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Asian American and Pacific Islander Records

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Restricting Immigration from Asia and the Pacific, 1870s to 1950s

Early immigration laws placed significant restrictions on migration from Asia and Pacific Islands (API) to the United States. These regulations led to increased scrutiny by immigration officials and the creation of numerous documents. Records concerning certain groups, such as immigrants and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent, can offer a rich source of information. However, it is important to recognize that not all records were created equally for every immigrant group. This page provides an overview on how federal policies uniquely impacted API migrants, explores the key federal agencies responsible for enforcing these stringent immigration laws, and provides guidance for accessing immigration records held at the 威尼斯人娱乐场.

Legislating Immigration

Restrictive immigration policies exerted considerable influence on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) experience. Legislation enacted between 1875 and 1965 excluded almost all immigration from Asian countries, stunting the growth of AAPI communities across the United States. Laws targeting specific communities gave rise to certain types of records at different periods in early U.S. immigration history. This helps to explain why some documentation may not exist for every API immigrant.

The following is a brief overview on the policies that most impacted immigrants of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.

    On This Page

    Legislating Immigration
    Enforcing Immigration Restrictions
    Researching the Records
    Explore Further

     

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    Page Act of 1875

    The earliest federal immigration act (enforced against Asian migration) prohibited entry to the United States by contract laborers and women engaging in 鈥渋mmoral鈥� activities. This law required migrants from Asian countries to obtain certified documents from their ports of departure, which would be examined upon arrival. The law was primarily administered against Chinese women and was repealed in 1974. 

     

    Despite presenting documentation of their exempt status, Chinese women were subjected to interrogations questioning their moral turpitude. Case File for Lew Bow Kong (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ).

     

    Immigration Act of 1882

    Passed a few months after the Act of May 1882, the (uscis.gov/) prohibited the entry of individuals likely to become 鈥渁 public charge.鈥� This law barred those lacking the means to support themselves, whether referring to a person鈥檚 financial resources or medical condition. Though it did not explicitly exclude immigrants based on race, enforcement conflated 鈥渦ndesirable immigrants鈥� with the poor and diseased bodies鈥攑rejudices historically applied to Asian immigrants. The public charge doctrine has been expanded in subsequent immigration policies and continues to be enforced today. 

    Sohn Singh was detained due to a hookworm (uncinariasis) diagnosis. Despite filing a writ of habeas corpus, Singh and several other Indian immigrants were deported. Arrival Case File 12815/008-11 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ).

     

    Immigration Act of 1917

    (loc.gov/) became the first widely enacted law that implemented a literacy test and restricted immigration from the geographically designated 鈥淎siatic Barred Zone.鈥� Loosely defined as 鈥渁ny country not owned by the U.S. adjacent to the continent of Asia,鈥� the barred zone extended from parts of West Asia to Western China and extended north into parts of Russia and southwest to the Pacific Islands. Japan, the Philippines, and other U.S. territories in the Pacific, were excluded from the barred zone. The 1917 law made exemptions for professionals and students, and their families. This act was amended in 1924. 

    Asiatic Barred Zone Map from .

     

    Tydings-McDuffie Act of 1934

    While this statute initiated the process for eventual independence in the Philippine Islands (that took effect in July 1946), it also restricted migration to the U.S. mainland by reclassifying Filipino arrivals from U.S. nationals to aliens and established an annual immigration quota of 50. At the urging of sugar planters, the law made exemptions for the Territory of Hawai鈥檌, and the large recruitment of Filipino labor remained uninterrupted until 1946. 

    Despite these attempts to staunch the flow of migration from Asia and the Pacific, nearly every policy allowed exemptions to admit otherwise excludable individuals. Though the number of immigrants from this region remained nominal compared to other groups, tenacious emigrants continued to arrive while claiming an exempt category.

    Vicente Corpus arrived in Hawai鈥檌 as one of the last group of contracted laborers admitted. Filipino Contract Worker Certificate of Identity No. 517 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ).

      1882 Chinese Exclusion Act

      The Chinese Exclusion Act (passed on May 6, 1882) was the first in a series of race- and class-based legislation that cemented exclusionary measures against Chinese immigrants. Though it specifically targeted Chinese laborers, enforcement placed a heavy burden on all Chinese persons. Despite presenting documents confirming their U.S. citizenship or exempt status (i.e., merchants, students, clergy, and their families), Chinese arrivals were subjected to interrogations that scrutinized their lawful statuses, identification, and familial relationships. As the laws expanded and reduced exempt categories, enforcement progressively became more stringent.

