The process for finding Chinese Case Files at Library and Archives Canada has changed considerably since I first wrote about the finding aids in 2020.1 It was during the covid lockdown, archives were closed, and I had time on my hands to scour LAC for anything that might be related to these mysterious documents.
What is a Chinese Case File?
A Chinese Case file is a file created by federal entities to determine the eligibility of Chinese immigrants to Canada. As LAC wrote, “The files tend to contain extremely detailed documentation not only on the individual in whose name was opened, but also on the person’s relatives both immediate and distant.” For a detailed look at what may be contained in a Chinese Case file, see my deep dive into the file of George Sing aka Quon Hing.2 Individual files can number anywhere from 20-200 pages and contain genealogical data available nowhere else. These files are of enormous interest to family historians and well worth the effort to acquire.
How did we get here?
What can I tell you? Sometimes, in order to get the records you need, a large number of people have to get involved. The issues are complex every way you look at them – archival, historical, personal, political, socioeconomic, racial – and even wrapping your head around the context could be a lifelong endeavour. In this post I’m focusing on the folks directly involved in the effort to improve access to Chinese Case files, but that doesn’t mean that the many other folks who volunteered their advice, advocacy, backing, support, and time weren’t also integral. Let’s just say I’m grateful to every one of them – you – who supports our work.
I believe that when we share expertise, we all benefit. Since 2023, a select number of us from my group, Genealogy for Asian Canadians,3 have been meeting regularly with folks at LAC to talk about what our community needs from our national archives. We’ve shared our knowledge and our hopes, listened to the constraints and solutions, and together committed to working through a short list of projects, including improving access to Chinese Case files. I can’t tell you all that we discussed but I can share this update.
I’m not sure I’m allowed to name them here, but we owe the archivists at LAC a round of applause for their work. There are now over twice as many finding aids available as there were five years ago. But that’s not the impressive part. The impressive part is that some individual Chinese Case file information is now findable through Collection Search. That’s right. You could search by finding aid but you can also do a simple Collection search.
Here’s how to do it.
Simple search using LAC’s Collection Search
Go to Collection Search.4 Enter the name of the individual. I’ll use a cousin, CHU Dit Chin.
The finding aid for the Chinese Case file of Chu Dit Chin is below.5 These files are only available by request. Use the information in the References – RG76, Accession number: 1983-84/348 GAD, Box number: 87, File number: CH-1-04855 – to make the request with the Access to Information and Personal Information Online Request Service.6 The current fee is CAD$5.00.
Use Advanced Search for numbers
The bureaucracy under the Chinese Immigration Act (1885-1947) created dozens of record types with many potential reference numbers. Common records are landing certificates (e.g., C.I.5, C.I.28, C.I.30, C.I.36), reentry certificates (also known as C.I.9s), Section 18 certificates (also known as C.I.44s), and Chinese Case file numbers.
Go to Collection Search/ Advanced Search.
In the top box, enter any of Chinese Case file number, Chinese Immigration record number, or name. I’ll use the Chinese Case file number for Quon Hing. Enter the case file number in the first box – 06082. Set the Collection to Collection and Fonds. Set Specific terms to Archival reference and then enter RG76 [Immigration]. Select Search.
The results show the Case File number as a match.
The finding aid for the Chinese Case file of Quon Hing is RG76, Accession number: 1984-85/041 GAD, Box number: 3, File number: CH-1-06082.7 Use the information to make a request with the Access to Information and Personal Information Online Request Service.8 Again, these files are only available by request. The current fee for filing is CAD$5.00.
About the cover image
In July, 2023, I visited Canada’s national archives in Ottawa.9 It’s a long way from where I live – 2874 kms (1786 miles) – but essential for a serious genealogist. What did I learn? In a nutshell: there is never enough time to visit a national archive. Pictured is the Reference Room on the second floor. If you’re requesting files – and why wouldn’t you be looking for original records? – then expect to spend your day gathering information on the second floor and then traipsing up to the third floor to request and see the files, rinse and repeat.
As anyone who works with Chinese Case files knows, one cannot access them in person. Do NOT visit LAC and hope you can sweet talk the archivists into letting you through because they don’t have access either. (You’d be surprised how many people try this.)
Thank yous
As noted above, this is community work, of and by the community. Thank you to mentors and friends at every level from the teachers to the politicians, the CEOs and the researchers, the cousins and the volunteers. Thank you to Robert Louie for outlining this research process. Thank you to my current serving GFAC members: Robert Louie, Connor Mah, and Andrew Sandfort-Marchese. Thank you to everyone at LAC. Thank you to Alec Ferretti for his work on advocacy and U.S. records. And an extra warm shout out to the members of Genealogy for Asian Canadians and your unswerving efforts.
For my Ottawa visits, huge thanks to my cousins Jim and Tina for being wonderful hosts.
References
- Linda Yip, “Chinese Immigration Act Case Files: Finding aids at LAC,” 29 Aug 2020, updated 11 Mar 2025, blog, Past-Presence.com, https://past-presence.com/2020/08/29/chinese-immigration-act-case-files-finding-aids-at-lac/ ↩︎
- Linda Yip, “The startling details of a Chinese Case File – the story of Quon Hing, aka George Sing, pt. 1,” 7 Aug 2023, blog, Past-Presence.com, https://past-presence.com/2023/08/07/the-startling-details-of-a-chinese-case-file-the-story-of-quon-hing-aka-george-sing-pt-1/; this is the first of a four-part blog series; ↩︎
- Join us in my private genealogy group on Facebook, Genealogy for Asian Canadians: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1923544271050858/ ↩︎
- Library and Archives Canada, Collection Search: https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/index ↩︎
- Library and Archives Canada, “Chu Dit Chin,” last updated 10 Jul 2025, archival finding aid, Collection Search, Library and Archives Canada, accessed 30 Aug 2025: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=6421058&lang=eng. ↩︎
- Government of Canada, Access to Information and Personal Information Online Request Service: https://atip-aiprp.tbs-sct.gc.ca/en/Home/Privacy; open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, individuals and corporations within Canada; ↩︎
- Library and Archives Canada, “Quon Hing,” last updated 10 Jul 2025, archival finding aid, Collection Search, Library and Archives Canada, accessed 30 Aug 2025: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=6421058&lang=eng. ↩︎
- See above. ↩︎
- Linda Yip, “Get ready to visit Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa,” 2 Apr 2023, blog, Past-Presence.com, https://past-presence.com/2023/04/02/get-ready-to-visit-library-and-archives-canada-ottawa/. ↩︎
great advice about finding out which collections have direct in-person access and which don’t, and about not bugging the archivist to make an exception…Planning a research trip is essential!
I was in line while a man writing a book on military history sat at the reference request desk. He kept asking for Access 32 files only available by ATIP request and I could see the archivist showing a tiny hint of frustration.
Then the next one in line did the same thing.