| Description | Handmade birthday card from Helen O'Brien to her sister for her 13th birthday, dated 12th January 1952. Made with card overlain with clear X-ray film, folded in half, and sewn together with yellow and purple [nylon]. Decorated with cartoon figures of ducks and girls in Dutch-style dress cut out from greetings cards. The words: "Many Happy Returns of the Day" printed on the front and, on the reverse: "I hope this Day will be Happy full of Joy & Pleasure". Card and X-ray film torn in places. One of several items made by Helen O'Brien in the 1950s while being treated for miliary tuberculosis in Saint Patrick's Sanatorium, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon and Newcastle Sanatorium, Co. Wicklow. At the time, Dr. Noel Browne (1915-1997) worked in the latter and art classes, taught by Yann Renard-Goulet (1914-1999), were arranged for the patients there. Another object made by Helen during this period, a decorated box, is also held in the RCPI collections (ref. no. HI/2022-1L-3). |