- 1 Erasimo
- 1 Faustino
- 1 Fields
- 1 Fosca y Araoz
- 1 Francis P. Sage
- 1 Francisco Morell
- 1 Frigate
- 1 Hou Hum
- 1 Immigrants
- 1 Ingenio Union
- 1 Jose Belen Fernandez
- 1 Jose C. Badia
- 1 Jose Campos
- 1 Jose D. Sanchez Benitez
- 1 Jose M. Paya
- 1 José Paya
- 1 Ju Seu
- 1 Juan P.
- 1 La Compania
- 1 Lam Som
- 1 Lattae
- 1 Lem
- 1 Leopold Cateaux
- 1 Li Shen
- 1 List
- 1 Loe Guy
- 1 Luisa de Mella
- 1 Ly Alem
- 1 Macuriges
- 1 Manloe
- 1 Mayatte
- 1 Miguel
- 1 Mina
- 1 Nolasco
- 1 Papillon
- 1 Pedro Reinaldo
- 1 Record
- 1 Recruitment
- 1 Sagua de la Grande
- 1 Soteng
- 1 Tam Fan
- 1 Tao
- 1 Tong-Atac
- 1 Torices Puente
- 1 Transfer
- 1 Tuton and Son
- 1 Valentin Namiolla
- 1 Veng Yong
- 1 Vichau
- 1 Victorino
- 1 Ysidoro
- 1 Zhu Nan
These are two separate first labor contracts that belonged to two Chinese settlers, in which they agreed to travel to Cuba to work as indentured servants for eight years. One contract was signed in 1867 and the other in 1861. La Alianza were the agents for these contracts.
- Contributors
- 吳, 才
- Created Date
- 1867
A contract between Lu, a Chinese settler, and La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Transferred to Jose M. Paya and then to J. G. Domenech. Lu did not negotiate or sign the contract as the signature stipulates that someone else signed for him. Signed by an agent from La Alianza and the original owner.
- Contributors
- 余, 合
- Created Date
- 1867-03-26
A contract between Chiong Seug, a Chinese settler, and R. Calderon, the agent of La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Chiong Sung did not negotiate or sign the contract as the signature stipulates that someone else signed for him. Upon reaching Havana, this contract was ceded to Domenach and Co.
- Created Date
- 1867-03-26
A contract between Lam Som, a Chinese settler, and La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Notes this contract was then transferred to José Paya and then, to J. G. Domenech. He did not negotiate or sign the contract as the signature stipulates that someone else signed for him. Signed by Jose M.
- Created Date
- 1867-03-10
This is a first contract signed by a Chinese settler, in which he agreed to travel to Cuba to work as an indentured servant for eight years. Macao
- Created Date
- 1871-12-02
A contract between Chan Qui, a Chinese settler, and Tuton y Hijo and the agents of La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements for both the employee and the employer. Chan Qui did not negotiate or sign the contract as the signature stipulates that someone else signed for him. Signed by the agents of Tuton y Hijo. Also features the contract in Chinese.
- Created Date
- 1871-12-02
A contract between a Chinese settler and La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer.
- Contributors
- 鄭, 清
- Created Date
- 1871-11-29
A contract between Tong-Atac, a Chinese settler, and H. de Closmadeuc and Campbell y Co. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Also features the contract in Chinese.
- Contributors
- 冯, 口得
- Created Date
- 1860-11-19
A contract between Lilio, a Chinese settler and R. Calderon and la Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. His contract was then passed to Domenech.
- Created Date
- 1867
A contract between Ju Seu, a Chinese settler, and R. Calderon, agent of La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. He was to be hired by another employer upon arrival. Contracted featured in Chinese.
- Contributors
- 陶, 平
- Created Date
- 1863
A contract between Chau In, a Chinese settler, and R. Calderon, agent of La Alianza. La Alianza brought Chau In from China to Cuba to work. He was to be hired by another employer upon arrival. Written in Spanish and Chinese.
- Created Date
- 1869
A contract between Chan Jui, a Chinese settler, and R. Calderon, an agent for La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Chan Jui did not negotiate or sign the contract as the signature stipulates that someone else signed for him.
- Created Date
- 1867
A contract between Zhu Nam, a Chinese settler, and Tuton y Hijo and agents of La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Zhu Nam did not negotiate or sign the contract as the signature stipulates that someone else signed for him. Signed by Tuton y Hijo. Also features contract in Chinese.
- Created Date
- 1870
A contract between Tam Fan, a Chinese and la Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Notes that the contract was transfered to Jose M.
