February 8 in A.A. History

In 1939, Bill W. responded to Janet Blair’s letter of February 6, commenting on her enclosed changes to the proposed first two chapters of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. She also made a suggestion to smooth the transition from “Bill’s Story” to “There is a Solution,” which Bill and Hank P. accepted and which has remained in all four editions. Bill thanked Blair for having “the perception to understand what it is I want to say and the ability to say it so well. You have certainly cleared up our manuscript.”

Rockefeller dinner: invitation, menu

In 1940, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. hosted a dinner for Alcoholics Anonymous at the Union League Club in New York City. Seventy-five of four hundred invited guests attended [right: invitation and menu]. John D. was ill, so his son Nelson hosted instead. The dinner generated much positive publicity for A.A. and raised $2,200 [~$49,600 in 2025] from attendees ($1,000 [~$22,500 in 2025] from Rockefeller alone). They continued to contribute about $3,000 [~$67,600 in 2024] a year until 1945, when they were asked to stop. All contributions from non-alcoholics were eventually repaid, in accordance with A.A.’s 7th Tradition.

    Paul S. accompanied Dr. Bob S. to the Rockefeller dinner in New York City. Paul also convinced Frank Amos, a Rockefeller associate, that Dr. Bob needed financial help to avoid having to give up his work with alcoholics, and suggested that John D. Rockefeller quietly provide a monthly stipend for at least two years, which he did, although some of it went to Bill W. and Hank P.

The first pamphlet  

In 1940, The Houston (Texas) Press published the first of six anonymous articles about A.A. written by a newly sober member, Larry J. These six articles became the basis of A.A.’s first pamphlet, simply titled “AA” [left].

In 1942, the Columbus (Ohio) Group of A.A., which had started only 3 months earlier, split. Fourteen members formed the newly named Central Group and began meeting in the Odd Fellows Hall at 24 W. Goodale St. The Central Group continued to meet until at least 1999.