This series depicts the cover and contents of Tad Nichols' diary from his trip with Ned Spicer to Sonora, Mexico in late December, 1941 and early January, 1942. Tad makes notations about generals and soldiers, forts and homes, bells and churches, among many other things. He mentions crossing the Yaqui River on the 'pongo' (ferry), and the need for chains on the tires due to mud after heavy rains. He includes some brief information on Mexican and Yaqui history. He mentions visiting John Dedrick, a church worker with plans to translate the New Testament into Yaqui. He also tells a story about encountering General Botella, commander of the Mexican Yaqui armies. Also noted are Harold Kooden and his foreman, Jack Morse, who ship carrizo or cane from the Yaqui Valley. Ted Smiley with the border patrol is mentioned, as well as Leonardo Gutierrez, the police commissioner in Buena Vista with whom they had a breakfast that included 'excellent tortillas and coffee.' BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Tad gives the flavor of waking in a 1940s Mexican village by describing all the sounds he hears during a morning: 'Before light the roosters start crowing, then an incessant cackling of hens. Then the honking of burros. Soon the gas engines would start popping, and then the blackbirds begin whistling, and finally the drum from the garrison.' Of historical note is Tad's last entry in the diary upon coming back to the United States. He writes 'returned thru American customs, leaving our films for censoring. We remarked that the peaceful life of Potam seemed far away and like another world, when news of warring nations engulfed us in Nogales, and papers say the Americans are losing out in the Philippines.'