First Rough Draft of Alcoholics Anonymous History Website Initial Content

Alcoholics Anonymous History
with
Dick B.

This website intends to focus readers on accurate, comprehensive Alcoholics Anonymous History—particularly as it extends from the pre-A.A. Christian roots of the 1850’s to the period just after Bill Wilson published his First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1939. It will lay out the history in various chunks that should prove useful to the recovery community.

Start with Alcoholics Anonymous General Services Conference-Approved Literature

I began my search for Alcoholics Anonymous History by reading all the available, accurate, relevant literature published by A.A. itself. And the books, in the order of the publication, were:

• Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^st ed., Works Publishing Company, 1939 (non-approved).
• “RHS” The A.A. Grapevine issue dedicated to the memory of the Co-Founder of

Alcoholics Anonymous, DR. BOB, 1951.

• Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 1957.
• The Co-Funders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks (Pamphlet P-53), 1972, 1975.
• Alcoholics Anonymous, 3^rd ed., 1976.
• DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, 1980.
• “Pass It On,” 1984.
• The Language of the Heart: Bill W.’s Grapevine Writings, 1988.

Examine Other Reliable Alcoholics Anonymous History Literature that Can Be Helpful

Piece by piece, manuscript by manuscript, research trip by research trip, Alcoholics Anonymous History—in its full form, and in a form that is comprehensive, accurate, and able to be used and applied in recovery today—emerged from and is reported in the following Alcoholics Anonymous History literature:  

• Alcoholics Anonymous: The Original 1939 Edition, Introduction by Dick B., Dover

Publications, 2011.

• AA of Akron Pamphlets, n.d., – Available at Akron Intergroup Office

A Guide to the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous

A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous

Second Reader for Alcoholics Anonymous

Spiritual Milestones in Alcoholics Anonymous

• Bill W.: My First 40 Years
• Biographies of Bill W.:

Dick B., The Conversion of Bill W., 2006.

Susan Cheever, My Name is Bill W., 2004.

Francis Hartigan, Bill W., A Biography. . . , 2000.

Matthew Raphael, Bill W. and Mr. Wilson, 2000.

Tom White, Bill W.: A Different Kind of Hero, 2003.

Nan Robertson, Getting Better Inside Alcoholics Anonymous, 1988.

Robert Thomsen, Bill W., 1975

• Central Bulletin, Volumes I – III, Cleveland Central Committee, Dec. 1942-Dec. 1945
• Dale Mitchel, Silkworth: The Little Doctor That Loved Drunks, 2002
• Garth Lean, Frank Buchman: A Life
• James D. Newton, Uncommon Friends,
• Lois Wilson, Lois Remembers, 1987
• Nell Wing, Grateful to Have Been There, 1992.
• Stewart C., A Reference Guide to the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, 1986.
• Bill Pittman and Dick B., Courage to Change: The Christian Roots of the Twelve Step

Movement, 1994

• Bill Pittman, AA The Way It Began, 1988.

Alcoholics Anonymous History: A.A.’s Origins

• Mel B.

New Wine: The Spiritual Roots of the Twelve Step Miracle, 1991

Ebby: The Man Who Sponsored Bill W., 1998

My Search for Bill W., 2000.

• Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker Histories

Dick B., New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.

Bill W., I Stand by the Door, The A.A. Grapevine, 1967.

Charles Taylor Knippel, Samuel M. Shoemaker’s Theological Influence on

            William G. Wilson’s Twelve Step Spiritual Program of Recovery,

                  Helen Smith Shoemaker, I Stand by the Door,

                  John Potter Cuyler, Jr., Calvary Church in Action, 1934.

W. Irving Harris, The Breeze of the Spirit

Samuel M. Shoemaker, Calvary Church Yesterday and Today,

Samuel M. Shoemaker, Realizing Religion, 1923

• Oxford Group Histories

Dick B., The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous

Frank N. D. Buchman, Remaking the World

Garth Lean, Frank Buchman: A Life

James D. Newton, Uncommon Friends,

Henry B. Wright, The Will of God and a Man’s Life Work

Howard A. Walter, Soul Surgery, 1928.

Howard J. Rose, The Quiet Time

Peter Howard, That Man Frank Buchman

Robert E. Speer, The Principles of Jesus

Sherwood Sunderland Day, The Principles of the Group, n.d.

T. Willard Hunter, It Started Right There

T. Willard Hunter, World Changing Through Life-Changing,,

The Layman with a Notebook, What is the Oxford Group? 1933.

• Histories Relative to the Co-Founder Dr. Bob’s Christian Upbringing

Dick B. and Ken B., Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in

            the Good Book as a Youngster in Vermont.

