This is the first of two volumes describing the 1938-1939 Harvard and Adelaide Universities expedition to field stations in South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

Contents pages precede the journal. Additonal pages include 87a, 88a-b, 134a, 135a, 166a-j, 242a, 397a, and 430a-b. The journal is handwritten predominantly on the right page, leaving the left page for annotations, sketches, photographs, inserts and so on.

The expedition commenced on 12 May 1938, with Volume I ending 14 December 1938. This volume includes the following:

• annotations referring to the 1950s and 1970s
  
  
• statistical information for the United Aborigines Mission (see AA 624) at Swan Reach, Cumeroogunja, Pilliga, Brewarrina, Boggabilla, Woodenbong, Monamona, Yarrabah, Palm Island and Woorabinda Aboriginal Stations and Settlements
  
  
• newspaper clippings
  
  
• correspondence
  
  
• hand-drawn maps
  
  
• photocopy of a printed map and printed maps with annotations
  
  
• social frameworks and organisation
  
  
• black and white photographs
  
  
• specimen details
  
  
• drawings
  
  
• tribal names and distribution data
  
  
• string games
  
  
• flora samples
  
  
• a carbon copy of Ernest Theodore Vogelsang's (see AA 351) 'Ceremonial Objects of the Dieri Tribe'
  
  
• songs and stories
  
  
• navel string
  
  
• totems
  
  
• vocabularies collected during this expedition are found in parallel in Tindale's 'Australian Vocabularies gathered by Norman B. Tindale, 1938-1963' (see AA 338/8/20). See also 'Notes on Wainjiwalku grammar' (AA 338/8/21)
  
  
• texts in a number of languages including: Maraura, Kamilaroi, Wainjiwalku, Kitabal, Muluritji, Ba:baram, and Idindji
  
  

Places and field stations visited include: Swan Reach (1st), Cohuna fossil site, Cumeroogunja (2nd), Pilliga (3rd), Brewarrina (4th), Narren Lake, Boggabilla (5th), Warwick, Talgai 'skull' site, King Creek site, Woodenbong (6th), Brisbane, Rockhampton, Innisfail, Monamona (7th), Lake Barrina, Cairns, Yarrabah (8th), Oombundgie, data on Fraser Island people, Townsville, Palm Island (9th), Magnetic Island, Woorabinda (10th), Coomooboolaroo Station and Cherbourg (11th). Field stations totalled 32.

The expedition party included Joseph and Bee Birdsell (see AA 689) and Norman and Dorothy Tindale.

Tindale Tribes: Araba; Ankamuti; Arakwal; Badjiri; Barara; Barna; Bindal; Bandjin; Batjala; Barbaram; Buluwai; Badjalang; Baranbinja; Bigambul; Barindji; Barkindji; Dalla; Djiru; Djirubal; Djankun; Dieri; Ewamin; Goeng; Gia; Gulngai; Idindji; Irukandji; Jagara; Jagalingu; Janjula; Jirandali; Jalanga; Jiman; Juru; Jukambe; Jangga; Jotijota; Jokula; Kamilaroi; Karawa; Koamu; Kambuwal; Kairi; Kalali; Kangulu; Kawadji; Koa; Kokonjekodi; Kokopera; Kotandji; Kunggara; Kunggari; Karawa; Keramai; Kabikabi; Kalkadunga; Kandju; Karingbal; Kokobididji; Kokobujundji; Kokoimudji; Kokokulunggur; Kokowara; Kokojawa; Kokopera; Kongkandji; Kongabula; Kukatja (NT); Kokomini; Kokowara; Kotandji; Kutjal; Kokojelandji; Kokopatun; Kitabal; Kalibal; Kungadutji; Kula; Lardiil; Maijabi; Maikudunu; Maikulan; Mingin; Mitaka; Morowari; Muluridji; Mutumui; Muluridji; Maraura; Maljangapa; Ngemba; Ngundjan; Nawagi; Ngaro; Ngatjan; Ngaun; Nawagi; Nguri; Olkolo; Ombila; Pakadji; Pitjandjara; Punthamara; Ringaringa; Tagalag; Tjapukai; Ualarai; Walangama; Wangan; Wanji; Warakamai; Widi; Winduwinda; Wulgurukaba; Wanjuru; Walmbaria; Wakaman; Walangama; Widjabal; Wongkumara; Wongaibon; Weilwan; Weraerai; Wembawemba; Waluwara; Wik-kalkan; Wadja; Wiradjuri; Wadikali; Wadja; Wadjalang; Wakawaka; Wangan; Waluwara.