``` python rows = [] rows.append([pd.datetime(2010, 1, 1), 1]) rows.append([pd.datetime(2010, 1, 2), 'hi']) # test col upconverts to obj df2_obj = pd.DataFrame.from_records(rows, columns=['date', 'test']) print df2_obj.date.dtype # object ``` If the `'hi'` is changed to an `int` then `df2_obj.date.dtype` is equal to `M8[ns]`