      As the only set of race-specific immigration policies enforced, the Chinese 1996 reference information paper, Chinese Immigration and the Chinese in the United States.Exclusion Acts affected any person of Chinese descent鈥攔egardless of their nationality. These policies provided the framework to develop laws applied to other groups. The Act of May 1882 was extended several times through the end of the 19th century, then made permanent in 1904, and finally repealed in 1943. 

      For more information on how numerous federal agencies interpreted and enforced the Chinese Exclusion Acts, see the 1996 reference information paper, Chinese Immigration and the Chinese in the United States.

       

      Gentlemen鈥檚 Agreement of 1907 

      Announced under Executive Order 589, this (history.state.gov/) restricted laborers from Japan and Korea. Unlike the Chinese Exclusion Act, this agreement allowed families of laborers already residing in the United States to immigrate.

      鈥�Tomi Takasu was one of many Japanese women who entered the United States as 鈥減icture brides,鈥� which was part of customary marriage arrangements. Arrival Case File 14851/024-03 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ).

       

      Immigration Act of 1924

      The Immigration Act of 1924 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ) set a national origin quota to two percent of country-of-origin populations from the 1890 census. It also barred immigrants 鈥渋neligible for citizenship,鈥� effectively prohibiting immigration from Asian countries. This law extended restrictive immigration policies to all Japanese citizens, negating the (history.state.gov/). 

      Naturalization was finally extended to AAPI persons in the 1940s and 1950s. This opened immigration, but it was still limited by set quotas. National origin quotas were not fully lifted until the . 

      Despite the quota system, Asian immigrants continued to be admitted with non-quota visas, either as returning residents or family members of those already residing in the United States. Helen Hisayo Nambu, Investigative Case File 4518/0006 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ).

      Enforcing Immigration Restrictions

      鈥�U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36)

      With no federal immigration administration in place prior to 1882, the Collectors of Customs became the first officials tasked with enforcing immigration laws at ports throughout the United States. While a separate immigration office was established in 1891, customs officials continued to hold jurisdiction over Chinese arrivals until 1900鈥�when these responsibilities were transferred to the Commissioner-General of Immigration. The Collectors of Customs still maintained final approval over local Chinese Bureau investigations until 1903, when the Bureau of Immigration became part of the newly created Department of Commerce and Labor.

      Lacking formalized procedures, U.S. Customs Service relied on its local officials to interpret immigration laws and develop policies as they saw fit. Because strict exclusionary policies required further scrutiny on Chinese arrivals, many of the activities and opinions of customs officials are documented in correspondence and policy records. 

      Customs Service records are a great resource for historical research and policy decisions related to the enforcement of early exclusionary regulations. While regional offices did not retain individual case files, case files can be found in the records to the Customs Headquarters ().

      Wise noted that all Chinese women, even those with exempt status, would be assumed to be 鈥渂rought for immoral purposes under the guise of wives and children.鈥� Letter from John H. Wise, Collector of Customs to W.F. Thompson, 2/26/1895 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ).

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)

      In 1900, the Bureau of Immigration became the chief agency responsible for implementing federal regulations, and consolidated immigration enforcement within one agency. This office eventually evolved into the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). 

      The INS inherited the early case files created by customs officials and continued to generate an enormous volume of individual case files鈥攁s they actively applied various immigration laws with every new policy enacted. Records from Record Group 85 serve as a vital source for genealogical research and in-depth examination of individual case files.

      Note: Most regional INS administrative records no longer exist, except for correspondence with INS Headquarters (INS Subject and Policy Files). 

      Researching the Records

      To begin your research, search for potential immigration records from the . If you are able to locate a Catalog record related to your individual, please contact the 威尼斯人娱乐场 and Records Administration (NARA) office identified under the section 鈥淎rchived Copy.鈥� 

      If you are unable to locate an individual in the Catalog, you may wish to contact a NARA office for further assistance. Individual cases might not have been retained at the original entry port, as officials often shared documents between INS offices. Records might have been consolidated into a later INS file at a different port or at the INS office near the person's last known residence.

      To determine which NARA office to contact, identify the most recent port of entry or last known residence. Then contact the closest 威尼斯人娱乐场 office to this known location.

