The Founders, Early Members, and Influencer's

- The foundations of AA & Al-Anon, a group effort

On this website, the full names of members of anonymous groups are only listed if they are currently deceased; but non-members of anonymous groups are referred to with their full names.
William Griffith “Bill” Wilson - (1895 - 1971) co-founder of AA
	Bill Wilson - reading the beginning of Chapter 5 from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous  "How It Works" - 5 minutes
	Bill Wilson - his last public speech - speaking at the 5th AA International Conference. Miami FL ~ 1970
	Bill Wilson - speaking on Varieties of Religious Experiences ~ 1968
	Varieties of Religious Experiences - by William James - If you are interested in reading the book Bill refers to, it is public domain & can be downloaded or read for free at the Gutenberg Project - click on link to access. (not hosted on this site)
	Bill Wilson - Bill's Sobriety Birthday in NYC ~ Oct 7, 1966 - Lois also talks
	Bill Wilson - 1966 - speaking on Spiritual Experience Is A Matter Of Grace
	Bill Wilson - 1965 - 4th International AA Convention - Toronto
	Bill Wilson - 1961 - at 1st Al-Anon Conference in New York. Delegates from British Columbia, California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Texas meet with World Service Office staff and Board of Trustees.
	Bill Wilson - 1960 - University of Vermont - Early Memories
	Bill Wilson - 1960 April - 10th AA Service Conference - New York City
	Bill Wilson - 1960 - 3rd International AA Convention - Long Beach CA
	Bill Wilson - July 1955 - How We Learned To Recover - AA International Convention - St Louis MO
	Bill Wilson - July 1955 - How We Learned To Stay Together - AA International Convention - St Louis MO
	Bill Wilson - July 1955 - How We Learned To Serve - AA International Convention - St Louis MO
	Bill Wilson - 1954 - Bill's 20th Anniversary - New York City
	Bill Wilson - June 12th 1954 - Texas State AA Convention - Fort Worth TX
	Bill Wilson - April 22-26, 1953 - 3rd General Service Convention - New York City
	Bill Wilson - 1951 - The 3 Legacies - New York City
	Bill Wilson - May 1951 - Oklahoma State Convention Part 1 - Oklahoma City
	Bill Wilson - May 1951 - Oklahoma State Convention Part 2 - Oklahoma City
	Bill Wilson - 1951 - Atlanta
	Bill Wilson - 1950 - 1st International Convention - Cleveland
	Bill Wilson - 1948 - History of AA - Des Moines, IA
	Bill Wilson -1947 - Dr. Bob Smith of Akron, Sister Ignatia of Akron ~ April 1947
Bill W. My First 40 Years - An Autobiography - 2000 by Bill Wilson published by Hazelden -(access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
Bill W. a biography of Alcoholics Anonymous cofounder Bill Wilson - 2000 by by Francis Hartigan -(access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
Lois Burnham Wilson - (1891-1988) co-founder of Al-Anon and married to Bill Wilson. Lois was there from the beginning working the program along side her husband Bill. Lois' story is featured in the book "The Lois Wilson Story: When Love is not Enough, The Biography of the Cofounder of Al-Anon" by William G Borchert 2005. The book was the basis of the movie "When Love is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story" 2020. Al-Anon published her memoir "Lois Remembers". Lois was the oldest of 6 children, her father a surgeon in Brooklyn NY. Her grandfather was the pastor or the Swedenborgian Church of New York, the faith in which Lois was raised. The family spent the summers in Vermont where one of her brothers was friends with a local, Bill Wilson.
	Lois Wilson - with Searcy Whaley recorded Oct 13 1987
	Lois Wilson - with early AFG workers Jun 25 1987
	Lois Wilson & Anne Bingham - the Co-Founders of Al-Anon - both speaking -  Desert AA Retreat - Palm Springs, CA ~ Jun 3 1983
	Lois Wilson - at the 38th South Eastern AA Conference in Charleston, WV - Lois Wilson spoke at a breakfast meeting describing the early days with Bill & how Al-Anon began ~ 1982
	Lois Wilson - in Hartford Connecticut ~ 1977
	Lois Wilson - in Topeka, Kansas ~ 1975
	Lois Wilson - 1973 at the Texas State Convention. Talking about the early days of Bill and Ebby and the beginnings of AA and Al-Anon.
	Lois Wilson - of Bedford Hills, New York. Lois recalls her memories of the early days. Interview was made at Stepping Stones, the house where Lois and Bill lived. ~ 1966
	Lois Wilson - 4th AA International Convention - Toronto ~ 1965
	Lois Wilson - Long Beach, California at the 3rd AA International Convention. Lois speaks on the 12 Traditions. ~ 1960
	Lois Wilson - Biloxi, Mississippi. Talking about her marriage before & after AA. The start of Al-Anon. ~ 1956
Lois Remembers the memoirs of the co-founder of Al-Anon and wife of the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous - 1979 by Lois Wilson -(access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
The Lois Wilson Story when love is not enough - 2005 by William G. Borchert -(access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
Dr Robert Holbrook “Bob” Smith - (1879 - 1950)  - Co-Founder of AA
	Dr Bob Smith & Bill Wilson - Cleveland ~ 1950
	Dr Bob Smith - His Last Major Talk - Detroit ~ Dec 1948
	Annie Smith - wife of Dr Bob - Memories of Annie Smith by her son Bob Smith Jr ~ April 2 1975
	Sue Smith Windows (1918 - 2002) (daughter of Dr Bob & Anne Smith) ~ May 1988. At the age of 48 started drinking. Sue is speaking at Heritage Night May 28, 1988 & also February 10, 1996 in Phoenix AZ. Sue died February 9th 2002.
	Bob "Smitty" Smith Jr (1918 - 2004) (Al-Anon) of Nocona TX (son of Dr Bob & Anne Smith) - TriState Roundup - Laughlin NV ~ May 2003 - the last living person that was present at the first meeting of Bill Wilson & Dr Bob Smith. Bob Jr died April 2004.
