September in A.A. History—day unknown

In 1950, [Early] Dr. Bob S. [right] underwent another operation. His live-in caretaker at the time, Emma K., recalled in 1977:

    Then the pain was getting really bad. Every day, he went down a little further. And he did so hate to go to the hospital. But there were things that had to be done to him, and they couldn’t be done at home. So we [she and her alcoholic husband Lavelle K.] would take him in, and may he would stay a day and a night. Then we’d bring him back home. We had good days, and we had bad days. I know one time he was in bed for six weeks. Sometimes, he had to have five or six shots. And he would always say, “Thank you kindly.”

In 1950, Bill W. [left] reported on the proceedings of the July 28–30 1st International Convention and A.A.’s 15th Anniversary Celebration in Cleveland, Ohio, in an A.A. Grapevine article titled “We Come of Age.” It began:

    On AA’s 15th Anniversary everybody knew that we had grown up. There couldn't be any doubt about it. Members, families and friends—seven thousand of them—spent three inspiring, almost awesome days with our good hosts at Cleveland.
    The theme song of our Conference was gratitude; its keynote was the sure realization that we are now welded as one, the world over. As never before, we dedicated ourselves to the single purpose of carrying good news of AA to those millions who still don't know. And, as we affirmed the Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous, we asked that we might remain in perfect unity under the Grace of God for so long as he may need us.

	In 1952, the A.A. Bulletin, a newsletter regularly sent to A.A. groups from the Alcoholic Foundation’s office in New York City, was renamed The Group Secretary. In 1955, it would be renamed again, to The General Service Bulletin. Then, in May 1956, it would be consolidated with several other A.A. bulletins to create the A.A. Exchange Bulletin [left: Vol. I, No. 1]. Finally, in December 1966, the A.A. Exchange Bulletin would be renamed Box 4-5-9 [right: first Box 4-5-9, “formerly the A.A. Exchange Bulletin”].