May 31 in A.A. History

1949: Bill W. responded [right: his reply] to a May 15th note from Ed W. [far left]. Ed had written to inform Bill that Barry C. [near left], an A.A. founder in Minnesota, was doing much better.
    Ed also asked Bill to confirm receipt of the copies of The Little Red Book [below right] Ed had sent. As the primary author, Ed wanted the Alcoholic Foundation to take over its publication. Although Dr. Bob S. had contributed to the book and Bill had praised it, A.A.W.S. declined to publish it because the Trustees preferred an A.A.-owned book.
    Bill wrote:

    I did receive those books.… Lois and I continue to reminisce about our pleasant visit with your group. God forbid that Alcoholics Anonymous ever become frozen or rigid in its ways of doing or thinking. Within the framework of our principles the ways are apparently legion. 
    There is little doubt that the contributions you folks have made to our progress will always be a part of the folk lore [sic] of our well-loved fellowship.

1963: The Kodiak Mirror in Alaska featured an article on page 5 titled “Local Alcoholics Anonymous Group Hears Report” [left]. It detailed how a representative—likely from Kodiak’s only A.A. group, the Isle of Hope Group—attended the Alaska State A.A. Assembly in Anchorage and subsequently reported back to group. The report included the following details:

    Methods of furthering AA’s efforts to help the alcoholic who still suffers from this disabling disease were discussed and a report was heard from Alaska’s delegate to the headquarters of Alcoholics Anonymous in New York City where the annual conference of delegates from the entire United States and the Provinces of Canada was held on April 15.

Today in A.A. History—May 31–June 1

1969:  The first Thekwini Round-up was held at Botha’s Hill in Natal, South Africa [right: view from atop Botha’s Hill]. Thekwini is a shortened form of eThekwini, a Zulu word derived from itheku, meaning “bay, lagoon, or port.” It refers to a South African metropolitan municipality, established in 2000, which encompasses the city of Durban and its surrounding towns.

Today in A.A. History—May 31–June 2

1963:  The 6th International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA) and the 16th South Carolina State Convention were jointly held in Columbia, South Carolina. The event’s theme was “Courage, Confidence, Conviction” [left: program cover].

May 30 in A.A. History

1941: In Hartford, Connecticut [right: downtown, early 1945], two men who would be instrumental in establishing Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) in the city each took his last drink independently, only meeting and learning of each other shortly afterward.
    Hal S., a member of the Shaker Heights Group in Ohio, was in Hartford on business when he inquired of a doctor where he might find local alcoholics. The doctor knew of none, but his nurse provided Hal with the name of Harold “Red” W. Hal called Red that evening, but Red was “indisposed.” They eventually met a few days later, and Red had his last drink on May 30.
    Meanwhile, Harold H., a salesman and periodic drunk, had read Jack Alexander’s article in The Saturday Evening Post [left: cover]. However, he was put off by the “God business” and had resigned himself to remaining a drunk. Shortly thereafter, he found himself in a hospital after being beaten up and arrested. Upon his release, he attended a party on May 30, where he encountered an old drinking buddy, Brad P., who had sobered up in the Scarsdale Group in New York. Brad asked Harold if he wanted to die as an alcoholic. Having recently witnessed a man suffer from delirium tremens (the DTs), Harold said no and never drank again.
    Soon after, Harold and Red met and began recruiting other drunks.

1944:  An article in Georgia’s The Atlanta Constitution titled “‘Bill’ [W.] Defines Alcoholic as ‘Bankrupt Idealist’” [right] demonstrates that Bill used the term “bankrupt idealist” eight years prior to its appearance in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (Tradition 6, page 156).

1964: Ebby T. arrived at McPike’s Farm [left], an innovative alcoholism treatment facility located in Galway, New York, near Saratoga Springs. Founded by Margaret and Mickey M. in the winter of 1958, the farm offered Ebby a chance to find peace and relief from the inner turmoil that had plagued him for much of his life. Sadly, he died in a nearby hospital less than two years later.

Today in A.A. History—May 30–June 1

1970: The three-day Third Thekwini Round-up [left: program cover] commenced in South Africa. The term Thekwini is synonymous with eThekwini (Zulu: derived from itheku, meaning bay, lagoon, or port) and refers to a South African metropolitan municipality established in 2000. This municipality encompasses the city of Durban and its surrounding towns.