	Bob "Smitty" Smith Jr (1918 - 2004) (Al-Anon) of Nocona TX  - Marietta GA ~ 2003
	Bob "Smitty" Smith Jr (1918 - 2004) (Al-Anon) of Nocona TX  - Illinois State Conference - Chicago ~ Aug 30, 2002
	Bob "Smitty" Smith Jr (1918 - 2004) (Al-Anon) of Nocona TX - Toccoa GA ~ 2002
	Betty Smith (1920 - 1998) (Al-Anon & AA) of Nocona TX - (wife of Bob Smith Jr & Daughter-In-Law of Anne & Dr Bob) at Springfield MO ~ November 1995
	Bob "Smitty" Smith Jr (1918 - 2004) (Al-Anon) of Nocona TX - Ft Walton Beach FL ~ November 1986
	Home recording of Dr Bob and family. Only known recording of Anne Smith's voice (Dr. Bob's wife)
Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers a biography, with recollections of early A.A. in the Midwest - 1980 by Alcoholics Anonymous - (access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
Children of the Healer The Story of Dr. Bob's Kids - 1994 by Bob Smith Jr. & Sue Smith Windows - (access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
Edwin Throckmorton Thatcher aka "Ebby" (1896-1966) was a childhood friend and drinking companion of Bill Wilson. Ebby was the son of a prominent New York family, that summered in Vermont. Their summer home was close to the boyhood home of Bill Wilson. Considered a chronic alcoholic, Ebby was on the verge of being committed to a Vermont asylum. Just before sentencing, he received a jail house visit from Rowland Hazard, a sober member of the Oxford Group, and two other Oxford Group members. Rowland spoke of the relief he had found from alcoholism through the Oxford Group. A chronic drunk, Rowland had traveled the world looking for a cure. Suffering a relapse, under the care of psychiatrist Carl Jung in Zürich, he was advised his only hope was to have a transformational spiritual experience. Rowland returned to the United States and became involved in the Oxford Group, where he found relief. One of the Oxford members, the magistrate's son in charge of Ebby's case, convinced his father to release Ebby into their care and take him back to New York City. Ebby was placed in Calvary Mission, a rescue mission attached to Calvary Church, and there found sobriety through the Oxford Group. In November of 1934 Ebby introduced Bill Wilson to the principals of the Oxford Group. Bill & Lois attended Oxford Group meetings, eventually holding Oxford Group meetings in their Brooklyn home, which soon attracted other struggling alcoholics. This group referred to themselves as the "drunk squad". Ebby, through the years, struggled to maintain continuous sobriety. Ebby struggle with sobriety over the years but did remain sober for the last two and half years of his life.
	Ebby Thatcher - 1958 in Memphis. Ebby, an old drinking friend of Bill Wilson who is credited with introducing Bill to the initial principles that AA would soon develop, such as "one alcoholic talking to another"
	Ebby Thatcher - 1955 - St Louis at the AA International Convention
Ebby the man who sponsored Bill W. - 1998 by Mel B. published by Hazelden - (access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
Frank Buchman (1878 - 1961) - The son of a saloon owner in Allentown PA, Frank attended college, then seminary and became active in church work. Through this work he established a hospice for underprivileged boys in the slums of Philadelphia in 1905. In 1907 his board of directors asked him to reduce costs by cutting the food budget. Frank disagreed which resulted in his board relieving him of his duties. Emotionally wounded, he traveled to England to escape his pain. After a year of travel, hoping to meet the evangelist F.B. Meyer, Frank attended a conference, but Meyer did not show. Discouraged, he walked to the nearby village of Keswick, where he discovered a church service in progress. While listening to the sermon given by Jessie-Penn Lewis, a female Salvation Army preacher, awareness of the resentments cultivated toward the board members overcame him. He suddenly realized he had brought his six accusers as constant companions with him to England. The board had wronged him, but he also had participated in the situation. His release of the resentments provided new relief from the burdens he carried. The next day he shared his experience with a student that attended Oxford. This principle became the foundation of an unorganized First Century Christian Fellowship movement in 1921 in England. The movement started in Oxford with no official name; the local press referred to it as the Oxford Group in 1928, and the name stuck. Frank Buchman did eventually meet with F.B. Meyer, who challenged him with, "Do you give God enough uninterrupted time to tell you what to do?". Frank returned to the US and Calvary Church in Manhattan, pastored by Sam Shoemaker, allowed the Oxford Group to house their world headquarters in a portion of the building. Sam first met Frank in 1918 in China, participated in Oxford Group activities, and had a direct relationship with Frank Buchman for many years. A childhood friend of Bill Wilson, Ebby Thatcher, was an alcoholic who started attending Oxford Group meetings in NY City. Ebby visited Bill and told of his Oxford Group experiences and the changes that had happened to him. Lois Wilson stated she and Bill attended two weekly meetings, Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, for two and a half years, until 1937. Bob and Anne Smith participated in Oxford Group meetings in Akron, Ohio. Their participation occurred independently and before the Smiths had met the Wilsons. A 1935 failed business trip to Akron put Bill and Bob Smith together for the first time on May 12th. Hoping not to drink, Bill located local Oxford Group people and met with Bob and Anne Smith. "Alcoholic Squads" within the Oxford Group in New York were eventually asked to leave as their focus shifted from Christ to Alcoholism. The Alcoholics meeting in Akron stayed within the Oxford Group until the 1939. There were a group of alcoholics from Cleveland that attended the weekly Oxford Group meetings in Akron, a 75 mile round trip. On May 10, 1939 the Cleveland members, led by Clarence Snyder, announced their intent of starting their own alcoholics group in Cleveland the next day which would not be associated with the Oxford Group. This was due to a Roman Catholic Priest in Cleveland forbidding his parish members from attending Oxford Group meetings in Akron. The announcement took some of the Akron members by surprise who objected at the news. The next night in Cleveland some Akron Oxford Group members attended, with the intent of preventing the group from forming. Their failed attempt resulted in the first meeting in world called "Alcoholics