Alcoholics Anonymous: A photographic journey through its history... -Take a walk through A.A.'s history-Photo's of early A.A. members.

The Man on the Bed -Stain glass window. New at the Akron Intergroup office.

Timelines in AA's History -An extensive Flowchart from 1864 to present. -by Archie M.

Flowchart of Events of Interest to Members Of The Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous -by Miles M.

In AA’s First Five Years -Lois W., wife of AA’s co-founder, Bill W., recalls the time in AA when there were few members and no Big Book.
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Sister Ignatia Gavin and A.A. -Sister Ignatia Gavin, a tiny Irish-American nun, helped initiate medical treatment for alcoholics in Akron, Ohio at Towns Hospital.

Ruth Hock's recollections -AA's 1st Secretary, letter to Bill W., her recollections of A.A. in the beginning, transcribed from an original document, dated November 10, 1955.
¬Ruth Hock's recollections -A copy of Ruth's type written letter to Bill W. in .pdf format.
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A Letter From Bill W. on Depression -from the memoirs of Tom P., an early California AA member.
(*Aslo see: The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety, an AA Grapevine Article dated, January 1958, which is strikingly similar to this letter from Bill W. on Depression.")

Bill W.'s letter to Dr. Carl Gustav Jung -Dated January 23, 1961, a well overdue letter, as Bill put it.

Dr. Carl Jung's Letter To Bill W. -Dated January 30, 1961, In reply to Bill's letter above thats dated January 23, 1961. (Dr. Carl Jung)

The Wilson - Burwell Letters -For quite a few years, Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and Jim B., author of the 2nd and 3rd edition personal story in the Big Book titled: "Vicious Cycle", communicated via written correspondence between 1947 and 1965.

For Drunks Only—One Man's Reactions to Alcoholics Anonymous -by Richmond W.—author of "Twenty-four Hours a Day." For Drunks Only was originally published in 1945.

 

The Impact of Alcoholism -Bill W.'s Testimony before The Special Subcommittee July, 1969. Present: Senators Hughes, Yarborough, Williams, Javits, Dominick, and Bellmon.
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Chuck C.'s Testimony Before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee -September 27, 1969. Present: Senators Hughes, (presiding), Dominick, and Saxbe [members of the Subcommittee]. Also present: Senators Cranston and Murphy [both Senators from California].

Matthew J. R. -"Matt R. is one of my heroes, one who, following his recovery from
alcoholism, made a significant contribution to the field of alcoholism." -Nancy O.
 

Dr. Paul's Interview -Dr. Paul's story 'Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict' was published in the Third Edition of the Big Book; his remarks on acceptance, which appear on pages 449 and 450, have been helpful to many AA members over the years. This interview was conducted by telephone to Dr. Paul's home in California.

Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, MD -A strong supporter of A.A. throughout his life, he consistently worked for acceptance of his views concerning alcoholism the medical and psychiatric professions. He served on the Board of Trustees for A.A. from 1957 to 1966, and was chairman of the National Council on Alcoholism in 1950.
 

 

The Original Manuscript -As it was written in 1938 prior to publication, then fresh off the press in April of 1939, with its new title: "Alcoholics Anonymous"

A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous -"This booklet is intended to be a practical guide for new members and sponsors of new members of Alcoholics Anonymous." The Akron Manual (1940)
¬as a pdf file
¬booklet as a pdf file
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Second Reader for Alcoholics Anonymous -A pamphlet produced by early Akron A.A. (pdf file)

The First “A.A.” Pamphlet -As Derived from The Series of Six Articles from "The Houston Press." Larry J. came to Houston from Cleveland with only a Big Book and a Spiritual Experience resulting from having taken the Steps while hospitalized. His Sponsors were Dr. Bob S. & Clarence S. He had not attended an A.A. meeting before coming to Houston. (April 1940)

Alcoholics Anonymous -THE DETROIT PAMPHLET - An Interpretation of the Twelve Steps
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AA Sponsorship Pamphlet - This is the first pamphlet ever written concerning sponsorship. It was written by Clarence S. in early 1944. Its original title was to be "A.A. Sponsorship...Its Obligations and Its Responsibilities." (1944)
¬as a pdf file
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A.A. Pamphlets History List -Here's a list of 'AA pamphlets'. Most all are Conference-approved or GSO service materials. Remember, Conference-approved translates into 'no earlier than 1951 when the Conference was formed'. AA did have and use pamphlets before that time which were published by individuals, groups, the Grapevine, our various central offices, as well as by GSO in New York. Some of these are listed at the end in the Pre Conference and Out of Print section.

A.A. Pamphlets History as reflected in Conference Actions -Extracted from: "A Summary: Advisory Actions of the General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous 1951-2000" (M-39

 

Alcoholics Anonymous -the book, April, 1939, Works Publishing Inc. "We of Alcoholics Anonymous, are many thousands of men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book."
¬Big Book in .pdf format
¬Go to the downloads page for additional Big Book downloads.

Personal Stories -1st edition, April, 1939, Works Publishing Inc. These are the personal stories in the back of the first edition book titled, Alcoholics Anonymous.

Personal Stories -2st edition, 1955, Alcoholics Anonymous World services, Inc. These are the personal stories in the back of the second edition book titled, Alcoholics Anonymous.

