Finding aid to Certificates of residence for Chinese laborers, 1894-1897, MS 3642 MS 3642

Finding aid prepared by Marie Silva.
California Historical Society
2011
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
reference@calhist.org


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: California Historical Society
Title: Certificates of residence for Chinese laborers
Creator: United States. Internal Revenue Service. First District of California.
Identifier/Call Number: MS 3642
Physical Description: 3.0 folders (17 certificates)
Date (inclusive): 1894-1897
Physical Location: Collection is stored onsite.
Language of Material: Collection materials are in English.

Access

CHS is not taking appointments for research at this time. Please check the Library's website updates: https://californiahistoricalsociety.org/collections/north-baker-research-library/ 

Publication rights

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Library and Archives, North Baker Research Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Consent is given on behalf of the California Historical Society 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 for Chinese laborers, MS 3642, California Historical Society.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged in numerical order by certificate number.

Donor

Gift of Frank V. Piraro of San Jose, California, 2010.

Historical note

Under the provisions of the 1892 Geary Act, which amended the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, all Chinese in the United States were required to apply for, obtain, and carry a government-issued certificate of residence proving their legal presence in the United States. Chinese and Chinese Americans discovered without such identification could be arrested and deported.

Scope and Contents

Collection consists of 17 certificates of residence for Chinese laborers in California, dated from 1894 to 1897. Each certificate includes the laborer's name, local residence, and occupation; information about his height, eye color, complexion, and physical marks or peculiarities; and a photographic print. Certificates are signed and stamped by O. M. Welburn, Internal Revenue Collector, First District of California.

Bibliography

Sources consulted for Historical note:
Lee, Ericka. At America's gates: Chinese immigration during the exclusion era, 1882-1943. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2003.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

California -- Emigration and immigration -- History -- 19th century
Chinese Americans -- California -- History -- 19th century
Chinese -- California -- History -- 19th century
Identification cards.

Certificate 40998, Folder 1

Certificate of residence for Chin Wah [?], farmer, age 36 years, of Mountain View, California 1894 March 14

Certificate 41042, Folder 1

Certificate of residence for Wong Kin Hay [?], farmer, age 37 years, of Mountain View, California 1894 March 16

Certificate 41097, Folder 1

Certificate of residence for Lu Mai, farmer, age 38 years, of Santa Clara, California 1894 March 20

Certificate 71971, Folder 1

Certificate of residence for Lee Hong Sang [?], farmer, age 45 years, of San Jose, California 1894 April 6

Certificate 75217, Folder 1

Certificate of residence for Leang Kow, porter, age 60 years, of San Francisco, California 1894 May 3

Certificate 76258, Folder 1

Certificate of residence for Ju Sing, contractor, age 34 years, of San Jose, California 1894 May 3

Certificate 77406, Folder 2

Certificate of residence for Lung Tang, laundryman, age 36 years, of San Jose, California 1894 April 24

Certificate 83782, Folder 2

Certificate of residence for Chun Hoon [?], farmer, age 22 years, of Santa Clara, California 1894 April 18

Certificate 85677, Folder 2

Certificate of residence for Shong Hing Jee, cook, age 34 years, of San Jose, California 1894 April 17

Certificate 85844, Folder 2

Certificate of residence for Lee Hin, common laborer, age 50 years, of Salinas, California 1894 April 16

Certificate 92946, Folder 2

Certificate of residence for Ng Ock, farmer, age 35 years, of San Jose, California 1894 March 22

Certificate 92958, Folder 2

Certificate of residence for Wong Hock Chung, barber, age 38 years, of San Jose, California 1894 March 23

Certificate 98601, Folder 2

Certificate of residence for Ng Gwan, farmer, age 49 years, of San Jose, California 1894 March 26

Certificate 98613, Folder 3

Certificate of residence for Ng Hoe, laundryman, age 31 years, of San Jose, California 1894 March 26

Certificate 98776, Folder 3

Certificate of residence for Lu See Len, farmer, age 40 years, of San Jose, California 1894 April 2

Certificate 111857, Folder 3

Certificate of residence for Don Yin, gardener, age 45 years, of Vina, California 1894 April 5

Certificate 138664, Folder 3

Certificate of residence for Lem Shay, laundryman, age 35 years, of San Francisco 1897 February 12