Anonymous" to take place on May 11th 1939. Clarence states ( in a talk you can find on this site) "The only difference between this new meeting and the Oxford Group meeting was we called it Alcoholics Anonymous". The Oxford Group, guided by Four Absolutes: Absolute Honesty, Absolute Purity, Absolute Unselfishness, and Absolute Love, also followed six principles. These absolutes and principles influenced the development of the 12 Steps. The Oxford Group movement never owned physical buildings, as it was a movement of individuals seeking a shared spiritual experience. "You cannot belong to the Oxford Group. It has no membership list, subscriptions, badge, rules or definite location. It is a name for a group of people who, from every rank, profession, and trade, in many countries, have surrendered their lives to God and who are endeavoring to lead a spiritual quality of life under the guidance of the Holy Spirit." from the book "What Is The Oxford Group" page 3. The group finally officially named themselves MRA (Moral Re-Armament) in 1938. As WWII neared, Buchman shifted his focus from individuals to entire nations. Traveling the globe, he met with many world leaders. His vision was to stop WWII by changing the morals of the leaders of the world. Frank received criticism and condemnation when he made comments regarding Adolf Hitler and trying to bring the message to him. Germany also listed Buchman as an "enemy of the state". But this did not stop Frank in his efforts. When Frank died in August of 1961, leaders from around the world sent messages. The prime minister of New Zealand, Holyoake, stated Frank had done as much as any man of our time to unite the peoples of the world by cutting through the prejudices of color, class and creed. During the 1960's, MRA sponsored a spin off group called "Sing Out America - Up With People". This group of young people toured America performing concerts. Over the years, the organization has shifted focus and is now called Initiatives of Change. The organization is still working quietly today for world change with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and Richmond VA. Some Oxford Group books, published after 1924 are still under copyright. Some have become highly sought after collector items and have become over-priced for the non-collector. For the curious consider using the Inter-Library Loan program through your local library for free access, check the Internet Archive site, or do a search to see if an inexpensive reprint is available. One of the most popular "Believing in False Gods: I Was a Pagan" by V.C. Kitchen. Kitchen was one of the 1st alcoholics to become sober while in the Oxford Group. Below are direct links to free access to some of this Oxford Group literature for further study - these are stored at The Internet Archive Site
I Was A Pagan - 1934 by V.C. Kitchen - The 1st Alcoholic to achieve sobriety through the Oxford Group. One of the most popular books written about the group. (access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive for a 14 day loan of the pdf version) - (not hosted on this site)
Remaking The World - 1949 by Frank Buchman - a collection of addresses by Frank Buchman delivered between 1934 - 1948 (access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive for a 14 day loan of the pdf version) - (not hosted on this site)
What Is The Oxford Group - 1933 by Oxford University Press - (not hosted on this site)
The Eight Points Of The Oxford Group - 1938 by C Irving Benson - (not hosted on this site)
Twice-Born Men - A Clinic in Regeneration - 1907 by Harold Begbie - (not hosted on this site)
Life Changers (More Twice-Born Men) Narratives of a Recent Movement in the Spirit of Personal Religion - 1927 by Harold Begbie - (not hosted on this site)
Frank Buchman - A Life - A Small Town American who Awakened the Conscience of the World - (not hosted on this site)
On The Tail of a Comet: the Life of Frank Buchman - 1988 by Garth Lean - (not hosted on this site)
	Clarence Snyder - A member of the Oxford Group with Dr Bob in Akron. Telling his story, his Oxford Group involvement, and the birth of AA. Dr Bob brought Clarence, an alcoholic, into the Oxford Group and became his sponsor.
	James Houck - A non-Alcoholic member of the Oxford Group, speaking at the Wilson House ~ 1996
Jay S (AA) of Redondo Beach CA - Three session discussion of the origins of the Oxford Group, and the spawning of AA. South Bay Roundup ~ May 2000
	Jay S (AA) of Redondo Beach CA - History of Oxford Group & AA Beginnings - Part 1 of 3
	Jay S (AA) of Redondo Beach CA - History of Oxford Group & AA Beginnings - Part 2 of 3
	Jay S (AA) of Redondo Beach CA - History of Oxford Group & AA Beginnings - Part 3 of 3
	Sandy Beach - Oxford Group -  Far Corners Retreat, Tampa FL ~ 2013
Sam Shoemaker (1893-1963) Pastor of Calvary Church, NYC. Early member of the Oxford Group. The Oxford Group World Headquarters were housed in Sam's Calvary Church. In the book "Twice-Born Men", Sam is referred to in the story "The Virginian". There was a bowery style rescue mission attached to Calvary Church called Calvary mission. Ebby Thatcher was staying at Calvary mission when he made a visit to Bill and Lois Wilson in November of 1934. The Oxford Group practiced the following six steps: 1) Admission of personal defeat (You have been defeated by sin) 2) Taking a personal inventory (List your sins) 3) Confession of one's sins to another person. 4) Making restitution to those one has harmed 5) Helping others selflessly 6) Praying to God for Guidance and the power to put these precepts into practice When Bill asked Sam to convert the Oxford Group's 6 steps to a version an alcoholic could easily understand, Sam refused saying only an alcoholic could rewrite the steps for another alcoholic. Bill Wilson credits Sam Shoemaker who “passed on the spiritual keys by which we were liberated. ”The first 3 Steps of AA were inspired in part by Shoemaker. Bill said “the early AA got its ideas of self-examination, acknowledgement of character defects, restitution for harm done, and working with others straight from the Oxford Groups and directly from Sam Shoemaker, their former leader in America, and from nowhere else". Sam was the most prolific writer of material concerning the Oxford Group movement. Sam and Frank Buchman had a disagreement that was never rectified when Frank changed the Oxford Group direction and renamed it MRA.
	Sam Shoemaker - AA History - Charlotte NC ~ 1965
	Sam Shoemaker - Sunday Address at AA International Convention in Long Beach CA ~ July 1960
	Sam Shoemaker - 1955 at the AA International Convention in St Louis, MO introduced by Bill Wilson.
