AA Original Manuscript Up for Auction
- Final marked-up manuscript of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous sold at auction. History group participant describes some significant edits that had been considered.
- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/message/4377

AA Holy Grail - Big Book Master Copy
- New owner of draft manuscript of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous will make it available for AA historians and researchers. Many editing notations show suggested changes that were and were not made.
- http://www.aaholygrail.com

Carl Jung, a New England Family, and the Risks of Anecdote
- The history of Alcoholics Anonymous, exploring the connection between Carl Jung and Rowland Hazard. New research corrects some misconceptions and fills in details.
- http://www.stellarfire.org/

Catholic Asceticism and the Twelve Steps
- Father Ed Dowling 1953 article gives a Catholic view of Alcoholics Anonymous. Compares it to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/message/1322

A.A. in Religious Magazines
- Complete text of several articles in religious magazines. From the History Lovers archive. ["Next" "Previous" scrolls more]
- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/msearch?query=%22Rel.+AA%22

A.A. in Regular Magazines
- Complete text of several articles in general circulation magazines. From the History Lovers archive. ["Next" "Previous" scrolls more]
- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/msearch?query=%22periodical+lit*%22

AA Grapevine on Early Groups
- Collection of articles 1944-48 about activities of groups as they formed. Complete Grapevine text. From the History Lovers archives. ["Next" "Previous" scrolls more]
- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/msearch?query=tcumming+news+circuit

Early A.A. Growth
- Posting from AA History Lovers summarizes sources of information about growth of earliest groups.
- http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/message/2293

Tombstone of Thomas Thetcher
- The inscription on this tombstone at Winchester Cathedral is quoted in "Bill's Story" in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.thejaywalker.com/pages/tombstone.html

The Names of God
- To find a God of our understanding, there are four traditional paths in western spirituality going back to ancient Christian and Jewish thought. All are part of the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.hindsfoot.org/namegod.html

AA Archival and Historical Materials
- Reviews the writings of Bill Wilson, Richmond Walker, Father Ralph Pfau, and Ed Webster.
- http://www.hindsfoot.org/archives.html

The Care of Alcoholics
- A 1951 article by Sister Ignatia about how she and Dr Bob and other A.A. members worked together at St Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio. One ward was dedicated to the work of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.silkworth.net/religion_clergy/01033.html

Jellinek Chart of Alcoholism
- Historic chart shows progression of alcoholic decline and recovery.
- http://www.in.gov/judiciary/ijlap/docs/jellinek.pdf

Key Dates in Alcoholics Anonymous
- Events in AA history arranged by day of the year. Collected by Nancy O.
- http://a-1associates.com/aa/dates.htm

An A.A. History Archive
- A collection of articles and letters relating to the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.silkworth.net/

Dr Harry Tiebout Papers
- Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, a psychiatrist, was an early supporter of Alcoholics Anonymous. These papers are an important part of A.A. history.
- http://www.silkworth.net/tiebout/tiebout_papers.html

A Photographic Journey Through AA History
- Photographs of pioneers of Alcoholics Anonymous and important places and documents.
- http://www.silkworth.net/mitchellk/aahistoryphotos/index.html

Silkworth Writings
- The writings, articles, letters and documents of Dr. William Duncan Silkworth, M.D. -also known as Silky.
- http://www.silkworth.net/silkworth/silkworth.html

The History of Alcoholics Anonymous
- Historical writings, documents, letters, events, people, places and references through-out the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.silkworth.net/aahistory/historyaa.html

Preserving the History of Alcoholics Anonymous
- Describes the Kirk Collection on AA at Brown University. Includes history of colonial and revolutionary temperance movements, Prohibition and repeal, and more modern studies of alcohol and alcoholism that emphasize Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/University_Library/publications/Bibliofile/Biblio26/Chester.html

How the West was Won
- How Alcoholics Anonymous came to the West of England.
- http://www.aareunioninbristol.org/howthewest.asp

Phoenix A.A. History Conference
- Annual event. Three days of Alcoholics Anonymous history and archives. Usually in late winter.
- http://www.aaarizona.org/

Southeastern New York 49 History Book
- A brief history of Alcoholics Anonymous in each of the counties in SENY Area 49.
- http://www.aaseny.org/SvcCmts/Standing/Archives/English/ArchBk.pdf