May 29 in A.A. History

1921: Dr. Frank Crane’s article, “Just for Today” [right], first published in The Boston Globe (Massachusetts) has since been widely circulated within A.A. and Al-Anon. Crane himself [left] later commented on the borrowing, noting, “Bill [W.] did say we ‘borrowed.’ This time from Dr. Crane’s 1921 copyrighted material.”

1944: The Patriot (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) published a column by Beatrix Fairfax (described as a “Famous Authority on Problems of Love and Marriage”) titled “Advice to the Lovelorn: ‘Alcoholics Anonymous’ Helps Make Homes Happy” [left].

1980: Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers [near right: 1st edition, 1st printing], an authorized biography of A.A.’s co-founder and a history of early A.A. in the Midwest, was published. Niles P. was hired to write it, apparently with assistance from Barry L. In addition, Ed N. and Ruth Hock may have contributed.

2022: Elizabeth J. “Liz” B. [left], a 100-year-old Boston, Massachusetts resident, died after 69 years and 11 months of sobriety. A New York City native, she was a friend of Bill Wilson and spoke at his 26th anniversary celebration.

A.A. History—month & day unknown

1917: [Summer] After completing his US Army training at Fort Monroe in Virginia, Bill W. [near right: in uniform] was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and assigned to Fort Rodman in Massachusetts.

1918: Bill W. was reassigned from Fort Rodman, Massachusetts, to Fort Adams, near Newport, Rhode Island.

1919: The War Industries Board published the 31-page booklet “Prices of Chemicals” [left: cover], authored by Dr. Frederick “Freddie” B.

1921–22: During his first year at Brooklyn Law School, which was located in the Brooklyn Eagle Building [right, 1904], Bill W.’s grades varied from very good—a 90 in Contracts and an 89 in Torts—to a mediocre 77 in both Agency and Partnerships.

1922–23: Bill W.’s second year at Brooklyn Law School saw his grades fluctuate significantly, compared to the year before. Although he achieved some high marks, he also received failing grades of 67 and 68. He successfully retook these courses, passing them on his second attempt.

May 28 in A.A. History

1907: Conor Flynn [right] was likely born in County Roscommon, Ireland. After immigrating to the United States, he would get sober in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1943. Three years later, in 1946, he and Richard P. O’Connor would co-found the first Alcoholics Anonymous group in Dublin, making it the first A.A. group in Europe.

1974: The A.A. Fellowship of Great Britain was chosen to host the 3rd biennial A.A. World Service Meeting. It would mark the first time the event was held outside the United States. The Site Committee, comprising members selected at the 2nd World Service Meeting, had recommended England as the top choice for the 1974 gathering, “with Mexico or Finland as second and third choices,” respectively. The meeting was scheduled for 16–18 October 1974, at London’s Gloucester Hotel.

2021: Josh E., Chair of the A.A. Grapevine, Inc. Board, sent a memo [left] to General Service Conference members in the U.S. and Canada. In it, he announced that the revised Preamble—which replaced “men and women” with “people”—would first appear in July’s A.A. Grapevine. He also addressed certain concerns that had been raised.

    We’ve also received a number of inquiries about whether this negatively impacts the editorial independence of Grapevine. Please remember that the Grapevine Board, Publisher and Editors discussed this topic for an entire year over a series of board meetings. Ultimately it was agreed that Grapevine has the right of decision and foundational editorial independence. We felt that such a change would affect the groups as a whole and in keeping with Tradition 4, we sought the input from those it might affect by sending the discussion to the General Service Conference.
    The topic was actively discussed in groups across the United States and Canada for two years over both the 70th and 71st General Service conference panels. As a result of those conversations the Delegates of the General Service Conference passed a series of votes, in a sequence of events that culminated with the final advisory action.

A.A. History—month & day unknown

1916: Originally published in Paris in the December 1912 issue of the magazine La Clochette (The Little Bell), the French prayer “Belle prière à faire pendant la messe” (A Beautiful Prayer to Say During the Mass)—which would later become known as “The Prayer of St. Francis”—was translated into Italian and featured on the front page of L’Osservatore Romano [right: 15 May 1891 issue], the Vatican’s daily newspaper. It was titled “Le preghiere del ‘Souvenir Normand’ per la pace” (The Prayers of “Souvenir Normand” for Peace). 
    The organization “Souvenir Normand” identified itself as “a work of peace and justice inspired by the testament of William the Conqueror, who is considered to be the ancestor of all the royal families of Europe.” Consequently, this title led to the prayer being mistakenly attributed to William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and first Norman King of England.
    Shortly thereafter, the newspaper La Croix [left: 17–18 December 1916 issue] (The Cross) reprinted the L’Osservatore Romano article in French, using essentially the exact same heading and explanatory text. The French Marquis Stanislas de La Rochethulon, who had sent the original French prayer to Pope Benedict XV the previous year, wrote to La Croix to clarify that it was not a prayer from Souvenir Normand. However, he did not mention its original publication in La Clochette. Because of its prominent appearance in L’Osservatore Romano and La Croix as a simple prayer for peace during World War I, the prayer gained widespread recognition.

