AA History

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AA History

The New York World-Telegram reported on the dinner held
in honor of the tenth anniversary of Bill W’s sobriety
(December 11, 1934). That newspaper erroneously called
it the 10th anniversary of the founding of AA. There were
1500 members in attendance that night at the Commodore Hotel.

The New York Herald Tribune recounted that Bill's report
of AA’s 10 year history was impressive. AA went from 15
alcoholics released from the "drinking habit" in the first
year to 40 "conversions" after 3 years. At the end of 4
years there were 100 members, and the book Alcoholics
Anonymous had been written. After nearly 10 years there
were more than 12,000 members in 370 groups throughout
the United States and Canada and a "new unit" functioning
successfully in Hawaii (Hawaii would not become a state for
another 15 years - in August of 1959).

Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

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AA Trivia
Q: Who was the man in “The Doctors Opinion” (page xxxi)
who hid in the barn?

A: John Henry Fitzhugh M. His story is titled "Our Southern
Friend". Fitz was from Hanthingy, Missouri and got sober in
November 1935. He was twelve-stepped by Bill W. in Towns
Hospital and was considered AA number two in New York.
He was invited to and attended the Rockefeller Dinner given
on February 8, 1940 in New York.

Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

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From: "The Doctor's Opinion"
The doctor writes:

The subject presented in this book seems to me to be
of paramount importance to those afflicted with alcoholic
addiction.

I say this after many years' experience as Medical Director
of one of the oldest hospitals in the country treating alcoholic
and drug addiction.

There was, therefore, a sense of real satisfaction when I was
asked to contribute a few words on a subject which is covered
in such masterly detail in these pages.

We doctors have realized for a long time that some form of moral
psychology was of urgent importance to alcoholics, but its
application presented difficulties beyond our conception. What
with our ultra-modern standards, our scientific approach to
everything, we are perhaps not well equipped to apply the powers
of good that lie outside our synthetic knowledge.

Many years ago one of the leading contributors to this book came
under our care in this hospital and while here he acquired some
ideas which he put into practical application at once.

Later, he requested the privilege of being allowed to tell his story
to other patients here and with some misgiving, we consented.
The cases we have followed through have been most interesting:
in fact, many of them are amazing. The unselfishness of these men
as we have come to know them, the entire absence of profit motive,
and their community spirit, is indeed inspiring to one who has labored
long and wearily in this alcoholic field. They believe in themselves,
and still more in the Power which pulls chronic alcoholics back from
the gates of death.

Of course an alcoholic ought to be freed from his physical craving
for liquor, and this often requires a definite hospital procedure,
before psychological measures can be of maximum benefit.

© 1989, Carry the Message, Inc., Alcoholics Anonymous,
[First Edition facsimile], pages 3-4
Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by,
approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World
Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

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AA History
Among the odd jobs that Bill cited in “Bill’s Story” was his
mention of working on a farm for a month. During 1925, Bill
and Lois took off on a trip down the east coast inspecting
companies to see if their stock might be good Wall Street
investments. They camped up and down the coast and
carried all of their belongings in the Harley-Davidson
motorcycle and sidecar that Bill had purchased.

At the end of April 1925, they stopped at the Goldfoot family
dairy farm in Scotia, New York near Schenectady. Mr.
Goldfoot had two sons, both of whom worked for General
Electric, a company that Bill was able to penetrate for
investment investigation by befriending some of their
employees during that month. They also worked for the
Goldfoots to earn some money to continue on this most
successful trip. Lois later acknowledged that she hadn't
cared if they earned a cent on the trip. She had been
hoping the fresh air and the hobo lifestyle would help
Bill slow up on his drinking.

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Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by,
approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World
Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

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AA History
In “Bill’s Story," he mentioned, in passing, that he took a
night law course, with no further detail provided. He attended:

Brooklyn Law School
250 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, New York

This was located less than one-half mile from Bill and Lois's
home at 182 Clinton Street in Brooklyn, New York. In order to
get to his night class, Bill walked toward Schermerhorn Street,
turned right on Livingston Street and went a few blocks. He
then had to turn left onto Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard, go
another block and turn left again onto Joralemon Street where
the Law School was located.

Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by,
approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World
Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

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AA History

In “The Doctor’s Opinion,” Dr. Silkworth described a
patient brought to him for treatment of chronic alcoholism
who had only partially recovered from a gastric hemorrhage,
and seemed to be in a pathological state of mental deterioration.

This man was Hank P. His story in the first edition of the Big
Book was titled "The Unbeliever" (Experience, Strength &
Hope, page 5). Hank worked for Standard Oil of New Jersey.
He was a high-pressure kind of guy. He was called a "promoter
among promoters". He was a partner with Bill W in the Honor
Dealers Car Polish Company, which they started to earn some
money while AA was still being developed. Hank also wrote
Chapter 7 of the Big Book, "Working with Others.” Alcoholics Anonymous, AA, and the Big Book are registered trademarks of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. Just For Today is neither endorsed by, approved by, associated, nor affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., or The AA Grapevine, Inc.

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AA History
At the end of “Bill’s Story,” he mentions, “One poor chap
committed suicide in my home. He could not, or would not,
see our way of life.”

The “poor chap” was Bill C., who was a "guest" of Bill and
Lois for nearly a year in their home at 182 Clinton Street. He
was a lawyer and gambler (professional bridge player).

In the summer of 1936, upon returning home from visiting
Fitz M and others in Maryland, Bill W. opened the door of
their home to be met by the strong smell of the natural gas
that Bill C. had used to end his life.

Over the next few months, Bill and Lois discovered that their
late houseguest had been secretively selling off all of their
good dress clothes to finance his drinking and gambling.

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