Oxford Group Books
- PDF downloads of "Soul Surgery" and "What Is the Oxford Group?" and "I Was a Pagan." Alcoholics Anonymous is a descendent of the Oxford Groups.
- http://www.stepstudy.org/html/downloads.html

Alcoholics Anonymous Historical Data
- The Birth of A.A. and its growth in U.S. and Canada. By the AA General Service Office.
- http://aa.org/en_information_aa.cfm?PageID=2&SubPage=60

The Rockefeller Dinner for A.A.
- Digest of proceedings at dinner given by Mr. John D. Rockefeller Jr., in the interest of Alcoholics Anonymous at Union Club, New York City, February 8, 1940.
- http://aagso.org/1940/dinner_capture.pdf

Diagnostic Criteria for Alcohol Abuse and Dependence
- Formal definitions of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and alcohol dependence are updated over time. This paper follows them from Jellinek's 1941 work to today's DSM-IV criteria.
- http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa30.htm

Minneapolis A.A. Beginners Classes
- This instructor's outline for the Minneapolis A.A. Beginners Classes was used in 1942.
- http://www.hindsfoot.org/mnclass1.html

Slaying the Dragon: The History of Addiction Treatment and Recovery
- Book review and summary. Alcoholism was seen in America as an illness from Surgeon General Benjamin Rush in 1784 to present treatment centers. Follows mutual support groups from Native Americans in 1772 to Alcoholics Anonymous and other fellowships of tod
- http://www.unhooked.com/booktalk/slaying_the_dragon.htm

Rowland Hazard
- Rowland Hazard met briefly with Carl Jung but sobered through the Emmanual Movement and then the Oxford Groups. Review and excerpt of "The Road to Fellowship: The Role of the Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club in the Development of Alcoholics Ano
- http://www.aabibliography.com/roland_hazard_2004_alcoholics_anonymous.htm

The Emmanuel Movement and the Jacoby Club
- Traces AA to the 1906 Emmanuel Movement of Boston. Spirituality and lay psychotherapy helped alcoholics. Courtenay Baylor became Rowland Hazard's therapist in 1933. Hazard worked with Ebby Thatcher and Ebby gave it to Bill Wilson who then became co-founde
- http://www.hindsfoot.org/kDub2.html

Commentaries about Alcoholics Anonymous
- Articles on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Includes magazines and other resources that were important in the origins of AA.
- http://legacyaa.com/articles/

Alcoholics and God - Liberty Magazine
- September 1939 Liberty magazine had the first major article about Alcoholics Anonymous after publication of the Big Book. Includes the magazine cover.
- http://legacyaa.com/articles/alcoholics_god.htm

Time Line on Development of the Twelve Steps
- Traces the Twelve Steps of AA from 19th century revivalists through the Oxford Groups and Alcoholics Anonymous to multiple views of today.
- http://www.stepstudy.org/html/timeline.html

The Serenity Prayer - Origins In England and Germany
- The Serenity Prayer is often attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr. This article in "Respectfully Quoted" traces it to 14th England and 18th century Germany.
- http://www.bartleby.com/73/1472.html

I Was a Pagan (1934)
- Some ideas in early AA came from "I Was a Pagan" by Victor Kitchen, an Oxford Group member. Complete text in PDF format.
- http://www.stepstudy.org/downloads/pagan.pdf

What is the Oxford Group? (1933)
- Some ideas of early AA came from "What is the Oxford Group? by The Layman With a Notebook, an anonymous Oxford Group member. Complete text.
- http://www.stepstudy.org/downloads/what_is.pdf

Soul Surgery (1919)
- Some ideas in early AA came from "Soul Surgery" by Howard Walker, an Oxford Group member. Complete text in PDF format.
- http://www.stepstudy.org/downloads/soulsurgery.pdf

Bill W Obituary
- New York Times News Service article on the passing of A.A. co-founder Bill W on Sunday, January 24, 1971.
- http://www.aahistory.com/aa/bills_obit.gif

The Third Step and Your Prayer
- Examples of prayers in use prior to publication of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.barefootsworld.net/aa3rdprayers.html

Dallas, Texas, AA History
- Esther E. ("A Flower of the South") introduced AA to Dallas in 1943. Includes an interview with oldtimer Searcy W.
- http://www.aadallas.org/dalhistory.htm

Twelve Step History
- Several articles about AA and the Twelve Steps collected by Serenity Found.
- http://serenityfound.org/history/history_main.html

