March 5 in A.A. History
In 1941, after reading Jack Alexander’s article about Alcoholics Anonymous in The Saturday Evening Post, Robert MacW. wrote a short note to the Alcoholic Foundation in New York City from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania saying,
In 1941, Boston, Massachusetts’ first A.A. meeting was held at the Jacoby Club, 115 Newbury St. [right], in the office of Dr. Lawrence M. Hatlestad, non-alcoholic assistant secretary of the Club.
He had written the Alcoholic Foundation office in June 1940 that he had read “your splendid book Alcoholics Anonymous” and declared “You have come upon something of real merit.” He pointed out that his club had similar goals and that some of the members were alcoholics and had quit drinking. He was anxious to contact A.A.s in Boston.
After Jack Alexander’s article about A.A. in The Saturday Evening Post appeared, Ruth Hock prepared a list of 31 inquiries from the Boston area to be contacted. Paddy K., who had been in contact with Ruth and Bill W. as early as 1939, had been trying to start an A.A. meeting in Boston as early as 13 Nov 1940. When Ruth couldn’t locate Paddy, she sent the list to Dr. Hatlestad. Once Paddy re-emerged, something of a row took place, in part because the Jacoby Club accepted outside contributions.
Bill would travel to Boston “to straighten things out,” which resulted in A.A. being banned from use of the Jacoby Club.
In 1941, in an article titled “Alcoholics on the Air,” Time magazine [left: cover and article] reported on Detroit radio broadcasts featuring A.A. members. It noted that the biweekly broadcasts on WWJ were
Am greatly impressed with the working of this group[.] And would appetite [sic] any information you may be able to furnish me as to whether there is such a group organized in Pittsburgh, their address, or the requirements of organizing such a group.
The Alcoholic Foundation would reply eight days later.
He had written the Alcoholic Foundation office in June 1940 that he had read “your splendid book Alcoholics Anonymous” and declared “You have come upon something of real merit.” He pointed out that his club had similar goals and that some of the members were alcoholics and had quit drinking. He was anxious to contact A.A.s in Boston.
After Jack Alexander’s article about A.A. in The Saturday Evening Post appeared, Ruth Hock prepared a list of 31 inquiries from the Boston area to be contacted. Paddy K., who had been in contact with Ruth and Bill W. as early as 1939, had been trying to start an A.A. meeting in Boston as early as 13 Nov 1940. When Ruth couldn’t locate Paddy, she sent the list to Dr. Hatlestad. Once Paddy re-emerged, something of a row took place, in part because the Jacoby Club accepted outside contributions.
Bill would travel to Boston “to straighten things out,” which resulted in A.A. being banned from use of the Jacoby Club.
… the first sustained air flight of the famed organization called “Alcoholics Anonymous”.… Detroit A.A.s give creditfor the broadcast project to 62-year-old William Edmund Scripps, big boss of the Detroit News and WWJ. He was so impressed by A.A.’s reformation of a drunkard friend that he decided to do what he could to boost the organization’s Detroit membership (now nearly 400).
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