AA Basics: A Study - One writer's view of the Twelve Steps and their relation to Bible verses such as in James, Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount), and 1 Corinthians 13.
AA Grapevine on Early Groups - Collection of articles 1944-48 about activities of groups as they formed. Complete Grapevine text. From the History Lovers archives. ["Next" "Previous" scrolls more]
AA History and Trivia - A sober web site for recovering alcoholics. Questions and answers on AA History and other fun for members of Alcoholics Anonymous and their friends.
An A.A. History Archive - A collection of articles and letters relating to the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
A.A. History Buffs - Collection of articles and resources by various AA historians including moderator Nancy Olson. Forum was replaced in 2002 by "A.A. History Lovers" due to a technical problem.
A.A. History by Mitchell K. - A collection of articles by historian and archivist Mitchell K. on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
AA History from Cybriety.org - Scores of articles, letters, and pictures about the development of Alcoholics Anonymous.
A.A. History Lovers - A discussion group for those interested in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Replaced the earlier History Buffs group.
AA Holy Grail - Big Book Master Copy - New owner of draft manuscript of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous will make it available for AA historians and researchers. Many editing notations show suggested changes that were and were not made.
A.A. in Regular Magazines - Complete text of several articles in general circulation magazines. From the History Lovers archive. ["Next" "Previous" scrolls more]
A.A. in Religious Magazines - Complete text of several articles in religious magazines. From the History Lovers archive. ["Next" "Previous" scrolls more]
AA Original Manuscript Up for Auction - Final marked-up manuscript of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous sold at auction. History group participant describes some significant edits that had been considered.
Alcoholics and God - Liberty Magazine - September 1939 Liberty magazine had the first major article about Alcoholics Anonymous after publication of the Big Book. Includes the magazine cover.
Angel of Hope - Offers a video biography of Sister Ignatia who provided medical care for many early members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Australian AA History - Tells of the start and growth of Alcoholics Anonymous in Australia (1942 thru 1999).
Big Book Early Manuscript - This early draft of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous was written before the manuscript that was distributed for review.
Bill W Obituary - New York Times News Service article on the passing of A.A. co-founder Bill W on Sunday, January 24, 1971.
Bill's Original Story - This early draft of Bill's Story differed substantially from the final version that appeared in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The Care of Alcoholics - 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.
Catholic Asceticism and the Twelve Steps - Father Ed Dowling 1953 article gives a Catholic view of Alcoholics Anonymous. Compares it to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Christian or Occult Roots? - The authors suggest that AA did not originate in Christianity since it has never required members to believe in Christ crucified.
Circle and Triangle Logo - What happened to the triangle in the circle? History of why this symbol was removed from Alcoholics Anonymous publications in 1993.
Clarence Snyder - Home Brewmeister - A biography of the man who started AA in Cleveland, Ohio. This was the first group to be called Alcoholics Anonymous.
The Co-founders 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.
Commentaries about Alcoholics Anonymous - Articles on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Includes magazines and other resources that were important in the origins of AA.
The Common Sense of Drinking - This 1931 book by Richard Peabody was influential in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Complete text is available as a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file.
Dallas, Texas, AA History - Esther E. ("A Flower of the South") introduced AA to Dallas in 1943. Includes an interview with oldtimer Searcy W.
Diagnostic Criteria for Alcohol Abuse and Dependence - Formal definitions of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence are updated over time. This paper follows them from Jellinek's 1941 work to today's DSM-IV criteria.
Dick B Articles on A.A. History - This prolific writer focuses on the Christian and Bible influences on early Alcoholics Anonymous. Articles and links.
Dr Harry Tiebout Papers - Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, a psychiatrist, was an early supporter of Alcoholics Anonymous. These papers are an important part of A.A. history.
Dr. Robert Smith Archives at Brown University - The collection of correspondence, meeting notes and books of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Dr. Robert H. Smith has been acquired by Brown University and will be made available to researchers interested in the origins of 12-step recovery programs.
Early A.A. Growth - Posting from AA History Lovers summarizes sources of information about growth of earliest groups.
The Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club - 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.
For Drunks Only - Preface to "For Drunks Only" gives history of that book as well as the popular "Twenty-Four Hours a Day" meditation book.
History in Photos - A photographic journey through the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Founders, friends, and memorabilia.