Tombstone at Winchester Cathedral
- Photograph of the tombstone which is quoted on Page 1 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.rewritables.net/cybriety/winchester.htm

AA Basics: A Study
- One writer's view of the Twelve Steps and their relation to Bible verses such as in James, Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount), and 1 Corinthians 13.
- http://www.dickb.com/AAbasicideas.shtml

A.A. History and Archives at Indiana University
- Development of spiritual aspects of the A.A. program. Consists of articles and resource material formatted for easy printing.
- http://mypage.iusb.edu/~gchesnut/

The Detroit Pamphlet
- "An Interpretation of the Twelve Steps" is a historic pamphlet used in early Alcoholics Anonymous. Steps are arranged in four topics of Admission, Spiritual Phase, Inventory and Restitution, and Active Work.
- http://mypage.iusb.edu/~gchesnut/hsdetr0.html

Australian AA History
- Tells of the start and growth of Alcoholics Anonymous in Australia (1942 thru 1999).
- http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.org.au/factfile/fact_file_history.php

History of AA in Ireland
- About the people who first brought Alcoholics Anonymous to Ireland.
- http://www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie/page4.html

Bill W: Brooklyn's Most-Quoted Humanitarian
- Excerpt from "Bill W." by Robert Thomsen summarizes the influence of the Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder.
- http://www.nycvisit.com/content/index.cfm?pagePkey=670

Success Rates in Early A.A.
- Alcoholics Anonymous still works for alcoholics who want to stop drinking and who really try. Numbers look different because early AA prescreened candidates. Examples.
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AAHistoryLovers/message/1359

A List of A.A. History Sites
- History sites and resources compiled by writer Dick B.
- http://www.dickb.com/aahistorysites.shtml

Dick B Articles on A.A. History
- This prolific writer focuses on the Christian and Bible influences on early Alcoholics Anonymous. Several articles here. Links to other sites with even more.
- http://www.dickb.com/archives/history.shtml

The Real Oxford Group Connection to A.A.
- Summary of Dick B's writings on the Oxford Groups as related to AA as of 2002.
- http://www.aabibliography.com/article21.html

Big Book Early Manuscript
- This early draft of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous was written before the manuscript that was distributed for review.
- http://www.rewritables.net/cybriety/big_book_early_manuscript.htm

AA History from Cybriety.org
- Scores of articles, letters, and pictures about the development of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.rewritables.net/cybriety/aa_history.htm

Alcoholics Anonymous in Bristol and the West of England
- Brief history of how AA came to Bristol, England, and spread from there.
- http://www.rewritables.net/cybriety/aa_in_england.htm

A.A. History by Mitchell K.
- A collection of articles by historian and archivist Mitchell K. on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blmitch.htm

The Common Sense of Drinking
- This 1931 book by Richard Peabody was influential in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Complete text is available as a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file.
- http://www.aabibliography.com/common_sense_of_drinking.htm

ICYPAA History
- International Conference of Young People in Alcoholics Anonymous. Presently limited to the location of their conventions 1958 to present.
- http://www.icypaa.org/sections.php?op=list&secid=1

Clarence Snyder - Home Brewmeister
- A biography of the man who started AA in Cleveland, Ohio. This was the first group to be called Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.aabibliography.com/aapioneers/clarencesnyder.htm

Some Early Sobriety Mementos
- Photos of some early tokens marking various periods of sobriety in AA. These led to the chips that some groups still use today.
- http://www.aahistory.com/chips.html

People in AA History
- An anterwoven web of the people mentioned in Alcoholics Anonymous literature, who they are and how they fit in
- http://www.aahistory.com/aa/people.html

A.A. History Lovers
- A discussion group for those interested in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Replaced the earlier History Buffs group.
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aahistorylovers/

Original "How It Works"
- Text of "How It Works" chapter as it was in the draft manuscript.
- http://www.aabibliography.com/oldhowitworks.html

Photographs from AA History
- A collection from the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous with a few more recent pictures.
- http://www.rewritables.net/cybriety/aa_photos.htm

The Co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous
- Articles about and talks by Bill W and Doctor Bob S. Includes memorial service talk by Bill in memory of Bob. Some recordings available in Real Audio.
- http://www.aaprimarypurpose.org/cofounders.htm

