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Barnum's diary describes his experiences as a physician with the American Red Cross in Siberia in 1919 and 1920 during which time he treated Russian patients and was involved in food distribution. The diary includes Barnum's impressions of Siberian towns such as Irkutsk, Tomsk and Omsk and his opinions of the Russian national character. He frequently asserts that the Red Cross was not wanted in Russia and gives a long list of questions concerning their involvement there.