	I Stand By The Door - An Apologia For My Life - by Sam Shoemaker (pdf format)
Internet Archive - many of Sam's writings are available for free online borrowing - you must create a free account to borrow online materials - (not hosted on this site)
Charles B. Towns (1862 - 1947) established the Charles B. Towns Hospital in 1901, located at 293 Central Park West in Manhattan. Charles came to New York in 1899 to establish a brokerage business in which he was a partner. By 1901 the brokerage had failed. Charles, not a doctor, claimed he had been approached by an unidentified person who claimed discovery of a cure for alcoholism and drug addictions. This person suggested Towns could make money by providing this cure to the public. As a result, Towns placed ads for "drug fiends" looking for relief. This claim was cutting edge at the time. Prior to this no real hope existed for alcoholics. In 1840, six drunkards in a bar in Baltimore made vows to each other to help each other stop drinking. This vow evolved into the Washingtonian movement, which grew to an estimated 600,000. Over time the group became politically involved in prohibition, abolition, and a variety of other social issues. This lost of focus, one drunk keeping another dry, is generally recognized as its demise. AA used lessons learned from the Washingtonians, when the 12 Traditions were written. After the Washingtonians, came the New York State Inebriate Asylum, located in Binghamton. It was the first institution designed and constructed to treat alcoholism as a mental disorder in the United States. The facility operated from 1864 through 1879. It was then converted to a mental hospital. At the same time like facilities operated in Long Island, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago. In 1908 Charles Towns was sent to China as a United States Drug Treatment Ambassador to assist with the opium crisis. There Towns claimed a 90% success rate based on the fact he never heard from 90% of his patients again. While in China he perfected his treatment regime. Although Towns was not a medical doctor, he did employ doctors and a medical staff at his facility. His method, the Belladonna Cure, was named after a the belladonna plant. Belladonna is commonly called deadly nightshade, and all parts of it are poisonous. Some of it's effects on the human body include changes to saliva, sweat, pupil size, urination, digestive functions, increased heart rate, and increased blood pressure. At the beginning of the treatment, a mixture of compounds, including morphine, were given to induce sleep. Once asleep, patients were woke each hour and given the Belladonna regimen. The regiment consisted of a mixture of deadly nightshade, another plant in the nightshade family called henbane, and prickly ash. The mixture was given every hour for two days, followed by a dose of castor oil. Every 12 hours, a compound mixture, including mercury, was taken. In addition, some received small amounts of strychnine. Hopefully the patents bed sheets were changed on a regular basis. The hospital catered to an affluent clientele, with payment arranged before treatments began. Dr. Silkworth was the hospital's Chief of Staff during the times that Bill Wilson was a patient. Dr. Silkworth is mentioned in the chapter "The Doctor's Opinion" in the Big Book. Bill was admitted three times between 1933 and 1934 for detox. In November 0f 1934, Bill received a visit from his old friend Ebby Thatcher who shared his success in the Oxford Group. Bill was somewhat interested in the group but soon after was admitted again to Towns Hospital for his forth stay. This time he exhibited the signs of delirium tremens, so was given the Belladonna Cure. During this stay Bill lying in bed depressed and despairing, he cried out, "I'll do anything! Anything at all! If there be a God, let Him show Himself!" He then had the sensation of a bright light, a feeling of ecstasy, and a new serenity. He never drank again for the remainder of his life. Wilson described his experience to Silkworth, who told him, "Something has happened to you I don't understand. But you had better hang on to it". This time Bill maintained his sobriety through participation in the Oxford Group and working with other alcoholics. Bill would return to the hospital to talk with others taking the treatments. When he began writing the book Alcoholics Anonymous, Charles Towns lent Bill money to help him publish the book, almost 50% of what was raised came from Charles. Charles was the person that had contacts with Liberty Magazine, resulting in the article "Alcoholics and God" in the September 30, 1939 issue. Bill was not overly satisfied with the article, feeling the emphasis on God would cause many to dismiss AA as a solution. The article provided the first publicity for AA, which resulted in over 800 letters received at the NY AA office, and included orders for about 200 copies of the Big Book. Charles Towns offered Bill a paid position on the hospital staff to work with alcoholic patients, but when presented to the other early New York AA members, they disapproved, so Bill passed on the offer. Charles Towns, although often overlooked by historians, was instrumental in the foundation of AA. A book about the life of Charles Towns written by Gary Neidhardt titled "King Charles of New York City" is available either through a library or online.
	Edward Towns, the son of Charles B Towns, speaking at the AA International Convention in Long Beach CA ~ 1960
Habits That Handicap: The Remedy for Narcotic, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Addictions by Charles Barnes Towns - (not hosted on this site)
Dr. William Duncan Silkworth (1873 - 1951) was the Doctor in charge at the Charles B. Towns Hospital, when Bill Wilson was a patient. He is credited for “The Doctor’s Opinion” in the Big Book. He graduated from Princeton University with a BA. He then graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1899 with a MD degree. During his internship he served in the inebriate clinic” at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. He chose to work with alcoholic and drug dependent patients as his professional specialty. He felt that medical science at the time had failed to study alcoholism as a disease. After graduation he worked at Presbyterian Hospital but most likely left to staff cuts due to the depression. Becoming the Doctor in Charge at the Charles B. Towns Hospital, he worked with Bill Wilson during his four times of treatment there. In 1945 Silkworth, convinced the management of Knickerbocker Hospital, in upper Manhattan, to establish a clinic for treatment of alcoholics. This was the first time alcoholics could be admitted to a hospital for treatment, up to that time they were only admitted with false diagnoses as alcohol addiction had been considered a moral failure. Dr. Silkworth died at his home in Manhattan on 22 March 1951, after suffering a heart attack. Collections of donations from members of AA helped to provide for his widowed wife's retirement years.
Silkworth: The Little Doctor Who Loved Drunks by Dale Mitchel, published by Hazelden - (not hosted on this site)
	Talk by Kaytar (AA) and a nurse who worked in the Alcoholic Clinic at Knickerbocker Hospital telling her story and experiences working there.
Henrietta Seiberling (1888 -1979) A member of the Oxford Group. Henrietta introduced Bill Wilson to Dr. Bob. A judge’s daughter, Henrietta Buckler, grew up in El Paso, Texas. There she met her future husband, Lieutenant Fred Seiberling, a Lieutenant in the Ohio National Guard deployed in El Paso. Fred was the oldest son of the Akron Industrialist F.A. Seiberling. Married in Akron, the couple raised three children there. Just as her relationship with her husband began to decay, Frank Buchman, leader of the Oxford Group, came to Akron. Sponsored by Harvey Firestone, Frank held a series of events in Akron in 1933. Attending these meetings, Henrietta became active in the local Oxford Group. She became a close friend of Anne Smith through their Oxford Group association. They would speak daily on the phone. During a meeting at Henrietta’s house, Bob Smith confessed he was a secret drinker and unable to stop and asked for prayer. Although not an alcoholic, Henrietta helped organize the “alcoholic squad,” a group within the Akron Oxford Group for people with alcohol problems. In 1935 the newly sober Bill Wilson traveled to Akron on what resulted in a discouraging failed business trip. He found himself in the lobby of Mayfield Hotel, fighting the urge to drink. It was common for Oxford Group members to contact local Oxford Group members while traveling. He started calling the names of local Oxford Group members. After several calls, he got hold of Henrietta. Henrietta listening to his plight, arranged for Bill to meet Bob Smith at her house in May 1935. Bill ended up staying in Akron with Bob and Anne. After not drinking for three weeks, Bob went to a medical conference in Atlantic City, which resulted in a drinking binge. But Bill was there to meet his friend when the train pulled into Akron. Bill gave him a few drinks to avoid the delirium tremens. Bob drank one more beer the next morning, 10 June 1935, before performing an operation. It was the last alcoholic drink Bob ever took. Henrietta added the religious dimension that both Bob and Bill resisted initially. Eventually Henrietta separated from her husband and moved to New York City. In 1953 Henrietta became the first paid part-time worker at the Clearing House, the organization that became Al-Anon in 1954. (The Clearing House was located at 334½ W24th St. in New York City.) Henrietta lived in New York until her death in 1979. She is buried next to her parents in Kentucky with the words “Let Go and Let God” on her gravestone. This is her obituary from the New York Times 6 December 1979 - "Henrietta Buckler Seiberling, a key figure in the founding and development of Alcoholics Anonymous, died yesterday at her home in New York City. She was 91 years old. Mrs. Seiberling, in the early 1930's opened her home, the Gate Lodge of Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, Ohio, to two alcoholics. From their encounter grew a movement that is now worldwide and one in which she had participated most of her life. A graduate of Vassar College and an accomplished pianist, she was the wife of the late J. Frederick Seiberling, whose father was the founder and president of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company as well as the Seiberling Rubber Company in Akron. She leaves a son, Representative John F. Seiberling, Democrat of Ohio; two daughters, Mary S. Huhn of Devon, Pa., and Dorothy Seiberling Steinberg, who is deputy editor of The New York Times Magazine; seven grandchildren and a great‐grandchild."