AA History and Trivia
- A sober web site for recovering alcoholics. Questions and answers on AA History and other fun for members of Alcoholics Anonymous and their friends.
- http://www.aahistory.com/

Old School A.A.
- Books about the Christian techniques of the early A.A. fellowship.
- http://www.dickb.com/OldSchoolAA.shtml

History in Photos
- A photographic journey through the history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Founders, friends, and memorabilia.
- http://aabbsg.de/aahistoryphotos/

Oxford Group Pamphlets Reprinted
- Thirteen complete Oxford Group pamphlets. Most of AA spiritual principals were drawn from this group's writings.
- http://www.aabibliography.com/pamphlets.htm

Circle and Triangle Logo
- What happened to the triangle in the circle? History of why this symbol was removed from Alcoholics Anonymous publications in 1993.
- http://www.barefootsworld.net/aacircletriangle.html

Dr. Robert Smith Archives at Brown University
- The collection of correspondence, meeting notes and books of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Dr. Robert H. Smith has been acquired by Brown University and will be made available to researchers interested in the origins of 12-step recovery programs.
- http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/1999-00/99-063.html

Writing The Big Book
- Most of the ideas and wording in the A.A. book came from other writers. An essay by archivist and historian Mitchell K.
- http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blmitch8.htm

How it Worked
- The story of Clarence S and the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cleveland, Ohio. Complete text available free on-line. His was "Home Brewmeister" story in the Big Book.
- http://www.aabbsg.de/chs/index.htm

An 1878 View of The Washingtonians
- Article from book "The Temperance Reform and its Great Reformers." The Washingtonians was an early predecessor of AA which faded away.
- http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/history/daniels.html

In AA's First Five Years
- An AA Grapevine article from 1967 by Lois W. A bit of Alcoholics Anonymous history including how Al-Anon was started.
- http://www.barefootsworld.net/lois_w_1967.html

Sue Smith Windows Memorial Book
- Obituary and funeral card of the daughter of Doctor Bob, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. February 15, 1918 to February 9, 2002.
- http://www.aahistory.com/guestbook/addguest9.html

Tennessee Archives
- This site is Tennessee State Archives of Alcoholics Anonymous in Area 64. The main purpose is to carry the message to the still suffering Alcoholic.
- http://www.area64tnarchives.org

Searcy's Book 1
- Offers a book on "My Alcoholism Recovery since 1946" and a history of how early A.A. groups started.
- http://searcywdallastx.bigstep.com/item.html?PRID=462778

A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous - 1940
- A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous From AA Group No. 1, Akron, Ohio, 1940 - Dr. Bob's Home Group
- http://www.barefootsworld.net/aamanual.html

Searcy W
- Interview with early Texas AA member who was 54+ years sober at the time.
- http://www.aabibliography.com/searcy_w.html

The Lord's Prayer
- Letter from AA co-founder Bill W about the custom of using this prayer to close an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aahistorybuffs/message/27

For Drunks Only
- Preface to "For Drunks Only" gives history of that book as well as the popular "Twenty-Four Hours a Day" meditation book.
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aahistorybuffs/message/956

The Oxford Group Connection
- An article about the Oxford Group and its influence in the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous. Focuses on events from 1908 through the founding of AA in 1935.
- http://www.recovery.org/aa/misc/oxford.html

The Varieties of Religious Experience
- In 1938, a future founder of Alcoholics Anonymous read "Varieties of Religious Experience" by philosopher and psychologist William James. Some of these ideas were important in the history of A.A. principles. Complete text.
- http://website.lineone.net/~williamjames1/wjindex.htm

Angel of Hope
- Offers a video biography of Sister Ignatia who provided medical care for many early members of Alcoholics Anonymous.
- http://www.srsofcharity.org/aa.html

Christian or Occult Roots?
- The authors suggest that AA did not originate in Christianity since it has never required members to believe in Christ crucified.
- http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/aaroots.html

The Jack Alexander Article
- "Alcoholics Anonymous" by Jack Alexander, Saturday Evening Post, March 1, 1941. This resulted in a major growth of AA.
- http://www.barefootsworld.net/aajalexpost1941.html

Plain Dealer
- Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper articles on Alcoholics Anonymous. Elrick Davis, October 1939. Took AA beyond mere word of mouth.
- http://www.eskimo.com/~burked/plndlr/plndlrix.html