September 28 in A.A. History

1873: Etheldred Frances Folsom [right] was born to Frances Elizabeth Fuller and George Folsom, members of a wealthy, well-educated family in New York City.

She identified herself as a book illustrator and landscape artist, but today she is better known as a visionary and healer. As an adult, she became a follower of Emma Curtis Hopkins [left], a renowned teacher with a following of 50,000. Known as “The Teacher of Teachers,” Hopkins was a key founder of the New Thought movement, which influenced early members of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) and continues to influence religious groups such as Christian Science, Moorish Science, Positive Thinking, Prosperity Gospel, and Unity Church.

Folsom preferred to be called Sister Francis, in honor of her favorite saint, St. Francis of Assisi, and most A.A. members knew her by that name. In 1939, she purchased Joy Farm, which since 1926 had served as a residential community for spiritual seekers who were disciples of Hopkins, and renamed it High Watch Farm [right]. She transformed it into a spiritual retreat center where she disseminated Hopkins’ teachings under the name “The Ministry of the High Watch.” After meeting Marty M. and Bill and Lois W., Folsom founded the High Watch Recovery Center, which some have claimed was the world’s first 12-step treatment center.

1918: Bill W. and his unit arrived in Nexon, France [far left: map showing location of Nexon]. They would remain there until 27 October for additional training [near left: men of Bill’s unit in Nexon].

1928: Dr. Bob S. and Sister Ignatia [right: with two of her alcoholic patients] first met at St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio. Sister Ignatia, a member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, was working as the hospital’s registration clerk. Initially, she was unaware of Dr. Bob’s drinking problem, though Bob later share this with her. Later, Dr. Bob, who loved nicknames, called her “Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous,” “Little Angel of AA,” and “Ig.”

A.A. History—month & day unknown

1998: The Grateful Recovering Online Women’s (GROW) Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, an email group, was founded. It continues to operate today.

1999: The second Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) group in Монгол (Mongolia), called Итгэл (Trust), was established in the capital, Улаанбаатар (Ulaanbaatar) [right: aerial view, late 1990s].

2000: Mongolian A.A. groups opened their doors in the Аймгууд (provinces) of Орхон (Orkhon), Дарх`ан-Уул (Darkhan-Uul), Дорнод (Dornod), Өвөрхангай (Övörhangai), and Сэлэнгэ (Selenge), as well as in other дүүргүүд (districts) of Улаанбаатар (Ulaanbaatar) [left: map show these locations within Mongolia].