	Henrietta Seiberling and son John Seiberling - A 30 minute phone conversation between Henrietta and her son John Seiberling in 1971. Henrietta recalls her memories of the beginnings of AA. The phone call is disconnected after 30 minutes which is the end of this talk. John Seiberling became a US Congressman representing Ohio.
	download transcript of the entire call above in PDF format.
	Henrietta Seiberling - An interview with Henrietta, at age 89, almost 3 hours in length. Sharing her experiences, memories and opinions on the Oxford Group in Akron and the early days AA.  This interview took place in Manhattan on 6 May 1977. Henrietta speaks about the Frank Buchman meetings in Akron, that were sponsored by Harvey Firestone, which brought the Oxford Group to Akon. She was involved with the Oxford Group meeting in Akron which is where she became friends with Anne and Bob Smith.
Bill Dotson (AA) (1890 - 1954) - Was AA number 3. He was a prominent lawyer, had been a city councilman, and was a well-adjusted family man and active in his church. Nonetheless, he had been hospitalized eight times in the past six months because of his alcoholism and got drunk even before he got home. On June 26, 1935, Bill D was admitted to Akron City Hospital to be detoxed from alcohol. Two days later he received a visit from Bob Smith and Bill Wilson. Bob and Bill came back each day to visit and talk and Bill D eventually realized he could not control his drinking. Together they knelt and prayed. Bill Dotson never took another drink. He began working with Bob and Bill visiting other alcoholics. He is the person depicted in the painting "Came to Believe" later renamed "The Man On The Bed." His story appears in the Big Book 2nd  & 3rd editions as "The Man On The Bed."
	Bill Dotson (AA) of Detroit MI speaking in Canton OH ~ 6 July 1951
Hank Parkhurst - (1895-1954) Hank was the first alcoholic to become sober in New York, following Bill Wilson. Hank was an executive of Standard Oil of New Jersey who lost his job due to alcoholism. Bill worked with Hank at Towns Hospital. After becoming sober, Hank started “Honors Dealers,” a co-op company based in Newark, New Jersey, that bought bulk automotive supplies and sold them directly to small Mom and Pop gas stations. Hank gave Bill office space and made Ruth Hock available for dictation. Ruth typed out the first draft copy of the Big Book. When funds ran low, Hank and Bill formed Works Publishing, Inc., which sold 600 shares at $25 each to finance the writing and publishing of the Big Book. Evicted from their house at 182 Clinton Street in Brooklyn, Bill and Lois lived with Hank and his wife Kathleen. Hank is the person Dr. Silkworth referred to in “The Doctors Opinion” - a case of pathological mental deterioration. Hank had significant input into the chapter “To Employers.” Some believe he wrote the majority of the chapter. His story is “The Unbeliever” in the first edition. He is also referred to in the book “Pass It On” on page 200. Bill would bring the typed manuscript each week to the weekly meeting for review. He also would mail a copy to Dr. Bob for the same purpose. During these reviews, Hank, an agnostic, joined by Jim Burwell, argued avoidance of references to God. The result was a compromise that produced the phrase “God as we understood him.” After the book was published, Bill moved the office to Manhattan for better access to the population he hoped to serve. Bill purchased the office furniture from Hank, but the situation created strong resentment in Hank. The fact that Lois testified against Hank in court during his divorce proceeding from Kathleen probably added to the flames of resentment. After four years of sobriety, Hank began drinking again in 1940, although he did experience short periods of not drinking during the rest of his life. His resentment and hurt toward Bill resulted in the spread of discord among AA members, claiming financial misconduct by Bill and Dr. Bob. Hank enlisted his soon to be brother-in-law, Clarence Snyder in Cleveland in his cause. Hank married his 2nd wife, Caroline Wright, the sister of Clarence's wife Dorothy "Dot". As the allegations spread across the membership a committee, composed of members, was formed to investigate the allegations. This committee conducted a hearing with Bill, Bob, and their accusers in the same room. The decision reached was no wrongdoings had taken place so the allegations were put to rest. Hank and Caroline divorced, and Hank remarried his first wife Kathleen. Sadly Hank died in January of 1954, the obituary listed the cause as illness, but many claimed it to be alcohol and drugs. But without Hank, the publication of the Big Book would never have occurred.
	Writing The Big Book - detailed information about Hank can be found in William Schaberg's book. This is a link to William's website. William also has a series on YouTube on the history of the Big Book.
	Ruth Hock, Laurie Hock (Ruth's daughter)(AA), Sybil Corwin (AA) - Ruth Hock (Bill Wilson's secretary) recalls her experiences with Hank Parkhurst and Bill Wilson while writing the Big Book. ~ 12 April 1978
Clarence Snyder - (1902-1984) One of the first members involved with the Akron Oxford Group with Dr. Bob Smith.  He organized the first AA Group in Cleveland. Given the dilemma of divorce or seeing Dr. Bob by his wife, Clarence entered the hospital, after first going on a three-day drunk. While in the hospital a plan for living was explained to him & he became an enthusiastic 12th stepper. In 1939 Clarence started the first AA group in Cleveland because Roman Catholic priests in Cleveland refused to let Catholics attend the Oxford Group meeting in Akron. This group was the first group to use the name Alcoholics Anonymous. Clarence claimed to have founded AA. He is the author of the story "Home Brewmeister" in the 2nd edition of the Big Book.
