January 19 in A.A. History

1939: The first published reference to Alcoholics Anonymous anywhere appeared in The Hackettstown (New Jersey) Courier-Post in an article titled “There Is Hope” [left]. Written by noted journalist, book editor, and author Silas B. [near right] the article recounts the story of Hank P. [far right] without naming him or anyone else, nor did it provide information on how to contact A.A. Silas was likely the third member of A.A. in New York City, but would experience a “spectacular slip” within a year.

1940: Dorothy S. [left] of Cleveland, Ohio, wrote to Ruth Hock, the National Secretary of the Alcoholic Foundation in New York City, describing Larry J. [right] as a brilliant newspaperman who, at 40, was down and out “owing to John Barleycorn.” She requested assistance from the Foundation office to help Larry start a group in Houston, Texas, which they provided.
    Larry’s story had begun in Cleveland in late 1939. Weighing just 100 lbs [45 kg], he was found in freezing weather without a coat, suffering from a collapsed lung due to tuberculosis, and near death in terrible physical condition. In a Cleveland hospital, he had been slowly recovering from delirium tremens, malnutrition, and exposure. Local A.A. members, including Clarence S. [left], Dorothy’s husband, had visited and cared for him regularly. Due to his health issues, Larry had been advised to move to a warmer climate. Without ever having attended an A.A. meeting, he boarded a train for Houston, Texas with only a copy of Alcoholics Anonymous. As he read it on the train, he had a spiritual awakening and went on to found A.A. in Texas.

1944: Bill W. returned home with Lois to Stepping Stones after his first major A.A. tour, which had begun on 24 October 1943.

1999: Francis “Frank” M., G.S.O. Archivist since 1982, died in Vero Beach, Florida, just eight days shy of his 65th birthday [right: gravestone]. Frank, who had been sober since 10 June 1970, was widely recognized as a dedicated A.A. member and historian. He served 21 years at the General Service Office, initially as an administrative assistant and, until his retirement in 1998, as the G.S.O. Archivist. Frank often referred to himself as “the Happy Archivist.” In his many talks about the G.S.O. Archives, he emphasized that the primary purpose of having archives is so “we don't forget where we’ve come from.”

2015: Dr. Ernest “Ernie” K. [left], 79, the author of Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous, died of from pancreatic cancer at his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan.