October 23 in A.A. History

1939: The Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ohio) published the second article [left] in Elrick Boyle Davis’s series of five, titled “Alcoholics Anonymous Makes Its Stand Here”:

There is no blinking the fact that Alcoholics Anonymous, the amazing society of ex-drunks who have cured each other of an incurable disease, is religious. Its members have cured each other frankly with the help of God. Every cured member of the Cleveland Fellowship of the society, like every cured member of the other chapters now established in Akron, New York, and elsewhere in the country, is cured with the admission that he submitted his plight wholeheartedly to a Power Greater than Himself.

1940: Dr. Gilbert “Gib” K., a dentist, wrote to the Alcoholic Foundation in New York City for help, becoming the first alcoholic contact in Milwaukee:

Gentlemen,

Recently there has been called to my attention an article which appeared in the May 17, 1940 issue of the “Green Sheet” of the Milwaukee Journal that interests me very much. Several lengthy columns are there devoted to a general description of your unique attack, or rather approach, in the direction: “alcoholism.” Since the common sense method employed by your “Foundation” seems more nearly to solve my own personal problem than any other I have heard of, I am moved to write you for a little further information. Is there an active group or “chapter” located here in Milwaukee whom I might contact? If not, any other details you may wish to offer me will be greatly appreciated.

October in A.A. History—day unknown

1947: Herbert “Herb” D., an American expatriate living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, received another letter from the Alcoholic Foundation in New York City. The office—most likely Bobby B.—“expresses its happiness at the start of an A.A. Group in Brazil.” It is unclear exactly how or when this group was formed. However, the minutes of a 1950 meeting reveal the following:

Portuguese	English translation
Data – aniversário. Na reunião de hoje deliberamos comemorar o 3º (terceiro) aniversário da Fundação do Grupo A.A. do Rio de Janeiro no dia 5 (cinco) de setembro próximo. A referida data ficará, por tradição, como a data oficial da fundação do Grupo. Rio de Janeiro, 29 de agosto de 1950. Fernando, secretário.	Date – anniversary. At today’s meeting we decided to celebrate the 3rd (third) anniversary of the Foundation of Grupo AA do Rio de Janeiro on the 5th (fifth) of September. The aforementioned date will remain, by tradition, as the official founding date of the Group. Rio de Janeiro, August 29, 1950. Fernando, secretary.

1949: Dr. William D. Silkworth [near right] and Fulton Oursler [far right] joined the Alcoholic Foundation Board.

1950: In an A.A. Grapevine article titled “Too Far West Group” [left: cover], E. K. of Seattle, Oregon reported on…

the recently organized “Too Far West Group” of Adak, Alaska [right, with Razorback Mountain behind]. Six members of various Seattle groups, all firmly grounded in AA principles, form the nucleus of this first formal AA group on the fog-enshrouded outpost of the Aleutian chain.

With justification, the Adak members believe their group is the farthest west and still part of the North American continent.

How firm a foundation the new group is being built upon can be gleaned from the following lines in a communication received from Oran H., secretary:

“Should any man’s mind lead him into a belief that he is all important, he can most easily throw off such thoughts here in this outpost. He need but go outside about 9:30 on an evening the fog has not settled down—face the majestic bare crags that make up Mt. Moffett, turn around and gaze on the snow capped bondaged [sic] threat of the volcano Sitkea [sic] [left: Great Sitkin Volcano, the volcano being referred to], make a half turn and look out over the cold, bleak, limitless Bering Sea—and if he doesn’t believe in some Power greater than himself—he’s hopeless.”