	Clarence Snyder - The Early Growth and Spread of AA From Cleveland, Ohio - speaking in 2nd Annual Old-timers' Day in Omaha Nebraska ~ September 17, 1983
	Clarence Snyder - "How I Worked The Steps In 1939" - Phoenix AZ ~ July 1982
	Clarence Snyder (AA) of St Petersburg FL - Rice Hotel Houston TX ~ June 6, 1965
	Clarence Snyder (AA) of St Petersburg FL - "We don't have a drinking problem, We have a living problem"  - Bob White was Meeting Chair - Odessa TX ~ Feb 10, 1963
	Clarence Snyder (AA) of St Petersburg FL - Lake Brownwood Retreat - Lake Brownwood TX ~ September 15, 1962
	Clarence Snyder - Speaking at the 25th Anniversary of AA in Kansas City - his story and the history of AA ~ 1960
Dr Harry Tiebout - Bill Wilson's psychiatrist (pronounced tee-bo)
	Dr Harry Tiebout - speaking at the 1955 AA International Convention in St Louis on The Ego Factor.
	Dr Harry Tiebout & Bill Wilson - speaking July 1960 in Long Beach, California. Tiebout was Bill Wilson's psychiatrist, and treated Bill for many years. In the mid-nineteen-forties, Bill Wilson went into a deep fit of chronic clinical depression that lasted for more than eleven years. In 1939 Marty Mann, one of Dr Tiebout's patients. He gave her the early multilith copy (one of the 1st drafts) of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Through reading it Marty became the 1st woman in NY to maintain lasting sobriety
	Dr Harry Tiebout - Works On Ego in AA Comes of Age ~ 1966
Internet Archive - Harry Tiebout's writings available for free online borrowing - must create a free account to borrow online materials - (not hosted on this site)
Fitz Mayo - aka John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo, was one of the AA founding members of AA in New York with Bill Wilson. (1898 - 1943) The son of an Episcopal clergyman, he attended a church school, where he became rebellious at what he thought an overdose of religious education. Fritz was a failed bookkeeper and school teacher due to his drinking. In 1935 he heard that Town's Hospital in NYC was having success in treating alcoholism, and so checked in. Fitz most likely was the second to get sober in New York, right after Hank Parkhurst. Fitz and his wife Elizabeth attended meetings at Bill and Lois's house even before it broke from the Oxford Group. During the writing of the Big Book he insisted that the book should express Christian doctrines and use Biblical terms and expressions. The result of the debate resulted in using the phrase "God as we understood him" in the Big Book. Fitz was a childhood friend of Jim Burwell, and was the stimulus that caused Jim to become involved in the group. Fitz developed cancer and died in 1943 with eight years of sobriety. Fitz was instrumental in founding AA groups in the Washington DC area. Jim Burwell requested to be buried close to his friend Fitz on the grounds of Christ Episcopal Church at Owensville, MD, where Fitz's father had pastored. Fitz story appears as "Our Southern Friend" in the first 3 editions of the Big Book.
James Burwell - aka Jim B or Jimmy B, was one of the AA founding members in New York with Bill Wilson. (1898 - 1974) He was among the first 10 members of AA on the East Coast & was responsible for starting AA in Philadelphia & Baltimore. He later moved to San Diego where he was instrumental in the growth of AA there. His most crucial contribution at the founding of AA came from his atheism - or as he later termed it, his "militant agnosticism." He argued strongly with the early group in New York that it needed to tone down what he called the "God bit". This resulted in the much more inclusive "Higher Power" and "God as we understand Him" concepts that are now so closely associated with Alcoholics Anonymous. Jimmy was not involved with the Oxford Group. He moved to New York, enticed by his childhood friend Fitz Mayo, to participate in the meetings held at Bill and Lois's house, after they had broken ties with the Oxford Group. There he worked for Hank Parkhurst, selling polish for automobiles at the small company owned by Hank and Bill Wilson called "Honor Dealers". His story, in the 2nd 3rd, and 4th editions of the Big Book, is titled "The Vicious Cycle").
	James Burwell - (AA) from San Diego, one of the 1st 10 sober in NY - Bob White hosting meeting. - 1952
	James Burwell - (AA) from San Diego, one of the 1st 10 sober in NY - giving detailed history of writing of the Big Book - 1952
	James Burwell - (AA) of Winter Park FL,  his 25th Sobriety Birthday - Odessa TX- 1963
	James Burwell - (AA) from San Diego, author of the Big Book story "The Vicious Cycle" speaking in Sacramento, CA ~ June 15th 1957
Nell Wing (1917 ~ 2007) worked for 20 years as Bill Wilson's secretary. Nell was not an alcoholic. Nell graduated from college, went to Texas, and taught school for a few years. She joined the Coast Guard during WWII, and served as a SAR. Moving to New York City after the war, she eventually took a temporary job in 1947 at the office of the Alcoholic Foundation (now the General Service Office). Her intent was to save enough money to move to Mexico and study art. Instead, she worked 36 years for AA. In 1950 Nell became Bill Wilson's secretary. She became close friends with Bill and Lois and on many weekends stayed with the Wilsons in Bedford Hills. There she assisted Bill with correspondence and research. Nell and Lois became close life-long friends. Nell continued her close association with the General Service Office and Lois even after Bill died in 1971. She organized the AA Archives and in 1993 published a memoir titled Grateful to Have Been There
Nell Wing, Frank Mauser (AA) (1934 ~ 1999), and Dave Griffin (AA) - AA History Workshop - at Pompano Beach FL ~ Oct 1984 Frank took over the AA Archives at GSO in NYC from Nell Wing. This is 5 hours of AA History given by the 1st and 2nd Archivists of the GSO, and Dave G.
	Nell Wing, Frank M (AA), and Dave G (AA) - at Pompano Beach FL ~ Oct 1984 - Part 1
	Nell Wing, Frank M (AA), and Dave G (AA) - at Pompano Beach FL ~ Oct 1984 - Part 2
	Nell Wing, Frank M (AA), and Dave G (AA) - at Pompano Beach FL ~ Oct 1984 - Part 3
	Nell Wing, Frank M (AA), and Dave G (AA) - at Pompano Beach FL ~ Oct 1984 - Part 4
	Nell Wing - in Mt Kisco NY ~ 2000
	Nell Wing - Phoenix AZ ~ 1994
	Nell Wing - at Wilson House - East Dorset VT ~ 15 November 1992
	Nell Wing - Garden City Long Island NY ~ June 10 1992
Grateful to Have Been There - my 42 years with Bill and Lois, and the evolution of Alcoholics Anonymous - 1994 by Nell Wing published by Hazelden -(access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
Ruth Hock -  was the secretary for Hank Parkhurst. In June of 1938 Bill started dictating his work for the Big Book to Ruth in Hank's office in Newark, NJ. She typed the original manuscript for the Big Book. Ruth eventually became the 1st Secretary for AA.
