California, Chinese Partnerships and Departures from San Francisco - FamilySearch Historical Records

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.

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

Series 5: Lists of Chinese Partnership Nationwide Excluding San Francisco

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:


 * Name of your ancestor
 * Name of Chinese business partnership firm and address

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
Indexes and transcriptions may not include all the data found in the original records. Look at the actual image of the record, if you can, to verify the information and to find additional information.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * If a case file number is noted, request the relevant file from the "Immigration 'Chinese (Business) Partnership' Investigation Case Files, ca. 1894 - ca. 1944", the "Return Certificate Application Case Files of Chinese Departing, 12/14/1912 - 12/3/1943", or the "Immigration Arrival Investigation Case Files, 1884 - 1944" from the National Archives at San Francisco

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names
 * Check other possible ports of entry

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your Chinese immigrant family and Chinese American ancestors.


 * Beginning Research in United States Immigration and Emigration Records
 * Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records
 * California Guided Research
 * California Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present
 * Research Our Records - Chinese Heritage at the National Archives

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * California, Chinese partnerships and departures from San Francisco, 1893-1943. NARA A3362

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

California, asociaciones chinas y salidas de San Francisco (Registros históricos de FamilySearch)