Skip to main content

Chinese Immigrants in Cuba: Documents from the James and Ana Melikian Collection

Permanent Link Feedback

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.


Series
Date Range
1832 2015


Recent Submissions

"Runaway" Workers

Information on "runaway" worker, Laureano, who escaped from his owner. November 1873

Created Date
1873
Contract

A contracts between Vidal, a Chinese settler, and Pedro. The contract was to last for eight years and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Signed by Pedro and Vidal, who signed in Chinese.

Created Date
1866
Contract

A contract between Cheng or Francisco, a Chinese settler, and Vargas 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. Signed by Vargas y Co and Francisco, who signed in Chinese.

Created Date
1859-06-30
Contract Fulfilled

Certifies that Lucas, a Chinese settler, completed an eight-year-contract with his employer, Benitez Diron y Co.

Created Date
1867-08-23
Contract Fulfilled

Certifies that Lucas, a Chinese settler, completed an eight-year-contract with his employer, Pedro Ybarra.

Created Date
1868-05-16
Contract

A contract between Lucas, a Chinese settler, and the Grand Sugar Production Society. The contract was to last for a year and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Noted Lucas completed a contract with Benitez Diran y Co previously. Signed by Pedro and Lucas, who signed in Chinese.

Created Date
1867
Contract Fulfilled

Certifies that Felipe, a Chinese settler, completed an eight-year-contract with his employer, Cristobal Madan.

Created Date
1866-06-01
Contract

A contract between Felipe, a Chinese settler, and Cristobal Madan. The contract was to last for a year and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Notes Felipe completed a contract with Yugenio la Rosa previously. Signed by Cristobal Madan and Felipe, who signed in Chinese.

Created Date
1866
Contract

A contract between Felipe, a Chinese settler, and Pedro Rorello. The contract was to last for a year and lists the legal requirements of both the employee and the employer. Notes Felipe completed a contract with Cristobal Madan previously. Signed by Pedro Rorello and Felipe, who signed in Chinese.

Created Date
1867
Contact Fulfilled

Certifies that Felipe, a Chinese settler, completed an eight-year-contract with his employer, Cristobal Madan.

Created Date
1868-08-30