Conducting Genealogical Research: Using the Library and Archives Canada

Database

www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/chinese-canadians/021022-5000-e.html

www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/index-e.html

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/001036-100.01-e.php

Head Tax Certificate SampleWou Chow Sha, C.I.5-79637

Paid $500, Sun Woy County, Age 21 Landed Victoria, British Columbia, on May 29, 1913, “Mexico Maru”

www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/001036-100.01-e.php

Note: Type the certificate number only. The C. I. number is not required.

If the certificate number begins with a zero, disregard it.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/001036-100.01-e.php

ChallengesYou may encounter genealogical challenges related to names. They are often related to

pronunciation or order of name since Chinese names begin with the surname first.

In this example, Cha Chong You and Jae Tong Yuen are the same person.Explanation : 1) immigration officer writing the phonetic sounds

2) Variants of Cantonese dialects 3) Family not using the English standard for surname

Try the following sample names and C.I.5 numbers at:http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/chinese-immigrants/001036-100.01-e.php

Name Year of RegistrationChan Ling Gong Year: 1913Chin Kwock Gong Year: 1922Fung Tak Ming Year: 1911Jung Song Gee Year: 1918Lee Shing Dok Year: 1913

In the next exercise, find names associated to the following C.I. numbers.Note: Simply type in the suffix numbers into the Certificate Number field.

C.I.5-42989C.I.5-62345C.I.5-73602C.I.5-75478C.I.5-78450C.I.5-91124