Cross's papers consist of a diary and a series of letters written chiefly to wife Elaine during his residence in China and while en route. The letters to his wife from Chungking were numbered seriatim and are arranged in chronological order per the numbering by Cross on the envelopes, most of which are present. The chronological order refers to the dates written; the letters were often posted or received well after composition. One or two are missing, were withdrawn, or contain a numbering error.