 

1917: [Early] After passing his physical examination for induction into the US Army, Bill W. [right: in uniform, 1918] is called up. He has his first taste of alcohol—a beer, which does nothing for him. Later, while being entertained with other servicemen at Grinnells’, he tries his first mixed drink: a Bronx Cocktail. This leads to a glorious first “high,” making him feel at ease and comfortable for the first time in his life. 

A.A. History—year, month & day unknown

~1913: At 14, Charles Henry “Charlie” S. [left, allegedly] ran away from the farm where he lived. He befriended some hobos and, with two of them, boarded a train bound for Detroit. When they arrived, one of them, Tom Casey, took Charlie under his wing, securing them both a room with a kindly Irish landlady. For the next two years, Tom looked after Charlie, teaching him what not to do, making sure he started a bank account, and encouraging him to keep it growing.
    Charlie’s story, “Riding the Rods,” later appeared in the first edition of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.

Early 1920s: At the College of the City of New York, Dr. Frederick “Freddie” B. [right, 1923] was developing courses in economic chemistry. 

May 27 in A.A. History

1917: Nellie “Nell” Wing [right, c. 1946] was born in Kendall, New York, the daughter of William Frank and Daisy Shepard Wing.
    She would serve as Bill W.’s secretary and administrative assistant at the Alcoholic Foundation (later the General Service Office) in New York City from March 1947 until Bill’s death in 1971. She then served as A.A.’s first official Archivist from early 1972 until her retirement in December 1982.

1961: James “J.D.” H., A.A. #8, died at the age of 66 from “coronary insufficiency” at his home at 657 Elma Street [left, in June 2011] in Akron, Ohio. He had gotten sober in Akron in September 1936.

Today in A.A. History—month & day unknown

1912: Construction began on Stan Hywet (pronounced “stan HEE'•wit”) [right: Manor House under construction], a name derived from Old English meaning “stone quarry” and reflecting the property’s most prominent natural feature. This 3,000-acre tract would become the home of Franklin “Frank” Seiberling and his family in 1915. By 2022, the estate property had dwindled to only 70 acres.

1913: [Summer] Bill W. and Lois Burnham first met at Emerald Lake [left], in Vermont, situated below and behind the Burnhams’ cottage there. Lois was vacationing with her family when her younger brother, Rogers, introduced her to Bill. Lois, who was more than four years Bill’s senior, initially viewed him simply as a friend of her brother.

1915: The French prayer, “Belle prière à faire pendant la messe” (A Beautiful Prayer to Say During Mass), was sent to Pope Benedict XV [left] in 1915 by the French Marquis Stanislas de La Rochethulon [right]. Originally published in December 1912 in the Parisian magazine La Clochette (The Little Bell), the prayer came to be known as “The Prayer of St. Francis.”

Today in A.A. History—year, month & day unknown

~1911: Annie C., who would author “Annie the Cop Fighter” in the first edition of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, had her first drink at approximately age 31.

May 26 in A.A. History

1924: The U.S. Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce published “The Italian dyestuffs industry: production, export, and import statistics” [left: cover] written by Dr. Frederick E. Breithut [right, 1923], American Trade Commissioner to Germany, and J. Allen Palmer [far right, c. 1930], Assistant Trade Commissioner.

A.A. History—month & day unknown

1902: The Principles of Jesus [far left: cover] by Robert E. Speer [near left, 1904], was published. On page 35 [right: with relevant passages highlighted], Speer identified the Four Absolutes that became central to Oxford Group practice.

1903: Rev. Purley Albert Baker [left], former superintendent of the Ohio Anti-Saloon League, was elected general superintendent of the National Anti-Saloon League. Under his leadership, a collection of organizations previously united in name only transformed into a cohesive federation with unified national leadership and goals.
    Meanwhile, Rev. Howard Hyde Russell [right], Baker's predecessor, shifted his focus to other endeavors. These included establishing the Lincoln-Lee Legion, a pledge program encouraging signers to abstain from alcoholic beverages [left: Lincoln-Lee Legion pledge card]. This program significantly expanded the League’s access to more churches.

