This document provides information and resources for researching Chinese-American genealogy. It begins by suggesting talking to family elders and visiting libraries which contain relevant books and databases. Specific databases mentioned include Ancestry Library Edition, U.S. Census records, immigration records, passenger lists, and military records. Additional online resources like Cyndi's List and the Chinese Historical Society of America website are recommended. The document also discusses sites like Angel Island and Ellis Island where immigration records can be found, as well as techniques like using "paper sons" to circumvent immigration restrictions. Other potential sources mentioned include national, state and railroad archives, genealogical societies, city directories, and records of Japanese American internment.

1. Chinese-American Genealogy How to locate your Ancestral links

2. 1st Start where you know 学=Genealogy Talk to older members of your family. They often remember things about their past and deceased ancestors that you would not suspect. Don’t forget to write it down!

3. Next: Go to your Library! 家庭=Family Libraries have books, web site lists and other guides to start you off. Books like: China connection : finding ancestral roots for Chinese in America / by Jeanie W. Chooey Low. Call Number 929.108995 LO

4. What Else? 傳統=Tradition Libraries also have databases, microfilms And microfiche of records or indexes. Some Are: Ancestry Library edition. This database searches the U.S. census, birth & death records, military and other records too. Let’s search for a John Chan.

5. Some selected Results 家庭=Family 91930 United States Federal Census 21920 United States Federal Census Immigration & Naturalization Records 8California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1893-1957 1Hawaii Passenger Lists, 1942-1948 1Seattle Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1957

6. What does the Census tell us? 学=Genealogy Aside from name and address, it lists all members of the household and their ages which helps you find birth & marriage records. It lists a person’s ancestry and what year a person first entered this country and if they were a citizen or not. If they were, this will help you find their immigration & naturalization records.

7. Other great stuff; Military Recordsfor John Chan. 家庭=Family Military Records 3Stars and Stripes Newspaper, Europe, Mediterranean, and North Africa Editions, 1942-1964 3U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946

8. What Can I do Next? 傳統=Tradition Try the World Wide Web. A good place to start is: Cyndi’s List at: www.Cyndislist.com. Sample links: Angel Island - California General Resource Sites

9. One Particular Source 学=Genealogy Angel Island-The Ellis Island of the Pacific. Angel Island, near San Francisco was the main immigrant processing station for the west coast. In 1882, the second immigration law barred Chinese, with a few narrow exceptions. This law was originally for 10 years, but was extended and expanded and not repealed until 1943, when China was our ally in World War II. However, only 105 Chinese were allowed in legally each year.

10. Angel Island Quarantine & Immigration Station

11. Don’t Forget Ellis Island! Many native Chinese entered the United States through Ellis Island in New York. This was especially so after World War I. China’s contribution to the allied war effort were laborers sent to Europe. Some of them emigrated here during and after the war.

12. Sample Ellis Island record First Name:Ah Ee Last Name:Chan Ethnicity:Chinese, China Last Place of Residence: Date of Arrival:Jul 24, 1917 Age at Arrival: 27y Gender: M Marital Status: Ship of Travel:Satanta Port of Departure:BristolManifest Line Number:0005

13. The law was strict but, there wereLoopholes 傳統=Tradition Paper sons and daughters One class of Chinese the U.S. could not keep out were those who were already citizens of the United States by virtue of having a father who was a citizen.

14. Here’s how it worked. 家庭 =Family Those without true fathers in the United States bought papers which identified them as children of Americans. Because official proof was difficult, an interrogation process was created to determine if the immigrants were related as they claimed. The papers the immigrants bought included detailed family information which they studied in order to pass their interrogations. These were lengthy and took a long time to

15. Immigration Fraud was investigated

16. Other Sources? Other places to research are: The National Archives at: Archives.gov A sample record would be: M1476Lists of Chinese Applying for Admission to the United States Through the Port of San Francisco, 1903-1947. 85 Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service 27

17. Wat else? Historical & GenealogicalSocieties 家庭=Family Every Immigrant Group has organizations that will advise the family researcher on techniques. They often maintain their own useful research centers.

18. A Good Place to Start! 学=Genealogy The Chinese Historical Society of America has online exhibitions, links to related sites, articles and even blogs about the Chinese Experience in America. They can be found at: www.chsa.org/

19. State Libraries Many western states have substantial archives on Chinese-American’s. Nevada was one of the states the Central Pacific Railroad traveled through. Try searching their archives at:http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/nsla/services/genealres.htm

20. Railroad Archives The Central Pacific has a website at: http://www.cprr.org/Museum/Chinese.html. The site details and has photos emphasizing the enormous contribution Chinese Laborers made to the building of the railroad.

21. Careful Research here can lead to a Family’s Ancestral Hall The Hall keeps records and celebrates family functions and ceremonies.

22. Japanese-Americans 傳統=Tradition. While we dwelt primarily Chinese sources in the U.S., other Asian immigrant descendants can use many of the same types of sources in print or online. A final note is the records kept by the U.S. War Relocation Authority who interned Japanese-Americans in World War II. These are in the National Archives.

23. One Overlooked source! City Directories.

24. Thank You I will try to answer any questions you may have.