1932: Bill W., Arthur E. Wheeler
[right, c. 1956], and Frank F. Winans formed a stock-buying syndicate. Gardner Swentzel,
Bill’s brother-in-law, had introduced him to Wheeler and Winans. Wheeler,
whose father founded the American Can Company, was a director of the company
and held a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Winans was the Resident Vice
President of The National City Co., an investment securities firm in
Chicago. Believing it was an opportune time to invest in the stock market,
the three men agreed that each partner would contribute capital, and Wilson
was appointed manager of the syndicate.
However, Winans, aware of Bill’s worsening drinking problem—which had recently resulted in his firing after a drunken incident involving a taxi driver—insisted on a clause that would void the contract and forfeit Bill's initial investment should he drink anything at all. Bill, who had given his $2,000 [~$47,700 in 2026] severance check from that firing to his wife, Lois, took it back to invest in the syndicate.
1939: As the first copies of Alcoholics Anonymous were nearing print
at Cornwall Press, Frank Amos
[far left]
wrote to Willard Richardson [near
left]
to announce their imminent arrival. Aware that Richardson was unwell, Amos
advised him to remain home until fully recovered. He also noted that he had
already arranged for A. LeRoy Chipman
[right]
to receive the books at Rockefeller Center. Amos then instructed Richardson
to immediately send five copies to the following individuals:
Amos suggested inscribing each book’s front
flyleaf with a note such as “Compliments of the ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.” In a
handwritten postscript to the typed letter, Amos added, “You may want to
place a copy in Mr. [John D. Rockefeller]
[left]
Junior’s hands.”
Amos, Richardson, and Chipman were all associates of Mr. Rockefeller, as well as Class A (non-alcoholic) trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation.
1947: Following a year of difficult discussions about policy and structure, Bill W. presented a 43-page report, “Our AA General Service Center—The Alcoholic Foundation of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” to the Trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation. Echoing concerns he expressed in a 10 July 1946, letter to the Trustees, the report detailed the Foundation’s history and proposed both the creation of an experimental General Service Conference and the renaming of the Foundation to the “General Service Board.” Bill hoped to prepare A.A. for its “coming of age,” but the Trustees initially reacted defensively, their passive resistance eventually solidifying into outright opposition, as they saw no need for change.
1950: Illustrated magazine [left: cover] (London, UK) published Willi Frischauer’s article, “Alcoholics Anonymous,” accompanied by 8 photographs spread across 3½ pages [right: the 3½ pages].
However, Winans, aware of Bill’s worsening drinking problem—which had recently resulted in his firing after a drunken incident involving a taxi driver—insisted on a clause that would void the contract and forfeit Bill's initial investment should he drink anything at all. Bill, who had given his $2,000 [~$47,700 in 2026] severance check from that firing to his wife, Lois, took it back to invest in the syndicate.
1939: As the first copies of Alcoholics Anonymous were nearing print
at Cornwall Press, Frank Amos
[far left]
wrote to Willard Richardson [near
left]
to announce their imminent arrival. Aware that Richardson was unwell, Amos
advised him to remain home until fully recovered. He also noted that he had
already arranged for A. LeRoy Chipman
[right]
to receive the books at Rockefeller Center. Amos then instructed Richardson
to immediately send five copies to the following individuals:Dr. [Harry Emerson] Fosdick; Rev. M. J. Lavelle, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral; Mrs. [E. L.] Ballard [whom Richardson had solicited for funds the previous October]; Mrs. Charles L. Burke, at 375 Riverside Drive [who had made an “anonymous” contribution of $50 (~$1,560 in 2026) to the Foundation the previous summer or fall]; Mr. [Albert] Scott
Amos suggested inscribing each book’s front
flyleaf with a note such as “Compliments of the ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.” In a
handwritten postscript to the typed letter, Amos added, “You may want to
place a copy in Mr. [John D. Rockefeller]
[left]
Junior’s hands.”Amos, Richardson, and Chipman were all associates of Mr. Rockefeller, as well as Class A (non-alcoholic) trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation.
1947: Following a year of difficult discussions about policy and structure, Bill W. presented a 43-page report, “Our AA General Service Center—The Alcoholic Foundation of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” to the Trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation. Echoing concerns he expressed in a 10 July 1946, letter to the Trustees, the report detailed the Foundation’s history and proposed both the creation of an experimental General Service Conference and the renaming of the Foundation to the “General Service Board.” Bill hoped to prepare A.A. for its “coming of age,” but the Trustees initially reacted defensively, their passive resistance eventually solidifying into outright opposition, as they saw no need for change.
1950: Illustrated magazine [left: cover] (London, UK) published Willi Frischauer’s article, “Alcoholics Anonymous,” accompanied by 8 photographs spread across 3½ pages [right: the 3½ pages].
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