1905: The Anti-Saloon League’s recovery from its financial and organizational difficulties culminated in its success in the Ohio governor's race. Incumbent Republican Governor Myron P. Herrick [left, c. 1912] had thwarted the League’s push for local option legislation, known as the Brannock Bill. Disagreeing with the bill’s scope, Herrick threatened a veto and worked to send it back to a conference committee for revision. Incensed by his actions, League leaders resolved to unseat him in his re-election bid.
    Recognizing Ohio as a Republican stronghold, the League initially sought a candidate to challenge Governor Herrick for his party’s nomination. When that effort failed, they turned to the Democrats. With the power and prestige of their organization at stake in this highly visible race, they threw their support behind Democrat John M. Pattison [right, before 1912]. Pattison won by a substantial margin, despite Republicans securing every other statewide office that election year—a clear testament to the League’s growing influence.

1908: Ernest Jacoby [left, 1913], a Boston, Massachusetts businessman originally from England, began working with the group at Emmanuel Church, bringing together leaders, including those who were struggling with alcoholism. It became known as the Jacoby Club of Boston.
    The Jacoby Club grew out of the Emmanuel movement, which was led by Rev. Dr. Elwood Worcester [near right, c. 1915] of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church [far right, 1909] on Newbury Street. In addition to his pastoral duties, Worcester practiced a method of spiritual healing aimed at various neurotic disorders. He believed that alcoholics could find relief by redirecting their focus from their problems to a life centered on service and spirituality. His treatment approach emphasized key components such as prayer, group support, and self-help.

A.A. History—year, month & day unknown

1905–15: Initially struggling with organizational and financial difficulties since its founding in 1895, the National Anti-Saloon League dramatically turned its fortunes around. By 1908, the League had not only doubled the number of churches cooperating with it but also established state leagues in all but four states.

May 25 in A.A. History

1925: Bill and Lois W. were five and a half weeks into a motorcycle trip investigating publicly held companies across the eastern U.S. They were staying at “The Camp,” as the Burnham family called it, located at Lake Emerald outside North Dorset, Vermont [left: Lois's father sitting on steps at "The Camp"]. In her Diary of Two Motorcycle Hobos, Lois recorded how “Two tragedies occurred in the insect and bird life today.” She watched with “astonishment” as a dragonfly emerged from the “ugly brown beetle shell” she had found. As it flew away, a phoebe bird “darted down and gobbled it up!” Lois “sat down and cried. Later [that] afternoon, one of the babies of the same phoebe bird fell out of its nest and was killed instantly” [right: phoebe eating a dragonfly].

1962: The three-day Central New York Area Conference began at the Watson Homestead Conference and Retreat Center [left: with commemorative conference coin] in Painted Post, New York.

1989: The four-day 32nd International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous (ICYPAA) opened at the Salt Lake City Marriott and Salt Palace [right: aerial view of Salt Palace (left) and Marriott (right)] in Utah, drawing an attendance of 4,000. The theme of the conference was “Carry the Message.”

A.A. History—month and day unknown

1893: An unidentified temperance organization, similar to the Ohio Anti-Saloon League, was established in Washington, D.C. It would join the Ohio Anti-Saloon League to form the nucleus of the National Anti-Saloon League.

1902: Howard Alfred “Al” S. [left] was born in Charleston, Pennsylvania, the son of Emmett Fox’s secretary. After working in advertising and film, he would join A.A. in 1944. Within the Fellowship, he would serve as Director of the New York Intergroup Association, Grapevine Editor (1948–?), a Grapevine Director, and a Class B (alcoholic) Trustee from 1958 to 1961. He would author the Responsibility Pledge, which would be introduced to the Fellowship at the 1965 International Convention in Toronto, Ontario. He would also write the biographical book Bert D.: Hardhat, Inebriate, Scholar, published by Harbor House in the 1960s.

A.A. History—year, month and day unknown

1890s: The National Anti-Saloon League faced significant organizational and financial difficulties. Its founder, Howard Hyde Russell [right], and other leaders were forced to personally solicit funds to support themselves.

1898–99: One Charles Henry S. was born to Jarius A. S. and Jennie D. Horton in New York, the 2nd of four children. [This may or may not be the Charlie Simonson who got sober in Akron, Ohio in May 1937.]