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Book review and summary. Alcoholism was seen in America as an illness from Surgeon General Benjamin Rush in 1784 to present treatment centers. Follows mutual support groups from Native Americans in 1772 to Alcoholics Anonymous and other fellowships of today.

Photos of some early tokens marking various periods of sobriety in AA. These led to the chips that some groups still use today.

Some ideas in early AA came from "Soul Surgery" by Howard Walker, an Oxford Group member. Complete text in PDF format.

"A.A. Sponsorship... Its Obligations and Its Responsibilities" by Clarence S. was first published by Cleveland Central Office.

Alcoholics Anonymous still works for alcoholics who want to stop drinking and who really try. Numbers look different because early AA prescreened candidates. Examples.

Obituary and funeral card of the daughter of Doctor Bob, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. February 15, 1918 to February 9, 2002.

This site is Tennessee State Archives of Alcoholics Anonymous in Area 64. The main purpose is to carry the message to the still suffering Alcoholic.

A 1951 article by Sister Ignatia about how she and Dr Bob and other A.A. members worked together at St Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio. One ward was dedicated to the work of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Articles about and talks by Bill W and Doctor Bob S. Includes memorial service talk by Bill in memory of Bob. Some recordings available in Real Audio.

This 1931 book by Richard Peabody was influential in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Complete text is available as a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file.

Traces AA to the 1906 Emmanuel Movement of Boston. Spirituality and lay psychotherapy helped alcoholics. Courtenay Baylor became Rowland Hazard's therapist in 1933. Hazard worked with Ebby Thatcher and Ebby gave it to Bill Wilson who then became co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Historical writings, documents, letters, events, people, places and references through-out the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.

"Alcoholics Anonymous" by Jack Alexander, Saturday Evening Post, March 1, 1941. This resulted in a major growth of AA.

Letter from AA co-founder Bill W about the custom of using this prayer to close an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

To find a God of our understanding, there are four traditional paths in western spirituality going back to ancient Christian and Jewish thought. All are part of the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Many spiritual principles of Alcoholics Anonymous came from the Oxford Groups, an early 20th century religious movement. This article traces that part of AA history.

An article about the Oxford Group and its influence in the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Focuses on events from 1908 through the founding of AA in 1935.

Digest of proceedings at dinner given by Mr. John D. Rockefeller Jr., in the interest of Alcoholics Anonymous at Union Club, New York City, February 8, 1940.

The Serenity Prayer is often attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr. This article in "Respectfully Quoted" traces it to 14th England and 18th century Germany.

Researcher traces the origin of the "contempt prior to investigation" quote to William Paley (1743-1845). The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous credited it to Herbert Spencer (1820-1903). [Also available in PDF]

Examples of prayers in use prior to publication of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Photograph of the tombstone which is quoted on Page 1 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The inscription on this tombstone at Winchester Cathedral is quoted in "Bill's Story" in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Several articles about AA and the Twelve Steps collected by Serenity Found.

Some ideas of early AA came from "What is the Oxford Group? by The Layman With a Notebook, an anonymous Oxford Group member. Complete text.