Contains the first section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ts., 15[2] leaves, original], titled "The early days : February 10, 1920 to October 1930". The section includes a title page and introduction, and is broken into two segments that have been titled "Touring days in the Twenties" and "Sad days". It covers her birth in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, her travels with her parents in the O'Mara Grand Opera Company, the death of her mother, her early school years, and a description of what it was like to live in Britain in the 1920s.

Contains the second section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 190 leaves, original], titled "The second ten years". The section is broken into four segments that have been titled "1934", "End of Blackpool & M/C" [Miss Collier?], "The Bryce's", and "The Gwen's : spring 1938 to fall 1939". This section describes Irene's attendence at Longley Hall School, her employment at the Lewis's Store in Manchester, her move to Blackpool with her father and step-mother, her employment as house maid for two different families, and her stay in a fever hospital for scarlet fever.

Contains the third section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 20 leaves, original], titled "War begins: fall 1939-early 1940". The section includes descriptions of what it was like during the early days of WWII, air raid precautions, the beginning of her interest in nursing, and her acceptance for training at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.

Contains the fourth section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 15 leaves, original], titled "Sept. 1st 1939 to 1940 - April 25th". The section includes a description of Irene Brown's training at Stepping Hill Hospital.

Contains the fifth section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 47 leaves, original], titled "Sept. 1st, 1939 to March 1940". The section includes a description of Irene Brown's training at Stepping Hill Hospital, an account of the beginning of WWII, her post in the tuberculosis ward, her post in the male surgical ward, and a general description of her duties and daily life at the hospital.

Contains the sixth section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 13 leaves, original], titled "March to April 1940". The section includes a description of daily life during the early part of WWII and the early events of the war, her battle with tonsilitis, foot problems, temporary dismissal from training, and return to Blackpool.

Contains the seventh section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 15 leaves, original], titled "April to June 1940". The section includes a description of the early events of WWII, daily life in Blackpool, the treatment of Irene's foot problem, and the death of her step-mother's mother.

Contains the eighth section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 15 leaves, original], titled "June 1940 to Sept. 1940". The section includes a description of daily life and entertainment in Blackpool, the treatment and eventual recovery of her foot problem, her application to Blackpool Victoria Hospital and acceptance into training there, a description of daily life during the Battle of Britain, daily life at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital, a description of the female surgical ward and an account of the Blitz.

Contains the ninth section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 48 leaves, original], titled "Oct. 1940 to May 1941". The section includes a description of daily life at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital, daily life and entertainment in Blackpool, descriptions of patients, a description of the events and issues surrounding WWII, the Blitz, her decision to leave the Blackpool Victoria Hospital, and her application and acceptance into the Civil Nursing Reserve and assignment to the Kirkham hospital.

Contains the tenth section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms. 14 leaves, original], titled "June 1941 to Sept. 1942". The section includes a description of daily life at the Kirkham Emergency Hospital, where she worked for three years.

Contains the eleventh section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms., 12 leaves, original], titled "Sept. 1942-May 1943". The section includes a description of daily life and patients at the Kirkham Emergency Hospital, daily life in the Kirkham and Blackpool areas, and a description of the difficulties of daily life during WWII.

Contains the twelfth (and final) section of Irene [Coombs] Brown's autobiography [ms, 41 leaves, original], titled "May 1942-". The section includes a description of daily life and patients at the Kirkham Emergency Hospital, Irene's introduction to Frances Brown, and through her Edward Brown (Irene's future husband), a description of meeting (in Manchester) and then marrying Edward Brown, and a short description of her honeymoon in the Lake District of Westmorland, some description of the events of the war in relation to her husband's involvement and discharge before D-Day, descriptions of the birth of their children, the end of the war, her husband's training as a machinist and supervisor of a tractor plant, and the emigration of Irene and Edward Brown and their three children to Canada in 1956.

Autobiography of Irene Brown. The first fifteen pages are computer output typescript, the remaining 459 pages are manuscript.