Preferred Citation: Tinker Salas, Miguel. Intellectual activities are seldom individual ventures. In the process of researching and developing this work I incurred many debts. John Hart and Allen Wells took time to read the entire manuscript and provided meaningful insights. The work benefited tremendously from their input and the comments of the anonymous reviewers. William Beezley examined several chapters and suggested avenues of research.
Arturo Rosales challenged my assumptions, leading me to reconsider many issues. Their assistance proved invaluable. Gilberto Escobosa Gamez, allowed me unlimited access to this valuable collection.
Their prompt and courteous assistance greatly facilitated my work. Don Gilberto also facilitated access to municipal archives at La Colorada and elsewhere. At the University of Sonora, I am grateful to the staff of the Museo Regional de la Universidad de Sonora and its former director, Maestro Ismael Valencia Ortega, who also graciously shared his own research on land tenure and commerce. Arturo Arellano welcomed me to their meetings and eagerly recounted their experiences.
At the Hotel Kino, St. Armando Benard kindly permitted me to examine his personal collection. I am extremely thankful to these and all the Sonorans who shared with me their history and their friendship. In Nogales, Arizona, I am thankful to the Pimeria Alta Historical Society and its former director Susan Clarke Spater who provided access to their excellent collection on border history. In Ambos Nogales I also benefited from the advice and counsel of ingeniero Eduardo Robinson and the opportunity to consult his valuable collection of Sonoran documents.
The comments and knowledge of Alberto Suarez Barnett also proved invaluable. Without their unwavering support, patience, and love, none of this would have been possible. For decades. It has been portrayed as a region of untold mineral wealth, insurgent Apaches and Yaquis, independent cowboys, border bandits, rugged miners, self-reliant women, wily smugglers, revolutionary candillos; and recently as the home of conservative business and political interests.
