National Archives at Atlanta

RG 36 - U.S. Customs Service, Chinese Laborers Departing United States

National Archives Identifier 6017281

This series contains two types of documents relating to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. The first, entitled “Descriptive List of Chinese Laborer in Transit Through the United States,” identifies Chinese nationals who traveled through the United States enroute to other countries. Each form includes personal, physical, and travel information: name, age, occupation, last place of residence, height, complexion, color of eyes, physical marks, date of arrival in the U.S., vessel name, and destination. There are two forms for each laborer, and some also include a photograph.

The other documents are official statements made by Chinese immigrants upon their departure from the port of Mobile to China with the ultimate purpose of returning. These documents contain similar information for each immigrant: name, age, height, weight, color of eyes, complexion, occupation, local address, photograph, and a description of debts owed. Some of the statements also include signatures of local residents verifying the identity and standing of the departing individual, as well as how many years they had known them.