      Sadly, files for many early API immigrants no longer exist. At many 威尼斯人娱乐场 field offices, only segregated Chinese immigration files have survived. Records held at the 威尼斯人娱乐场 in Washington, DC, and at San Francisco include case files for those immigrating from other parts of Asia and the Pacific. 

      For additional information on other types of immigration records, especially on Alien Files (A-Files), visit the Immigrant Records page. 

      The following is a list of Customs Service and INS records related to API immigration housed at NARA facilities across the country. Click the 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier for more information on each record series. Scroll down to the bottom of each Catalog record for the NARA office contact details. 

      Click "+" to display more information:
      Accordion

      U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36)
      Mobile (AL) Collection District
      Records about Chinese Laborers Deported, 1898鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36) 
      Massachusetts Collections District
      Administrative Records, 1789鈥�1938 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Connecticut Collections District
      Applications of Chinese Laborers for Certificates of Return to the United States, 1895鈥�1900 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)
      Boston District Office 
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1911鈥�1955 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Montreal District Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1900鈥�1952 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)
      Chicago District Office (including sub offices in Milwaukee, WI, and Gary, IN)
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1898鈥�1940 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Correspondence of the Chinese Division, 1893鈥�1924 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      St. Paul District Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1906鈥�1942 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36)
      New Orleans Collection District
      Records Relating to Immigrants, 1892鈥�1898 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)
      El Paso District Office (District 15)
      Testimony of Chinese Arrested for Illegally Entering the United States, May鈥揓uly 1907 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Descriptive List of Chinese Deported from Arizona, September 1907鈥揘ovember 1908 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Investigative Case Files on Chinese Persons, 1909鈥�1953 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Record of Aliens Arriving at El Paso, April 14, 1906鈥揝eptember 17, 1907 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36)
      Champlain (NY) Collection District
      Telegrams Received, February 5,1891鈥揂pril 1, 1897 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Oswegatchie (NY) Collection District
      Correspondence Regarding Chinese Immigrants or Deportees, January 2, 1896鈥揓une 19, 1900 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Philadelphia Collections District
      Letters and Reports Received by the Surveyor of Customs, December 1, 1883鈥揂pril 30, 1900 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)
      New York District Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1880鈥�1960 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Philadelphia District Office (District 4)
      Identification Papers of Chinese Exhibitors Appearing at the National Export Exposition of 1899, 1899鈥�1899 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Records Relating to Chinese Cases, 1896鈥�1918 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Chinese Cases Day Book, April 27, 1903鈥揂ugust 7, 1904 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Chinese Census Papers, 1905鈥�1905 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Decisions of the Board of Special Inquiry, 1893鈥�1909 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Cases

      • Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1895鈥�1952 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
        • Name index is available on M1144 microfilm publication finding aid (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ).

      Correspondence

      • Letters Sent Pertaining to Chinese Immigrants, June 1895鈥揇ecember 1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Letters Sent Concerning Chinese Immigrants, January 1904鈥揇ecember 1911 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Registers

      • Register of Chinese Cases, 1897鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Reports and Diaries