- Created Date
- 1867
A contract between Lattae, a Chinese settler, and La Alianza. The contract was to last for an undisclosed amount of time and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Notes that this contract was transferred to Jose M. Also featured in Chinese.
- Created Date
- 1867
A contract between Dane Lao, a Chinese settler, and Tutan y Hijo, agents for the contract company La Alianza. La Alianza was to bring Dane Lao from China to Cuba to work and the contract lists the legal requirements for both the settler and the company. Contract issued in Macao. Also features the contract in Chinese.
- Created Date
- 1876-11-22
This is a contract between La Alianza, Ferran and Dupierris and a frigate that was hired to bring Chinese settlers to Cuba.
- Created Date
- 1864
This is a contract between the company, La Alianza and the frigate, Luisita, in order to bring Chinese settlers to Havana.
- Created Date
- 1864
This document pertains to the recruitment and transfer of the eight year contracts of 172 newly arrived Chinese settlers in Cuba. Details regarding the Cuban landlords who received the settlers' contracts are not included in this document. 1866.
- Created Date
- 1866-03-12
These documents pertain to a Chinese settler named Chin Chin who was brought to Cuba aboard the ship "Luisita", and whose eight year contract was ceded to Jose Belen Fernandez upon arrival in Havana. 1864
- Created Date
- 1864-07-08
10 Chinese settlers were hired to work on public works. They were transported to Cuba aboard the ship Luisita under contract with la Alianza. These workers were hired to work in Havana.
- Created Date
- 1864-04-10
Shipping contract between the company, La Alianza, and Ferran and Dupierris with the frigate, Luisita. The ship was to bring Chinese settlers contracted by la Alianza to Cuba from China for work.
- Created Date
- 1864
Records for the ship Luisita, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza and Ferran y Dupierris. One of these workers were contracted by Juan in Havana.
- Created Date
- 1864-06-10
Records for the ship Luisita, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza and Ferran y Dupierris. Three of these workers were contracted by Fosca y Araoz in Sagua la Grande.
- Created Date
- 1864-07-09
This contract allows the company, La Alianza, headed by A.R. Ferran and Dupierris to hire the frigate, Camoens in order to transport Chinese settlers.
- Created Date
- 1865
Records for the ship Alfonso de Albuquerque, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza.
- Created Date
- 1864
Records for the ship Vasco de Gama, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Torices, Puente and Ferran y Dupierris.
- Created Date
- 1864-06-05
Records for the ship Encarnacion, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza. On this trip, the Encarnacion brought nine settlers from China to work for Pedro Reinaldo.
- Created Date
- 1865-03-28
Records for the ship Francis P Sage, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with Torices, Puente and Ferran y Dupierris. This worker was to be employed in the countryside for Luisa de Mella.
- Created Date
- 1861-05-18
Records for the ship Vasco de Gama, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza. On this trip, the Vasco de Gama brought settlers from China to work.
- Created Date
- 1864
Records for the ship Alonso de Albuquerque, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza. On this trip, the Alfonso de Albuquerque brought settlers from China to work.
- Created Date
- 1864
Records 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.
- Created Date
- 1866-06-20
Records for the ship Emmanuel, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza. On this trip, the Emmanuel brought forty-six settlers from China to work for Ingenio Union.
- Created Date
- 1865-07-13
Records for the ship Vasco de Gama, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza. On this trip, the Vasco de Gama brought settlers from China to work for Juan P.
- Created Date
- 1864
Records for the ship Leopold Cateaux, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza. On this trip, the Leopold Cateaux brought two settlers from China to work for Jose C. Badia.
- Created Date
- 1863-04-08
Records for the ship Vasco de Gama, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza and Ferran y Dupierris. On this trip, the Vasco de Gama brought workers from China to work in the countryside.
- Created Date
- 1864-06-30
Records for the ship Alfonso de Albuquerque, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza and Ferran y Dupierris. On this trip, the Alfonso de Albuquerque brought settlers from China to work in the fields.
- Created Date
- 1864-06-10
Records for the ship Vasco de Gama, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza and Ferran y Dupierris. On this trip, the Vasco de Gama brought two settlers from China to work for Jose Campos.
- Created Date
- 1864-04-06
Records for the ship Vasco de Gama, which brought Chinese settlers from China to Cuba under contract with La Alianza and Ferran y Dupierris. On this trip, the Vasco de Gama brought six workers from China to work in the countryside for a sugar factory, Aguedita.
- Created Date
- 1864-07-06