	Ruth Hock - 1st Secretary for AA. Ruth shares her memories of the early days.
	Ruth Hock, Laurie Hock (Ruth's daughter)(AA), Sybil Corwin (AA) - this is a meeting with Sybil chairing, Laurie reading "How It Works" and Ruth Hock (Bill Wilson's secretary) telling early history with Bill Wilson, Hank Parkhurst and Dr Bob. Ruth takes questions from the group members. ~ 12 April 1978
Father Ed Dowling (1898-1960) the Jesuit priest who served for twenty years as sponsor and spiritual guide to Bill Wilson.
	Father Ed Dowling - 1955 at the AA International Convention in St Louis, MO introduced by Bill Wilson. Ed was the first to notice the similarities between the 12-step program and the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. Dowling showed up at Bill Wilson's door unannounced late one night in NYC. Bill and Father Ed, became close friends, and served as Bill's spiritual advisor for over 20 years.
Sister Mary Ignatia (1889-1966) - worked with Dr. Bob to help admit alcoholics into St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio, starting in 1939. She surmounted obstacles to personally care for thousands of alcoholics over the next several decades, both in Akron and later at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland. Beloved by all who were associated with or helped by her, she was commonly referred to as the “Angel of Alcoholics Anonymous.”
	Dr. Bob Smith of Akron, Sister Ignatia of Akron & Bill Wilson of NY ~ April 1947
Searcy Whaley (AA) - early member of AA sober in May 1946, opened clinics that took in wet drunks. When Ebby Thatcher relapsed, Bill Wilson sent Ebby to Searcy's clinic in Texas. Searcy passed 30 September 2003, with 57+ years of sobriety (1910 - 2003). Trust God, clean house, and help others was his motto.
	Searcy Whaley (AA) - Houston Roundup - Nov 2002 - one of his last talks
	Searcy Whaley (AA) - International AA Convention - Minneapolis ~ 2000
	Searcy Whaley (AA)  with Lois Wilson ~ Oct 13 1987
Marty Mann (AA) (1904 - 1980) In 1939 Marty was under the care of Dr Harry Tiebout. Dr Tiebout gave her a copy of the first draft of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. After reading it Marty started attending meetings at Bill and Lois house in Brooklyn. Bill became her sponsor, and  became the 1st woman to maintain lasting sobriety. She helped start the Yale School of Alcohol Studies and organized the National Committee for Education on Alcoholism.
	Marty Mann (AA) - The 1st Step
	Marty Mann (AA) - The Prison of Perfectionism
	Marty Mann (AA) - Sensitivity
	Marty Mann (AA) - Her Last Talk ~ June 1980
	Marty Mann (AA) - The History of AA ~ June 1957
	Marty Mann (AA) - San Francisco ~ Dec 11, 1946
Marty Mann's New Primer on Alcoholism - how people drink, how to recognize alcoholics, and what to do about them - 1958 by Marty Mann -(access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
A Biography of Mrs. Marty Mann - The First Lady of Alcoholics Anonymous - 2005 by David R. Brown and Sally Brown -(access to this title requires creating a free account at Internet Archive) - (not hosted on this site)
Virginia L Wright-McLeod (AA) (1904-1994) of La Jolla CA - Virginia had two sisters, the oldest Caroline, married Hank Parkhurst after his divorce from his first wife. The middle sister Dorothy, was married to Clarence Snyder. Virginia was the best friend of Dorothy Wilson-Strong, Bill Wilson's sister. Dorothy, Bills sister introduced her to Bill and Lois to she if they could help Virginia's husband Myron get sober. Virginia became a close friend to Lois and Bill and attended meetings at their 182 Clinton Street house in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn . Her sister Dot (Dorothy) contacted Virginia and asked for advice on dealing with her drunk husband, Clarence Snyder. Virginia talked to Bill Wilson who put her sister in contact with Dr. Bob. Dot and Clarence divorced in 1941. Dot, visiting from Cleveland, met Ruth Hock and they became close friends, even assisting in the proof reading of the Big Book, just back from the publisher, before the first copy was sold. Dot called Virginia and told her to be the first in line to buy the Big Book the next night. Virginia purchased the very first copy of the Big Book that was sold, for $3.95. Bill called Virginia one day and asked her if she could go pick up a woman named Marty Mann from a sanitarium and take her home to live for a few weeks. Virginia's husband Myron eventually got sober through AA. After many years of going to meetings she finally realized that she was also an Alcoholic. Before her death she gave her copy of the Big Book to the AA Archives in NYC.
	Virginia McLeod (AA) - in La Jolla CA ~ a 2 hour interview in 1977 when she gave her Big Book to the AA Archives in NYC.
Sybil Corwin (AA) (1908-1998) of Los Angeles - Sybil was the first sober female member of AA on the west coast with a sobriety date of 23 March 1941. Sybil Adams was born in Alfred, Texas, in 1908. The family lived in Waco, then moved to Burkburnett, Texas, during an oil boom. The family lost contact with their oldest son, Herman, during WWI. When Sybil was 13 the family learned Herman, now going by the name Tex Adams, was alive and living in Los Angeles. The family immediately moved to Los Angeles to find him. There Sybil felt she was different when other students teased her. But as an early teen she discovered alcohol would make the awkwardness disappear. During the prohibition years, Sybil held various jobs, including bootlegger with her brother Tex, who ran a Speakeasy. Sybil struggled to control her drinking but finally found there maybe hope reading the March 1st issue of the Saturday Evening Post in 1941. In response to Jack Alexander’s article on AA, she wrote to the New York AA office. Sybil's was one of the first letters the NY office received and she received a reply from Ruth Hock, Bill Wilson’s secretary. Ruth told her there were no women members in California, but that Marty Mann was sober in New York. Ruth referred her to a small group of men near her. Her husband, Dick Maxwell, drove her to her first meeting. The men assuming she was the wife of the alcoholic, dismissed her and the other women when the meeting began. Dick, not an alcoholic, was left in the meeting. Her response was to go straight to a bar and get drunk. Telling Tex of her anger towards the men at the AA meeting, he took her back for the next meeting. This time she identified herself as an alcoholic. Tex, an alcoholic, also found relief in AA, and started the 2nd AA group in California called the Hole In The Ground Group. Her husband, Dick, became tired of her AA activities and asked her to stop going and just start drinking again. This was before Al-Anon started and there were no resources for the families. She responded to Dick's solution by moving out with her daughter the following day. She was married five times over her lifetime and would open her AA talks with, “My name is Sybil Doris Adams Stratton Hart Maxwell Willis Corwin, and I’m an alcoholic.” Sybil became the first executive secretary of AA’s Los Angeles Central office. Sybil married another AA, Jim Willis, who became the founder of Gamblers Anonymous. After Jim died she married a long time AA friend Bob Corwin, who also spoke at many AA events. Sybil gave many AA talks around the country in her later years. When Sybil died in April of 1998, at 90 years of age, she had over 57 years of sobriety and service. Virginia MacLeod of La Jolla CA (AA) - Virginia was the best friend of Bill Wilson's sister. She was also a friend of Lois and Bill and attended meetings at their house in Brooklyn. Her sister was married to Clarence Snyder. When the Big Book was printed, Virginia purchased the very first copy that was sold for $3.
