September 24 in A.A. History

In 1940, Bill W. [near right] is said to have 12th-stepped Margaret “Bobbie” B. [far right] on this day, although she claimed a sobriety date of March 1940.     A brilliant woman and exceptional communicator, Bobbie had been an aspiring dancer, appearing in supporting roles on Broadway, as well as in Paris and London, before discovering Alcoholics Anonymous and securing employment at its headquarters (as it was then called).

    In February 1942, Bobbie would become the second—and last—national secretary for the Alcoholic Foundation office in New York City, following the departure of the first national secretary, Ruth Hock, who left to get married.

    She would take the lead in responding to over 6,000 letters and telegrams from people with drinking problems and their families seeking help from around the world. She wrote, edited, and mailed thousands of letters. She befriended over 300 A.A. members who fought in World War II. She wrote more than 20 letters to Dr. Sylvester Minogue in Australia to help start A.A. there. Many Australians consider her more of a founder than Bill W. Bobbie worked closely with Bill until her resignation in June 1949. She was so important to the early work of A.A. that Bill regularly included her name along with those of the Trustees, his wife Lois, and co-founder Dr. Bob S. and his wife Anne, in the annual Christmas letter he sent to A.A. members [below: 1944 Christmas letter].