[The Town of St. Johnsbury—Dr. Bob’s birthplace]

Edward Taylor Fairbanks, The Town of St. Johnsbury, Vt; A Review

of One Hundred Twenty-Five Years to the Anniversary Pageant, 1912

                                    Claire Dunne Johnson, “I See By the Paper,” 1987.

                        [The People, including the Fairbanks family and the Smith family]

                                    Albert Nelson Marquis, Who’s Who in New England

Charles G. Ullery, Men of Vermont, 1894.

Hiram  Carleton, Geneological and Family History of the State of

 Vermont, Vol I.

Lorenzo Sayles Fairbanks, Geneology of the Fairbanks Family… 1897

The “Fairbanks Papers” 1815-1889,.

                                    William H. Jeffrey, Successful Vermonters, 1904.

                        [Congregationalism and North Congregational Church of St.Johnsbury]

                                    John M. Comstock, The Congregational Churches of Vermont and Their

                                                Ministry, 1762-1942. 1942.

                                    John E. Nutting, Becoming the United Church of Christ in Vermont, 1995

                                    History of North Congregational Church, 2007

                                    Arthur Fairbanks Stone, North Congregational Church, St. Johnsbury,

 Vermont, 1825-1942, 1942

                        [Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor]

                                    Francis E. Clark. Christian Endeavor in All Lands, 1906

                                    Francis E. Clark, World Wide Endeavor: The Story of the Young People’s

 Society of Christian Endeavor and in All Lands, 1895.

                        Amos R. Wells, Expert Endeavor, A Textbook of Christian Endeavor

                                    Methods and Principles, 1911.

                        John R. Clements, The Francis E. Clark Year Book: A Collection of Living

Paragraphs From Addresses, Books, and Magazine Articles by the Founder of the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor,  1904.

                                    John Franklin Cowan, New Life in the Old Prayer Meeting, 1906.

                        [St. Johnsbury Academy]

 Arthur Fairbanks et. al. [including Dr. Bob’s mother], An Historical

            Sketch Of St. Johnsbury Academy 1842-1922

                                    Charles Edward Russell, Bare Hands and Stone Walls, 1933

                                    Richard Beck, A Proud Tradition A Bright Future, 1992

                                    Robert Miraldi, The Pen Is Mightier: The Muckraking Life of Charles

 Edward Russell, 2003.

                                    The Academy Student (1897), (1898)

                        [Young Men’s Christian Association]

Year Book of the Young Men’s Christian Association of North America,

1896

                                    C. Howard Hopkins, John R. Mott, 1865-1955.

                                    Laurence L. Doggett, History of the Young Men’s Christian Association

                                    Richard C. Morse, History of the North American Young Men’s Christian

                                                Associations, 1919.

                                    Sherwood Eddy, A Century with Youth, 1884-1944, 1944

                        [Salvation Army]

                                    Harold Begbie, Twice Born Men

                                    Understanding and Counseling…

• Histories Relating to the Christian Upbringing of Co-Founder Bill Wilson

Dick B., The Conversion of Bill W.

[The conversion that cured Bill Wilson’s grandfather Willie of alcoholism]

            Francis Hartigan, Bill W.: A Biography…, 10-11

            Robert Thomsen, Bill W., 14

            Bill W., My First 40 Years, 6

            Susan Cheever, My Name is Bill, 17.

                        [The Evangelists]

                                    Allen Folger, Twenty-Five Years as an Evangelist, 1906

                                    Bob Holman, F. B. Meyer: “If I Had a Hundred Lives…,” 2007

                                    Edgar J. Goodspeed, The Wonderful Career of Moody and Sankey in

 Great Britain and America, 1876.

                                    Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter, The Ten Greatest Revivals Ever, 2000

J. Wilbur Chapman, Life and Work of Dwight L. Moody

Mark O. Guldseth, Streams, 1982.
[East Dorset Congregational Church]

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

Dick B., The Conversion of Bill W., 7-10, 27-28, 72-73

                                    Susan Cheever, My Name is Bill W., 4, 44

Francis Hartigan, Bill W., 175

Robert Thomsen, Bill W., 15, 30-9. 200

                        [Bible study-in East Dorset and in a 4 year Bible study course at Burr and Burton]

                                    Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

                                    Susan Cheever, My Name is Bill, 37-38, 47-48.

                                    Robert Thomsen, Bill W., 30=39, 200.

                        [Christian Revivals and Conversion Meetings Bill attended]

                                    Bill Pittman, AA The Way It Began, 79

                                    Francis Hartigan, Bill W., 10-11, 53, 58, 59

                                    Matthew Raphael, Bill W., 77

                                    Susan Cheever, My Name is Bill, 44-45,

                                    Mel B., New Wine, 127=28

                        [Gospel Rescue Missions]

                                    D. Samuel Hopkins Hadley, Down in Water Street: A Story of Sixteen

Years Life and Work in Water Street Mission: A Sequel to the Life of Jerry McAuley, n.d.

