Chinese American Genealogy

As in Canada, the roots of the Chinese community in the U.S. date back to the mid-19th century. Most 19th-century immigrants from China similarly originated from the Pearl River Delta area, and came to the country's west coast. In 1890, 107,488 Chinese were recorded in the California census, mostly men.

The first pioneers were attracted to California by gold discoveries in 1848. U.S. railroad companies imported Chinese labourers in the 1860s, and the Chinese also worked in the mining industry and in service occupations, such as laundries and restaurants.

While many Chinese labourers eventually returned to China, some settled, and their growing numbers eventually sparked a backlash leading to discriminatory legislation. The Naturalization Act of 1870 made Asians ineligible for citizenship. It was followed in 1882 by the Chinese Exclusion Act, which froze Chinese immigration, limiting it to diplomats, scholars, travelers, and merchants. The Scott Act of 1888 barred Chinese labourers from re-entering the U.S. once they had left.

San Francisco had a very large Chinese population, and the destruction of many birth records in the earthquake and fire of 1906 provided an opportunity to circumvent the Chinese Exclusion Act. In many cases, fraudulent records were created and "paper sons" invented.

In 1943, Congress repealed the exclusionary laws and Chinese could once again become naturalized citizens. However, immigration was restricted to a small annual quota of 105, although after the war, Congress passed legislation allowing Chinese war veterans to bring their wives to the United States.

The restrictions on immigration had encouraged the use of fraudulent identities, but in 1959, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service implemented a Confession and Amnesty program which allowed individuals to clear their immigration status. It wasn't until 1965, however, that Chinese immigration was placed on an equal basis with that of all other nations.

Information on Chinese ancestors in the United States is found in many sources used by genealogists to trace their roots in the U.S., regardless of ethnic background. These include records such as civil registration, census, directories, and others.

In addition to sources of common interest to Chinese and non-Chinese researchers, there are a number of sources of genealogical information that specifically relate to the Chinese in the United States. Many are government records resulting from paperwork generated by exclusionary laws (see Chinese American History).

FINDING THE RECORDS

At the Vancouver Public Library

The Vancouver Public Library collection includes a large number of books that introduce, explain, and explore techniques and tools for U.S. genealogical research. Use the Library's online catalogue to check for items of interest. Information staff at any of VPL's branches will also be pleased to assist.

Vancouver Public Library users can also find a large amount of information relating to U.S. genealogical research, including Chinese American roots, in the Ancestry Library Edition database. This database is available for free at all VPL locations. For more information on Ancestry Library Edition resources, see the section Online, below.

Records of Chinese passengers arriving by ship at Vancouver, British Columbia, from 1906 to 1912 are available on microfilm. The immigrants were destined for the United States and were examined by U.S. immigration officials at the two Canadian ports. The microfilms contain records for over 13,000 Chinese passengers on 12 reels. Information contained in the records include name, gender, birth date and location, year of arrival, port of departure, port of final destination, name of ship, and last place of residence. Other information that may be available in the records include the passenger's age, marital status, physical description, occupation, citizenship (nationality), and next of kin. Records from January 3, 1906, to June 23, 1912, include additional information on passengers according to several categories: labourers, domiciled merchants and their wives and minor children, Chinese who had been born in the U.S., transits (passengers travelling through the U.S. to foreign destinations), and exempts (passengers exempt from provisions of the Chinese Exclusion Act and other laws and treaties). These records are also available online through Ancestry Library Edition (see the section Vancouver, British Columbia Passenger Lists - Chinese Arrivals, 1906-1912, 1929-1941 below).

Online

The resources listed below provide direct access to specialized databases of records specific to Chinese individuals in the United States. Many additional genealogical records for Chinese Americans are found in other sources, such as U.S. census records. For basic information and key links, see the section on the United States from Beyond Canada in our Genealogy and Family History guide. Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956, includes many records of Chinese entries and is available at all Vancouver Public Library locations through Ancestry Library Edition (or to individual subscribers through Ancestry.ca). For links to websites of Chinese American historical societies, museums and heritage projects, see Websites for Chinese American Genealogy.

Chinese Case Files for District No. 9, Chicago, 1898-1940 (RG 85)
Free browsable list of personal names corresponding to Chinese case files for District No. 9, Chicago, held by the NARA Great Lakes Region office in Chicago.

Chinese Case Files for District No. 10, St. Paul, 1906-1942 (RG 85)
Free browsable list of personal names corresponding to Chinese case files for District No. 10, St. Paul, held by the NARA Great Lakes Region office in Chicago.

Chinese Heritage
Listing of Chinese immigration documents available through the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.

Guide to the Chinese in California Virtual Collection
A free collection of about 8000 images illustrating nineteenth- and early twentieth century Chinese migration to California. Includes a wide range of original source material, including letters, extracts from diaries, business records and many others. Subject, Title, Name, Group and Theme indexes are included.

Hawaii Chinese Exclusion Index
An index to over 16,600 "Chinese Exclusion" case files created by the Honolulu District Office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, from approximately 1903-1944. Available for free through Ancestry Library Edition at all Vancouver Public Library locations or to individual subscribers through Ancestry.ca.

New York Chinese Exclusion Index
An index to over 18,500 "Chinese Exclusion" case files created by the New York District Office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, from approximately 1882-1960. Available for free through Ancestry Library Edition at all Vancouver Public Library locations or to individual subscribers through Ancestry.ca.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chinese Arrivals, 1900-1923
An index to over 18,500 descriptive lists of Chinese seamen arriving at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, between 1900 and 1923. Available for free through Ancestry Library Edition at all Vancouver Public Library locations or to individual subscribers through Ancestry.ca.

San Francisco Chinese Exclusion List
An index to over 5000 "Chinese Exclusion" case files created by the San Francisco District Office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, from approximately 1903-1944. Available for free through Ancestry Library Edition at all Vancouver Public Library locations or to individual subscribers through Ancestry.ca.

U.S. Chinese Immigration Case Files, 1883-1924
An index to 3,504 court case files regarding the U.S. Chinese exclusion and other strict immigration laws against the Chinese that were enforced during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Available for free through Ancestry Library Edition at all Vancouver Public Library locations or to individual subscribers through Ancestry.ca.

Vancouver, British Columbia Passenger Lists - Chinese Arrivals, 1906-1912, 1929-1941
Records of 13,000 Chinese passengers arriving by ship at Vancouver, British Columbia, from January 3, 1906, to June 23, 1912, (excluding January 22, 1910, to January 20, 1912). For the period of June 22, 1929, to January 10, 1941, records also include passengers who arrived at Victoria. The immigrants were destined for the United States and were examined by U.S. immigration officials at the two Canadian ports. Records may include name of passenger, gender, birth date and place, final destination, name of ship, date of arrival, port of departure, and place of last permanent residence. The database is available for free through Ancestry Library Edition at all Vancouver Public Library locations or to individual subscribers through Ancestry.ca.

The books listed below focus fully or in part on Chinese American genealogy and history. Titles owned by the Vancouver Public library are linked to their full bibliographic descriptions in the online VPL Library catalogue. Publisher information is included for titles not owned by VPL, which may be available through interlibrary loan.

General works on U.S. genealogy and history may also be useful for Chinese American genealogical researchers. For assistance locating these materials, please contact or visit your local library.