There is a wealth of historical material now which makes it clear that early A.A. in Akron embraced the family and the home. Alcoholics Anonymous History is really a history that begins in Akron--Akron Christian Fellowship, Akron Number One. Men were members. Wives and family members participated. And the focus was in the homes of the pioneers.
The home: The focus of early Alcoholics Anonymous History can be found in the homes of the pioneers. They fellowshipped together daily. They daily met at the Smith Home for Quiet Time led by Dr. Bob's wife Anne. They visited each other, broke bread together, and phoned each other (if they could afford phones) and profited from the warm welcome they received in Akron homes. In addition, once each week, they met for a "regular" meeting on Wednesdays with the tiny Oxford Group people at T. Henry Williams' home in Akron. They had address books with the names, phones, and addresses of each of the pioneers
You can find it all in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, A.A.'s Co-Founders Pamphlet P-53, and Dick B., The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml. Dr. Bob's kids also detailed much of the same material in their excellent book Children of the Healer.
Of course, a number of the early AAs actually lived in the homes of Dr. Bob and Anne, Tom Lucas, Wally G. and others. This was during their shaky period and enabled them to have fellowship with other believers, counsel from Anne Smith, Dr. Bob, Henrietta Seiberling, and others. And to have many of the benefits of the First Century Christianity which observers saw in the Akron fellowship.
See also: www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml and www.dickb.com/realhistory.shtml.
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