      • Diaries Relating to Chinese Cases, 1903鈥�1904 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Reports of Boarding Officers of Vessels with Chinese Crews, 1912鈥�1915 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Requests for Investigations of Chinese Desiring to Leave the United States, 1895鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Daily Reports of Chinese Cases Investigated, 1909鈥�1911 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Baltimore District Office (District 5)
      Correspondence Regarding Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1904鈥�1940 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36)
      Los Angeles Collection District
      Letters Sent, November 22, 1882鈥揂ugust 16, 1918 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Incoming Correspondence, September 18, 1883鈥揗ay 14, 1908 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      San Diego Collection District
      Letters Sent, October 14, 1885鈥揓une 29, 1909 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      General Correspondence Sent, May 5, 1885鈥揓une 16, 1909 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      General Correspondence Received, September 1, 1894鈥揇ecember 17, 1909 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ) 
      Letters Received from the Treasury Department, January 12, 1880鈥揘ovember 22, 1909 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Letters Sent Regarding the Revenue Cutter Service, May 22, 1894鈥揓anuary 18, 1913 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      San Diego Collection District, Calexico (California) Office
      Outgoing Correspondence, November 22, 1904鈥揗arch 23, 1916 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Incoming Correspondence Regarding Smuggling, July 25, 1914鈥揗ay 23, 1922 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      San Diego Collection District, Campo (California) Office
      General Correspondence, 1919鈥�1957 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)
      Los Angeles District Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, ca. 1893鈥揷a. 1945 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Investigations of Alien Applications for Reentry Permits, 1929鈥揷a. 1933 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Los Angeles Local Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1932鈥�1950 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Descriptions of Chinese Deportees, 1911鈥�1922 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Calexico (California) Local Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1919鈥�1968 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      San Diego (California) Local Office (includes Bakersfield)
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1911鈥�1976 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      San Pedro (California) Local Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1935鈥�1965 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Nogales (Arizona) Local Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1922鈥�1965 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36)
      San Francisco Collection District
      Report by the Surveyor on the Enforcement of the Chinese Exclusion Act, 1885 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Copies of Letters Sent by the Collector to the Secretary of the Treasury, June 1, 1861鈥揙ctober 5, 1912 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Letters Received by the Collector from the Office of the Secretary of the Treasury, March 24, 1851鈥揝eptember 17, 1912 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Non-Departmental Letters Received by the Collector, 1867鈥�1912 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      • Partially indexed by Index to Local and Official Letters Received, 1904鈥�1912 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Copies of Non-Departmental Letters Sent by the Collector and the Deputy Collector, June 11, 1861鈥揓anuary 1918 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)
      San Francisco District Office
      Administrative Files, 1894鈥�1941 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Registers of Certificates of Identity, June 14, 1909鈥揓anuary 19, 1939 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Duplicate Certificates of Identity, 1908鈥�1943 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Immigration Arrival Investigation Case Files, 1884鈥�1944 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Application Case File of Natives Bringing Foreign-Born Dependents to the United States (12023 Files), 1941鈥�1941 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Case Files of Investigations Not Resulting in Warrant Proceedings (12016 Files), 1912鈥�1944 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Deportation Investigation Case Files (12020 Files), 1930鈥�1950 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Enemy Alien Deportation Case Files (12044 Files), 1942鈥�1948 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Immigration "Chinese (Business) Partnership" Investigation Case Files, 1894鈥�1944 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Passport Application Case File (12034 Files), 1916鈥�1916 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Voluntary Deportation Case Files (12039 Files), 1934鈥�1936 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Immigration and Deportation Investigation Case Files (1300 Files), July 1, 1944鈥揇ecember 31, 1954 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Return Application Case Files

      • Return Certificate Application Case Files of Chinese Americans (9170 Files), 1903鈥�1912 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Return Certificate Application Case Files of Chinese Laborers (9180 Files), 1903鈥�1912 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Return Certificate Application Case Files of Chinese Merchants, Students, Teachers, and Clergy (9190 Files), 1903鈥�1913 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Return Certificate Application Case Files of Chinese Americans and Chinese Nationals, February 8, 1894鈥揓anuary 23, 1913 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Return Certificate Application Case Files of Chinese Departing (12017 Files), December 14, 1912鈥揇ecember 3, 1943 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Fresno Sub-Office
      Immigration and Deportation Investigation Case Files (1301 Files), 1944鈥�1955 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Oakland Sub-Office
      Immigration and Deportation Investigation Case Files (1303 Files), 1944鈥�1955 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Sacramento Sub-Office
      Immigration and Deportation Investigation Case Files (1305 Files), 1944鈥�1955 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Salinas Sub-Office
      Immigration and Deportation Investigation Case Files (1308 Files), 1944鈥�1955 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Stockton Sub-Office
      Immigration and Deportation Investigation Case Files (1307 Files), 1944鈥�1955 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )    

      Honolulu District Office (also as a Sub-Office of San Francisco)
      Copies of Letters Sent, August 15, 1903鈥揗ay 12, 1904 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Index to Immigration Investigation Case Files, 1985鈥�1986 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Filipino Contract Worker Certificates of Identity, 1946 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Index to Filipino Contract Worker Certificates of Identity, 1946 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Registers of Filipino Contract Workers, 1946 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Certificates of Identity and Residence

      • Index to Certificates of Identity, 1908鈥�1912 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files for Replacement Certificates of Identity (4391 Files), 1920鈥�1942 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )    
      • Application Case Files for Replacement Certificates of Residence (4390 Files), 1921鈥�1938 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )    
      • Duplicate Chinese Certificates of Residence, June 13, 1901 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Investigations and Applications Case Files

      • Chinese Immigration Case Files (C-Files), 1903鈥�1915 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files for Admission as Children of Hawaiian-Born United States Citizens of Chinese Descent (4386 Files), 1916鈥�1926 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files for Admission as Chinese Students, Teachers, and Travelers (4387 Files), 1916鈥�1942 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files for Admission as Students, Teachers, and Clergy (4379 Files), 1917鈥�1938 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files for Admission as the Children of Chinese Merchants, Teachers, and Clergy (4385), 1913鈥�1938 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files for Admission as United States Citizens of Non-Chinese Descent (4368 Files), 1924鈥�1941 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files for Admission as Wives and Children of Chinese Americans Naturalized under the Hawaiian Kingdom and Return Certificate Application Case Files of Chinese Americans Naturalized under the Hawaiian Kingdom (4393 Files), 1919鈥�1925 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )    
      • Application Case Files for Admission as Wives of Chinese Merchants, Teachers, and Clergy (4383 Files), 1916鈥�1939 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files for Admission as Wives of United States Citizens of Chinese Descent (4384 Files), 1916鈥�1940 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files of American Citizens of Chinese Ancestry for Return Certificates and of Chinese-Born United States Citizens for Admission to Hawai鈥檌 (4382 Files), 1916鈥�1942 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Application Case Files For Admission as Wives And Children of Japanese and Korean Clergy (4514), 1927鈥�1946 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Immigration Investigative Case Files, 1924鈥�1942 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Chinese Merchant Return Certificate Application Case Files (4381 Files), 1912鈥�1934 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Deportation Case Files (4280 Files), 1913鈥�1944 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Return Certificate Application Case Files of Lawfully-Domiciled Chinese Laborers (4380 Files), 1916鈥�1938 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Statements of Returning United States Citizens of Chinese Ancestry, October 17, 1946鈥揊ebruary 28, 1959 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Visa Application Case Files of Chinese Merchants, Students, Teachers, Travelers, and Clergy Seeking Admission to the Continental United States from Hawai鈥檌 (4388 Files), 1917鈥�1942 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )    
      • Immigration and Deportation Investigation Case Files (1302/1700 Files), July 8, 1944鈥揇ecember 31, 1954 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Board of Special Inquiry

      • Board of Special Inquiry Case Files, 1925鈥�1929 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Appeal Case Files of Japanese and Korean Aliens Denied Entry by Boards of Special Inquiry (4395 Files), 1917鈥�1940 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Transcripts of Board of Special Inquiry Hearings for Chinese Applying for Admission, May 20, 1904鈥揂pril 15, 1924 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Citizenship Certificates and Applications

      • Duplicate Hawaiian Islands Certificates of Citizenship, 1926鈥�1955 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )    
      • Hawaiian Islands Certificate of Citizenship Application Case Files (4333 Files), 1924鈥�1941 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Case Files of Chinese American Applicants for Certificates of Citizenship in the Hawaiian Islands (4500 Files), 1924鈥�1942 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Case Files of Filipino American Applicants for Certificates of Citizenship in the Hawaiian Islands (4800A Files), 1934鈥�1944 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Registers

      • Register of Chinese Citizens and U. S. Citizens of Chinese Ancestry Departing from and Returning to Honolulu, 1901鈥�1910 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Register of Chinese Confession Program Investigation Case Files, 1957鈥�1968 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Register of Japanese Arrivals and Register of Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans Detained for Boards of Special Inquiry, June 27, 1899鈥揓une 20, 1905 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Register of Passengers Detained at the Quarantine Station, January 1, 1927鈥揓uly 4, 1929 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Registers of Arrival and Disposition of Chinese Persons, December 31, 1899鈥揇ecember 17, 1941 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Registers of Arrivals of Japanese Free People, December 4, 1898鈥揓une 12, 1900 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36)
      Puget Sound Collection District
      Correspondence, 1852鈥�1916 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Registers of Chinese Laborers Departing from the United States, 1882鈥�1888 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Records of A.L. Blake, 1881鈥�1887 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Coded Administrative Files, 1911鈥�1925 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)
      Seattle District Office
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1892鈥�1920 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1895鈥�1943 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Chinese Passenger Arrival and Disposition Volumes, July 1, 1903鈥揓une 23, 1944 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Port Townsend (Washington) Port of Entry
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1895鈥�1927 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Sumas (Washington) Port of Entry
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1900鈥�1920 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Helena (Montana) Port of Entry
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1895鈥�1941 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      • Partially indexed, ca. 1899鈥揷a. 1933 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Portal (North Dakota) Port of Entry
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1905鈥�1925 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Vancouver (BC, Canada) Port of Entry
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1905鈥�1925 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Portland District Office 
      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1891鈥�1913 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      • Microfilm publication M1638, digitized in 威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: . Refused case files were not filmed even though some persons in this category were later admitted.

