Understanding Chinese Exclusion Case Files

A Guide to Honolulu Case File Numbers (Chinese Exclusion)

September 6, 2022Research Tips, Understand your History, Understanding Chinese Exclusion Case Files

If you browse through the Chinese Exclusion Case File numbers, you'll notice that the numbers differ depending on which INS office they come from. Honolulu categorized their files into different "Series" usually depending on immigration status. Why does the series number matter? It gives you a glimpse into how your...

AU Yip: Finding alternate entries into Hawaii

August 31, 2022Understand your History, Understanding Chinese Exclusion Case Files

Reading AU Yip's file teaches us about native-born women losing their citizenship, Chinese women being resourceful about returning to the US, and NARA Case file #s.

Why was Sam Chong interrogated about the restaurant in his store?

August 24, 2022Understand your History, Understanding Chinese Exclusion Case Files

In my great-grandmother's Chinese Exclusion Case File is an interview between an immigration official and my great-grandfather SAM Chong. This was in 1918, when the Chinese Exclusion Era was in full force. The only reason GOO Tan Choy, my great-grandmother, was not excluded from entering the Territory of Hawaii as...