How It Worked -"The Story of Clarence H. Snyder and The Early Days of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cleveland, Ohio". This book was written by Mitchell K., a true historian on Alcoholics Anonymous history.

The Varieties Of Religious Experience -by William James, 1902. A man ahead of his time, Bill W. once referred to him as one of A.A.'s founders. His book is also mentioned in the Big Book on page 38 of 1st edition, page 28 of 2nd, 3rd & 4th editions.

As A Man Thinketh -by James Allen, 1902. A book that was read by members in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The Common Sense of Drinking -by Richard R. Peabody, Boston: Little Brown and Co. 1930, read by members in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous. (pdf)

In His Steps -by Charles M. Sheldon. Written in 1896, read by members in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous

 

The Oxford Group Connection -Do you know any of these names? Frank Buchman - Sam Shoemaker - Rowland H. - Jim N. - Eleanor F. - Ebby T. - Shepard C. - Henrietta Seiberling - Rev. Walter Tunks - Norman S. - Russell F. - T. Henry & Clarace Williams?
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The Four Absolutes -of the Oxford Group were used by early A.A. members to check their motives by. Even though they never made it into the Big Book, Bill W. stated that he added them to the text by implication. This was done to keep A.A. seperate from the Oxford Group yet maintain the same Spiritual ideals.
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In Remembrance of "Ebby"- "In his seventieth year, and on the twenty-first of March, my friend and sponsor "Ebby" passed beyond our sight and hearing." -by Bill W.
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Rowland H., The Messenger -Rowland H. brought the message to Ebby T. who brought the message to Bill W.
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James H. and Alcoholics Anonymous -"During the past five years, I have been asked on numerous occasions to answer specific questions about James H. The three questions that come up the most are: Is James Houck a member of A.A.? Is James H. a recovering alcoholic? Is James H. a member of the Oxford Group?" -By Wally P.
 

 

Bill W. -Talks by, and/or pages of William (Bill) G. W., of East Dorset, Vermont.
• Lois W. -Cofounder of Al-anon & Bill W.'s wife, talks by and/or of Lois W.

Doctor Bob -Talks by, biogrophy of, and/or pages of Dr. Robert H. S., M.D., of St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Henry G. (Hank) P. -Biogrophy's about Hank P., of New Jersy.

Clarence S. -Cleveland, Ohio, Biogrophy of, and the book, "How It Worked" by Mitchell K.

Bill D. -Biogrophy of, and/or pages of Bill D., of Akron, Ohio.

Others -Pages by, and/or, of other members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
 

Dr. Silkworth on Jesus Christ -Written by Dick B., renowned author of many books on Alcoholics Anonymous history & biblical roots.

The Gabriel Heatter Broadcast -"We The People" -The first national exposure for Alcoholics Anonymous came with the April 25, 1939 "We The People" broadcast.
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Alcoholics and God -Is there hope for habitual drunkards? A cure that borders on the miraculous-and it works! -Liberty Magazine, September, 1939.
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Cleveland Plain Dealer -Late in 1939 Elrick B. Davis of the Cleveland Plain Dealer ran a series of articles on Alcoholics Anonymous; the first extensive publicity the newly-formed AA Fellowship received. Here are those series of articles dated from, Octoer 21, 1939 to November 4, 1939.

John Barleycorns Victims Seek Strength In Unity -by Harrison Johnston, The Baltimore Sunday Sun, February 16, 1941

The Jack Alexander Article -"They were members of Alcoholics Anonymous, a band of ex-problem drinkers who make an avocation of helping other alcoholics to beat the liquor habit." -Jack Alexander, The Saturday Evening Post, March 1, 1941.
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The Ex-Drunkards Lead The Drunkards -by Louis Azrael, The Baltimore News American, October 25, 1941

My Return from The Half-World of Alcoholism -From Readers Digest, January 1946, this is a letter to Alcoholics Anonymous that saved the author's life. Condensed from the December 1945 issue of The A.A. Grapevine -by Anonymous.
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The Drunkard's Best Friend -Nine years ago the Post reported on the then-obscure group known as Alcoholics Anonymous. Since that time these self-rehabilitated men-and women-have sobered up an astonishing number of America's heaviest drinkers. This is how they do it. -By Jack Alexander, The Saturday Evening Post, April 1, 1950.
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ALCOHOLICS CAN BE CURED—DESPITE A.A. -From the September 19, 1964 Saturday Evening Post. Nationally-distributed criticism of AA first appeared in a 1963 Harpers Magazine article. The adoption of the Responsibility Pledge at the 1965 International Convention in Toronto was almost certainly a direct result of the criticism in these articles.
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The first Grapevine - Vol. I, No. 1, June, 1944. When yearly subscription was 1.50; single copies were 15 cents.

Bill W. -Grapevine articles by/of Bill W.

Dr. Bob -Grapevine articles by/of Dr. Bob.

Lois W. -Grapevine articles by/of Lois W.

Dr. Silkworth -Grapevine articles by/of Dr. William Duncan Silkworth, M.D.

Big Book Authors -Grapevine articles by Big Book story authors plus story updates.

Interviews -Grapevine interviews. (not all interviews here were done by the Grapevine)

12 Traditions of AA -Articles from the AA Grapevine written about the Twelve Traditions.

Washingtonians -Grapevine articles about the Washingtonian Temperance Society.

Other Grapevine articles -All other Grapevine articles listed in order by date of publication.