California, San Francisco, Chinese Partnerships and Departures from San Francisco, 1893-1943

What is in This Collection?

This collection contains images of some partnership lists and an index to other partnership lists of Chinese firms in San Francisco, California, and nationwide in the United States, 1893-1907; and an index of files relating to persons of Chinese descent who wished to depart from San Francisco, California, 1893-1943. The collection is part of Record Group 85 Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The collection corresponds with NARA publication A3362 part of Record Group 85 Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

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What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Series 1: Index of Chinese Partnerships Nationwide Excluding San Francisco

• Name of firm
• Location in the United States (City, State)
• Case file number in the "Immigration 'Chinese (Business) Partnership' Investigation Case Files, ca. 1894 - ca. 1944" at the National Archives at San Francisco

Series 2: Index of Chinese Partnerships in San Francisco

• Name of business
• Street number and street
• Case file number in the "Immigration 'Chinese (Business) Partnership' Investigation Case Files, ca. 1894 - ca. 1944" at the National Archives at San Francisco

Series 3: Index of Chinese Departing from San Francisco, Dec. 20, 1912–Dec. 3, 1943

• Possible case file number in the "Return Certificate Application Case Files of Chinese Departing, 12/14/1912 - 12/3/1943" at the National Archives at San Francisco
• Name of individual intending to depart from the United States and applying for a Return Certificate
• Date of application
• Type of application ("n/d" = native departing; "s/n/d" = son of native departing; "l/d" = laborer departing; "m/d" = merchant departing)
• Possible case file number in the "Immigration Arrival Investigation Case Files, 1884 - 1944" at the National Archives at San Francisco, if there is a handwritten notation in the right margin of the entry. If there is no handwritten notation, there is likely a Return Certificate Application Case File at the "12017" case file number printed on the card.

Series 4: Lists of Chinese Partnerships in San Francisco

Series 5: Lists of Chinese Partnership Nationwide Excluding San Francisco

• Name of firm
• Street address or city in which partnership is located
• Date on which partnership list was filed
• Names of partners; then, for each partner:
  • Place of residence
  • Amount of capital invested
  • Date/ship of departure

Collection Content

Series 1: Index of Chinese Partnerships Nationwide Excluding San Francisco

Series 2: Index of Chinese Partnerships in San Francisco

Series 3: Index of Chinese Departing from San Francisco, Dec. 20, 1912–Dec. 3, 1943

Series 4: Lists of Chinese Partnerships in San Francisco

Partnership list for Yee Sang Co., San Francisco, California

Series 5: Lists of Chinese Partnership Nationwide Excluding San Francisco