May 5 in A.A. History

In 1940, Washington, D.C.’s The Sunday Star published Robert A. Erwin’s article [right], “Victims of Alcohol Hold Weekly Meetings to Aid One Another in Overcoming Weakness for Drink,” which favorably reported on the first A.A. group formed in the District of Columbia: the Washington Group.

    John Fitzhugh “Fitz” M. [left] was one of Bill W.’s successes at Charles B. Towns Hospital in 1935. Although he lived in Cumberstone, Maryland, he spent much of his early sobriety in New York City, making the long trip from home to attend A.A. meetings at Bill’s home in Brooklyn.

    In 1939, Fitz had moved to Washington, D.C., where he immediately contacted Hardin C., who had reached out to the Alcoholic Foun­dation in New York City, and whose information had been forwarded to Fitz. They began meeting at Hardin’s apartment and soon recruited Ned F., who had also gotten sober in New York City, a retired Navy Commander from  California, and others. Their first female member, Dorothy H., joined the following year. James “Jim” B. [right] of Philadelphia was a significant help to the D.C. members. He considered the weekly meetings at Philadelphia General Hospital essential to the success of the Philadelphia group and urged the D.C. group to work with alcoholics in the Psychopath Ward at Gallinger Municipal Hospital [left]. He also introduced the practice of serving coffee and doughnuts at meetings.

    The D.C. members revisited the discussion that had taken place in New York City between Jim and Fitz regarding the references to God in the Big Book, with Jim emphasizing the psychological approach and Fitz focusing on the religious aspect.
    The Sunday Star article attracted many new members, and by the end of the year, the group had reached 70 members.