February 13 in A.A. History

In 1937, the “Drunk Squad” of the New York City Oxford Group met in Teaneck, New Jersey at the home of Hank and Kathleen P. This “alcoholic style” meeting of the Oxford Group was the first time such a group—which would become part of Alcoholics Anonymous—had met in New Jersey. One reason for this meeting was to introduce William “Bill” R. [left] to the fledgling fellowship. He had become and remained sober. Bill and his wife, Kathleen, of Hackettstown, New Jersey, began attending Tuesday night meetings at the home of Bill and Lois W. at 182 Clinton St. in Brooklyn.

In 1940, about two years sober, James “Jim” or “Jimmy” B. [right] moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a “very good new position.” Twenty-five days later, he started the city’s first A.A. group, the fourth (after Akron, New York City, and Cleveland), with six other alcoholics. Jim’s story, “The Vicious Cycle,” appeared in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.