March 14 in A.A. History

1906: Sylvia Brainerd [left^*] was born in Washington, D.C. She married Philip C. K―― and, though they later divorced, she continued to use his last name. As Sylvia K., she became the first woman in Alcoholics Anonymous to achieve so-called “permanent” (i.e., for the remainder of her life) long-term sobriety, beginning on September 13, 1939, in Chicago, Illinois. Her story, titled “Keys to the Kingdom,” appears in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.

---

^*A portrait of Miss Brainerd, exhibited by English sculptor Cecil Thomas at the Free Art Gallery, in Washington, who said of her appearance, “one of the types of beauty most inspiring America” (El Mundo del Auto, mayo 1925).

1935: At Calvary Episcopal Church in Manhattan, Dr. Frederick B. [near right] was baptized by Rev. Samuel Shoemaker [center right], with Bill W. [far right] serving as his godfather.

1942: The New Jersey Group of Alcoholics Anonymous commemorated its anniversary with a dinner [right: invitation] at the Hotel Suburban [below left], located at 141 S. Harrison St. in South Orange, New Jersey. Bill W. was the featured speaker, with tickets costing $2.50 [~$50 in 2026].

1949: Knowing he was dying, Dr. Bob S. [near right] wrote to Bill W. [far right] regarding the idea of a General Service Conference:

    Have been feeling quite painfully ill… Do not have the feeling that this [conference] is a particularly guided thing to do now. Maybe I am wrong, but that is the way I feel. Why don’t you see if can get the boys to put across this committee and let it go at that.