August 13 in A.A. History

1944: The Press-Telegram of Long Beach, California, published the article at right, titled “Famous Organization of Rehabilitated Alcoholics Has 100 Members Here,” highlighting the success of Alcoholics Anonymous in Southern California.

A.A. History—month & day unknown

1949: Alcoholics Anonymous published a pamphlet titled “Medicine Looks at Alcoholics Anonymous” [left: 1st printing cover], which contained two talks given to medical societies by Bill Wilson: “Basic Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous,” presented to the Section on Neurology and Psychiatry at the annual meeting of the Medical Society of the State of New York, in New York City, in May 1944; and “The Society of Alcoholics Anonymous,” presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in May 1949.

1950: The Washington, D.C. Police Court [right, 1938] permitted Alcoholics Anonymous to hold meetings in the courtroom on Saturday mornings. Bob C., a parole officer, began sending parolees to the Cosmopolitan Group, and over time attendance at the weekly A.A. meeting became a condition of their release.

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

Late 1940s: The National Committee for Education on Alcoholism (NCEA) relocated its office from New Haven, Connecticut, to the New York Academy of Medicine [left, recent] at 2 East 103rd Street in New York City.

Late 1940s–early 50s: Annie C., whose story in the 2nd edition of the Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous, is titled “Annie the Cop Fighter,” was said to be having the time of her life in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.). Despite having nothing material to her name, she was sober, happy, and enjoying herself—as happy as a lark.

Annie joined A.A. in April 1947, but after a slip, she went to High Watch Farm. Upon her return, her friend Nancy Flynn—whose story, also in the 2nd edition of the Big Book, is titled “The Independent Blonde”—suggested Annie take her fifth step—either with Dr. Silkworth or with a priest. Annie chose the priest, who was likely an A.A. member himself. The meeting took place at Nancy’s apartment; before leaving to give them privacy, Nancy made coffee and encouraged Annie to come to a meeting on 58th Street afterward.

When Annie arrived at that meeting, she looked visibly relieved. Nancy had assured her the fifth step wasn’t a confession—just a chance to tell her story—but Annie treated it like one anyway, telling the priest, “Father, I’ll tell you everything, but don’t ask me how many times.”

Annie was a plainspoken, unfiltered woman who cursed freely when she talked—though she’d catch herself and address a priest in the audience with, “Excuse me, Father, but I’m trying to be careful.”

Nancy, who worked as a hairdresser, charged Annie a dollar for her haircuts. She did this deliberately: Annie was proud, and Nancy wanted her to feel she was paying her way rather than accepting a handout. Later, when Annie visited another salon and was charged six dollars, she balked: “Hell, I can get it done for a buck up on Park Avenue!”