The collection consists of Pauline Newman's autobiography in the form of a letter addressed to Michael and Hugh in which she recounts stories and details of her life while she is on board a ship heading to Switzerland to attend a meeting of the International Labor Organization. In her recollections, Newman begins with her childhood and village life in Lithuania and discusses immigrating to the U.S. after the death of her father in 1901. She vividly details the difficult trip across the Atlantic and the conditions for new immigrants upon arrival in New York. Newman writes about her early employment experiences in various factories before ultimately finding work in the garment industry. Of particular interest are the passages in which she describes her employment at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, including the inhuman working conditions in the factory, the long hours, and the little pay. Newman also spends time discussing her activities outside the ILGWU, including her involvement in the Socialist Party and the Socialist Literary Society. She provides a first-hand account of the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 and her subsequent work with the ILGWU, including her organizing trips and assignments across the country.