      Chinese Exclusion Act Case Files, 1893鈥�1948 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Testimonies of Witnesses for Chinese Applicants for Admission, 1893鈥�1894 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Chinese Business Directories, 1896鈥�1900 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Chinese Partnership Books, 1895鈥�1926 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Chinese Arrest Book, 1903鈥�1941 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Registers of Departing Laborers and Merchants, 1882鈥�1893 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Lists of Chinese Applications for Admission, 1893鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Lists of Chinese Arriving in Oregon, 1893鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Examinations of Arriving Passengers, 1894鈥�1898 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Registers of Aliens in Oregon, 1942 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ). Lists of names of registered aliens from Italy, Germany, and Japan
      Japanese Landing Books, 1893鈥�1899 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Laborer Certificates Issued, 1896鈥�1899 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Index to Witnesses for Chinese Passengers on the S.S. Haytien Republic, 1893鈥�1899 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      U.S. Customs Service (Record Group 36)
      Headquarters
      Indexes to Case Files and Correspondence Files, 1880鈥�1938 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      • Case Files, 1880鈥�1901 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Case Files, 1902鈥�1938 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Correspondence, 1909鈥�1938 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Index to Correspondence, 1900鈥�1952 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Index to Case Files and Related Correspondence of Special Agents, 1903鈥�1915 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      • Case Files and Related Correspondence of Special Agents, 1833鈥�1915 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Records of Affidavits Relating to Chinese Applicants for Admission to the United States, July 2, 1894 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      Correspondence Relating to Opium Trafficking, 1911鈥�1915 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      New York Collection District
      Records of Affidavits Relating to Chinese Applicants for Admission to the United States, July 2, 1894 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Immigration and Naturalization Service (Record Group 85)
      Headquarters
      Segregated Chinese files

      • Chinese Division Files, 1914鈥�1921 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ) 
      • Chinese General Correspondence, 1898鈥�1911 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ) 
        • Registers of Chinese Letters Received, 1898鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ) 
        • Cross Reference Index to Subject and Policy Files, 1908鈥�1957 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
        • Name Index, ca. 1893鈥揷a. 1932 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Chinese Letters Sent, June 9, 1900鈥揂ugust 19, 1908 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Chinese Smuggling Files, 1914鈥揷a. 1921 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Customs Case Files Related to Chinese Immigration, 1877鈥�1891 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Letters Sent and Received by the Chinese Inspector in Charge, Collector of Customs, and Commissioner of Immigration Relating to Chinese Immigration Matters, 1891鈥�1924 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Statistical Records of Arrests of Chinese on Charges of Being in the United States in Violation of the Law, 1905鈥�1907 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Records of Chinese Deportations, 1902鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Records of Chinese Census for the Districts of Montana and Idaho, 1894鈥�1896 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Selected Letters Sent among the Segregated Chinese Records, 1906鈥�1909 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Alien Registration File of Edward Bing Kan, August 29, 1940鈥揊ebruary 28, 1944 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Records related to Chinese Certificates of Residence

      • Applications for Duplicate Certificates of Residence, 1893鈥�1920 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Chronological Records Relating to Chinese Certificates of Residence, 1892鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Selected Records Relating to Chinese Certificates of Residence, 1892鈥�1903 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Numerical Records Relating to Chinese Certificates of Residence, 1895鈥�1925 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Other Files

      • Subject and Policy Files, 1906鈥�1957 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Cross Reference Index to Subject and Policy Files, 1908鈥揷a. 1957 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
        • Each card includes the Chinese General Correspondence file number (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: ) and the Subject and Policy File Number (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Central Office General Subject Files, 1947鈥�1965 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Central Office Subject Files, 1957鈥�1975 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )
      • Filipino Repatriation Ticket Cards Issued by the San Francisco, California, Office, February 12, 1935鈥揓uly 30, 1940 (威尼斯人娱乐场 Identifier: )

      Explore Further

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