                                    J. Wilbur Chapman, S.H. Hadley of Water Street, 1906.

                                    “Pass It On”

                                    William James. The Varieties of Religious Experience,, 188-9, 146

                                    John Potter Cuyler, Jr., Calvary Church in Action

                        [Burr and Burton Academy and the Manchester Congregational Churcht]

                                    Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

                                    Bill W.: My First Forty Years

                                    Frederica Templeton, The Castle in the Pasture: Portrait of Burr and

 Burton Academy, 2005,, 25, 42. 44, 56, 67

                        [Young Men’s Christian Association-Bill as President, girl friend as YWCA

President]

                                    Bill W., My First Forty Years, 29

                                    Robert Thomsen, Bill W., 57

                                    Frederica Templeton, The Castle in the Pasture,78-79,  69

[Bill’s turn to Jesus Christ, the “Great Physician,” Who can cure alcoholics].

            Dick B., Turning Point, 99-100.

            Dick B., The Conversion of Bill W., 47, 94,

            Dick B., A New Way In: Telling the Truth, 61-66.

Norman Vincent Peale, The Positive Power of Jesus Christ. 1980.

Dale Mitchel, Silkworth, The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 60-63.

Mel B.,

Ebby: The Man Who Sponsored Bill W.

New Wine: The Spiritual Roots of the Twelve Step Miracle

                                    “Lois Remembers: Searcy, Ebby, Bill & Early Days”: Recorded in Dallas

                                                Texas, June 29, 1973.

T. Willard Hunter, It Started Right There

Bill W., My First Forty Years

W. Irving Harris, The Breeze of the Spirit

“Pass It On”

William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience

                        [Bill Wilson’s first unsuccessful attempts for six months to carry a message]

                                    William Borchert, When Love is Not Enough

                                    Alcoholics Anonymous, 4^th ed., 191.

                                    Lois Remembers, 94-95

                                    Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 64-65

                                    The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, 9-10, 26.

Alcoholics Anonymous History – The Fellowship takes shape

• How the First Three AAs Got Sober by simply turning to God for help. Bill W. accepted Jesus Christ at Calvary Mission, cried out for help, had his “white light” experience at Towns Hospital, and never drank again. Dr. Bob prayed with a little group at T. Henry’s home in Akron, a miraculous contact from Bill W. occurred, and soon Dr. Bob took his last drink. Bill Dotson (A.A. Number Three) was told by Dr. Bob and Bill to seek God’s help, and he did so—almost immediately being cured and never having another drink.

                        The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (Pamphlet P-53)

                        Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

                        Dick B. and Ken B. “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” Class

• The Original Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship Program Founded in June, 1935, and the first group—Akron Number One—founded July 4, 1935 when Bill D. was cured.

DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers

Dick B., The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous

Dick B., Turning Point: The Spiritual History of Alcoholics Anonymous

Dick B., Henrietta B. Seiberling: Ohio’s Lady with a Cause

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 66-72.

• The Principles and Practices of the Original Akron A.A. Pioneers

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

Dick B., When Early AAs Were Cured and Why

DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers

Sue Smith Windows and Robert R. Smith, Children of the Healer, 1992,

• The Role of the Bible in Earliest A.A.

The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous

DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers

Dick B., The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible

Dick B., The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook

Dick B., The James Club and the Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials

Dick B., Anne Smith’s Journal 1933-1939

Dick B., Why Early A.A. Succeeded (A Bible Study Primer)

• “Prayer and Meditation” in Earliest A.A.

DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers

Dick B., Good Morning!: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early

 A.A.

                        Howard Rose, The Quiet Time

                        Donald Carruthers, How to Find Reality in Your Morning Devotions, Penn State

 College, n.d.

• The “Real Surrender” to Jesus Christ in Early A.A.

Dick B., The Golden Text of A.A.

Mitchell K., How It Worked

Dick B., When Early AAs Were Cured and Why

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

Dick B., That Amazing Grace

• The Daily Meetings, Family Emphasis, and Close Contacts Among Members—Resemblance to First Century Christianity

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

• The Counting of Noses in Late 1937 that proved God had shown the founders how to succeed

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 11

RHS

• The Documented 75% Success Rate in the Akron A.A. Program

Richard K., Early A.A.—Separating Fact from Fiction: How Revisionists Have

Led Our History Astray, 2003

Richard K. New Freedom: Reclaiming Alcoholics Anonymous, 2005

The one-page list in the hand of Dr. Bob—now in the Rockefeller Archives

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

Bill Wilson’s Preparation for a New, Oxford Group-Oriented Program

• The Preparation of the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous