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Certificates of Residence Issued to Chinese Laborers
1965-1  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Access
  • Publication Rights
  • Preferred Citation
  • Acquisition Information
  • Biography/Administrative History
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Indexing Terms

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Certificates of Residence Issued to Chinese Laborers
    Dates: 1894
    Collection Number: 1965-1
    Creator/Collector: United States. Internal Revenue Service
    Extent: .5 linear feet (37 certificates)
    Online items available
    Repository: History San Jose Research Library
    San Jose, California 95112
    Abstract: Original certificates of residence issued by the U.S. government in 1894 to Chinese laborers under the provisions of the Act of May 5, 1892 (the Geary Act), allowing them to remain and work in the United States.
    Language of Material: English

    Access

    The collection is open to the public for research by appointment with the Curator of Library & Archives.

    Publication Rights

    All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Library and Archives. Consent is given on behalf of History San Jose as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item]. Certificates of Residence Issued to Chinese Laborers. Collection Number: 1965-1. History San Jose Research Library

    Acquisition Information

    Originally donated to Clyde Arbuckle in 1965 by Frank Emmite and Domonic Mercurio of the California Loan Office in San Jose; part of the original collection of the San Jose Historical Museum.

    Biography/Administrative History

    The Geary Act, introduced by California Congressman Thomas J. Geary, and passed by the U.S. Congress on May 5, 1892, extended the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The law required Chinese residents of the United States to apply for a Certificate of Residence and carry it at all times. Failure to do so was punishable by deportation.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    Original certificates of residence issued in 1894 by Collectors of Internal Revenue on behalf of the U.S. government to Chinese laborers under the provisions of the Act of May 5, 1892 (the Geary Act), allowing them to remain and work in the United States. The certificates include a photograph, name of individual, physical description, type of labor, and place of residence. Most certificates were issued in San Jose or the San Francisco Bay Area; several were issued outside of California.

    Indexing Terms

    California--Emigration and immigration--History--19th century.
    Chinese Americans--History
    Discrimination
    San Jose (Calif.)
    San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)
    Wadsworth (Nev.)
    Portland (Or.)
    El Paso (Tex.)
    certificates