January 7 in A.A. History

1939: After finalizing the details of selling stock in a publishing company to raise funds and retain ownership of what would become the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. [far left] and Hank P. [near left] “burn up the telephone to [Willard Richardson [near right] in] New York and even to Ohio where Frank Amos [far right]” was presumably enjoying a three-week vacation. They presented an outline of the new company and the stock plan, and posed a straightforward question: “Would you therefore be in favor that [we] make an effort to secure stock subscriptions for a corporation to take over the book on the terms [we] have just described?” Bill, at least, anticipated a negative response, and that is exactly what they got. Neither Richardson nor Amos agreed and both advised caution before taking any further steps [left: stock certificate for Works Publishing, Inc., the company Bill and Hank would form and sell stock in].

1953: Bill W. sent out a manuscript of new essays on the Twelve Steps for “criticisms and suggestions.” In his letter [right] he reminded recipients that “last spring…” he had “circulated… a similar piece of writing on A.A.’s Twelve Traditions.” He mentioned that “since then, following considerable discussion, a plan had evolved to perhaps combine the two manuscripts into a single book, [the future Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions] …” He noted that Harper & Bros. had made “a very favorable offer” to distribute the book to “the outside public” and expressed his desire to have the book approved by the General Service Conference in April.

1984: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (AAWS) published Pass It On: The Story of Bill W—and how the A.A. message reached the world [left, 1st edition]. Mel B. [right] was the primary author, with assistance from several others.