March 13 in A.A. History

1887: James “Jim” R. was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the first son and third of eight children of Mary Fisher and Joseph R. He would get sober on 7 June 1933, more than 18 months before Bill W. In June 1940, he would co-found Alcoholics Anonymous in Baltimore.

1895: Henry “Hank” P. [right: as a young man] was born in Marion, Iowa, the second of three children and first son of Mary Giffen and Daniel P., whose family had lived in the area for several generations.

    Hank would become the first person in New York City to achieve sobriety with the help of Bill W. Considered by many to be the “forgotten” co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, he played a significant role in writing and publishing the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. His story in the first edition of that book is titled “The Unbeliever.”

Other significant events in March
                 (no specific date known)                 

1942: Irwin “Irv” M. [left] wrote the Alcoholic Foundation in New York City to report that he, along with three other alcoholics—Bill S., George S., and Louis J.—were forming an Alcoholics Anonymous group in Charleston, West Virginia. The group, the first in the state, was initially attended by three members: "W. T." S. [presumably the same person as Bill S.], secretary; George S.; and Louis J.
    Within six months, the group would double in size and move its meetings to W. T.’s office. Over the next three months, membership increased to 12, then 16, and eventually 29 members. These new members included individuals who had been active in A.A. in Cleveland, Ohio; New York City; Cincinnati, Ohio; Zanesville, Ohio; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, before relocating to Charleston.
    A year later, on March 22, Bill S. would write to National Secretary Bobbie B. at the Foundation, recognizing Irv as the “sponsor” of the group. Bill W. would visit in March 1943, and clubrooms would be established in 1944. By June of that year, membership would reach 71.