Certificate of residence for Chin Wah

Certificate of residence for Chin Wah

Identity card
Chinese immigration
Certificate of residence
California, Chinese Exclusion Act
Chinese Americans
Chinese Labourer
Geary Act.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 suspended Chinese immigration. This act also called for all current immigrant to obtain certificates of residences, often referred to as identity cards. The certificate contains a photograph of the immigrant it refers to their public record information as well as physical immigrant. This includes height, eye colour, physical marks and scars. Chin Wah’s identity card states that he is 36, lives in Mountain View, California and is a farmer. His card is part of a collection held by the California Historical Society. Immigrants had to keep these certificates on their person to be able to prove they were in the country legally. Failure to show one would lead to arrest and deportation.

United States, Internal Revenue Service. First District of California

California Historical Society Digital Library

http://digitallibrary.californiahistoricalsociety.org/object/2625

14 March 1894

Sarah Smith

Director of Library and Archives: California Historical Society

English

Textual - handwritten

19th century California