The History of Alcoholics Anonymous - Historical writings, documents, letters, events, people, places and references through-out the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
How it Worked - The story of Clarence S and the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cleveland, Ohio. Complete text available free on-line. His was "Home Brewmeister" story in the Big Book.
I Was a Pagan (1934) - Some ideas in early AA came from "I Was a Pagan" by Victor Kitchen, an Oxford Group member. Complete text in PDF format. [PDF]
In AA's First Five Years - An AA Grapevine article from 1967 by Lois W. A bit of Alcoholics Anonymous history including how Al-Anon was started.
The Jack Alexander Article - "Alcoholics Anonymous" by Jack Alexander, Saturday Evening Post, March 1, 1941. This resulted in a major growth of AA.
JAMA Big Book Review 1939 - Brief 1939 Journal of the American Medical Association critique of Alcoholics Anonymous said that, other than recognition of the seriousness of addiction to alcohol, "the book has no scientific merit or interest."
The Names of God - 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.
Old School A.A. - Books about the Christian techniques of the early A.A. fellowship.
Oxford Group Books - PDF downloads of "Soul Surgery" and "What Is the Oxford Group?" and "I Was a Pagan." Alcoholics Anonymous is a descendent of the Oxford Groups.
The Oxford Group Connection - 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.
The Oxford Group Connection - 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.
Oxford Group Pamphlets Reprinted - Thirteen complete Oxford Group pamphlets. Most of AA spiritual principals were drawn from this group's writings.
People in AA History - An anterwoven web of the people mentioned in Alcoholics Anonymous literature, who they are and how they fit in
Phoenix A.A. History Conference - Annual event. Three days of Alcoholics Anonymous history and archives. Usually in late winter.
Photographs from AA History - A collection from the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous with a few more recent pictures.
Plain Dealer - Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper articles on Alcoholics Anonymous. Elrick Davis, October 1939. Took AA beyond mere word of mouth.
Preserving the History of Alcoholics Anonymous - Describes the Kirk Collection on AA at Brown University. Includes history of colonial and revolutionary temperance movements, Prohibition and repeal, and more modern studies of alcohol and alcoholism that emphasize Alcoholics Anonymous.
The Rockefeller Dinner for A.A. - 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. [PDF]
Rowland Hazard - Rowland Hazard met briefly with Carl Jung but sobered through the Emmanual Movement and then the Oxford Groups. Review and excerpt of "The Road to Fellowship: The Role of the Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club in the Development of Alcoholics Anonymous" by Richard Dubiel.
Searcy W - Interview with early Texas AA member who was 54+ years sober at the time.
Silkworth Writings - The writings, articles, letters and documents of Dr. William Duncan Silkworth, M.D. -also known as Silky.
Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery - 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.
Some Early Sobriety Mementos - Photos of some early tokens marking various periods of sobriety in AA. These led to the chips that some groups still use today.
Soul Surgery (1919) - Some ideas in early AA came from "Soul Surgery" by Howard Walker, an Oxford Group member. Complete text in PDF format. [PDF]
Sponsorship Pamphlet from 1944 - "A.A. Sponsorship... Its Obligations and Its Responsibilities" by Clarence S. was first published by Cleveland Central Office. [PDF]
Success Rates in Early A.A. - Alcoholics Anonymous still works for alcoholics who want to stop drinking and who really try. Numbers look different because early AA prescreened candidates. Examples.
Sue Smith Windows Memorial Book - Obituary and funeral card of the daughter of Doctor Bob, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. February 15, 1918 to February 9, 2002.
The Survival of a Fitting Quotation - 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]
Tennessee Archives - 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.
The Third Step and Your Prayer - Examples of prayers in use prior to publication of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Tombstone of Thomas Thetcher - The inscription on this tombstone at Winchester Cathedral is quoted in "Bill's Story" in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Twelve Step History - Several articles about AA and the Twelve Steps collected by Serenity Found.
An 1878 View of The Washingtonians - Article from book "The Temperance Reform and its Great Reformers." The Washingtonians was an early predecessor of AA which faded away.
What is the Oxford Group? (1933) - 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. [PDF]
Writing The Big Book - Most of the ideas and wording in the A.A. book came from other writers. An essay by archivist and historian Mitchell K.