	Sybil Corwin (AA) - in Sparks NV ~ 1991
	Sybil Corwin (AA) - in Los Angeles at the Pacific AA Group ~ 1988
	Sybil Corwin (AA) - in Duluth MN ~ 1987
	Sybil Corwin (AA) - at the Louisiana State Convention ~ 1985
	Sybil Corwin (AA) - at the Kentucky State Convention ~ July 1985
	Sybil Corwin (AA) - in Grants Pass OR ~ 1982
	Sybil Corwin (AA) - Speaking on the history of the Traditions in Laguna Beach CA ~ 1980
	Sybil Corwin (AA), Ruth Hock, Laurie Hock (Ruth's daughter)(AA) - this is a meeting with Sybil chairing, Laurie reading "How It Works" and Ruth Hock (Bill Wilson's secretary) telling early history with Bill Wilson, Hank Parkhurst and Dr Bob. Ruth takes questions from the group members. ~ 12 April 1978
Archie Trowbridge (AA) (1899 - 1957) - One of the first members of AA. A drunk in Detroit who had lost most everything, a friend put him in contact with people involved in the Oxford Group. The a couple from the group drove him to Akron to meet Dr Bob. Archie lived with Dr Bob and family while getting sober in Nov of 1938. After 10 months, Bill Wilson traveled with him from Akron back to Detroit where he made many amends, before returning to Akron. Moving to Cleveland, he helped Clarence Snyder established AA there. He eventually returned to Detroit where he was instrumental in the establishment of AA there. His story appears in the Big Book 1 & 2nd edition as "The Fearful One"
	Archie Trowbridge (AA) of Detroit MI speaking on December 25th 1948
Esther Elizardi (AA) (1901 - 1960) - Esther living in Houston was given the 1941 March 1st issue of the Saturday Evening Post by her husband Frank. He was desperate to help her, and asked her to read Jack Alexander’s article on AA. Writing to the New York AA office she received a standard reply along with a hand written letter from Ruth Hock, Bill Wilson’s secretary. Ruth told her there were no women in AA in Houston at time but there were other women in AA. Ruth gave her the name of a member in Houston to contact. She started attending Houston meetings and became sober on 16 May 1941. In 1943 her husband was transferred to Dallas. Arriving in Dallas she found no AA group so started one in her home. This became the first group to meet in Dallas.  Her story, found in the Third Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, is titled “The Flower of the South”
	Esther Elizardi  (AA) of Dallas TX at Lubbock TX ~ 17 May 1953
	Esther Elizardi  (AA) of Dallas TX in St Louis MO at the 2nd AA International Convention ~ July 1955
George Dewey Spies (1898 - 1976) (AA) of San Mateo CA - in the 1st 100 to get sober in AA. Achieved sobriety 1939 in Akron. Stayed sober through service to others.
	Dewey Spies (AA) (1898 - 1976) of San Mateo CA speaking at the 1964 Michigan State AA Convention.
Emmet Fox (1886 - 1951) - was an Irish emigrant and pastor of a large church in New York City. He became popular during the Depression era, with services of 5,000+ attendees. Fox’s secretary was the mother of one of the men who worked Bill Wilson in the early days. As a result of this connection, early AA groups often went to hear Fox. His writing, especially "The Sermon on the Mount", became popular in AA. Several pamphlets "The Golden Key," and "The Seven Main Aspects of God" are also widely read by early AA's. Fox deals with resentments and forgiveness in the booklet titled "The Lord's Prayer". Here is an excerpt from this booklet - "Setting others free means setting yourself free, because resentment is really a form of attachment. It is a Cosmic Truth that it takes two to to make a prisoner; the prisoner - and the jailer. There is no such thing as being a prisoner on one's own account. Every prisoner must have a jailer, and the jailer is as much a prisoner as his charge. When you hold resentment against anyone, you are bound to that person by a cosmic link, a real, though mental chain. You are tied by a cosmic tie to the thing that you hate. The one person perhaps in the whole world whom you most dislike is the very one to whom you are attaching yourself by a hook that is stronger than steel. Is this what you wish? Is this the condition in which you desire to go on living? Remember, you belong to the thing with which you are linked in thought, and at some time or other, if that tie endures, the object of your resentment will be drawn again into your life, perhaps to work further havoc. Do you think that you can afford this? Of course, no one can afford such a thing; and so the way is clear, You must cut all such ties, by a clear and spiritual act of forgiveness. You must loose him and let him go. By forgiveness you set yourself free.
Internet Archive - many of Fox's writings available for free online borrowing - must create a free account to borrow online materials - (not hosted on this site)
emmetfox.net - a clearing house for material by Emmet Fox - (not hosted on this site)
Dr Ernie Kurtz - (AA) of Ann Arbor, Michigan. (1935-2015) Author of "Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous" , "The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning" and "Shame & Guilt". On January 19, 2015, at the age of 79, Dr. Ernest Kurtz died of cancer at his home in Ann Arbor, MI. Historian and former Roman Catholic priest, he is perhaps best known today for his many writings on alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous, addiction, and spirituality—works informed by his academic brilliance, his deep concern with human spiritual life, and his own struggles with alcohol.
	Dr Ernie Kurtz - (AA) from Ann Arbor, MI, - Spirituality & AA
James Houck of Timonium, MD. (1906- 2006) - On Dec 11, 1934 he attended a meeting of the Oxford Group. James Houck joined the Oxford Group and became sober on Dec. 12, one day after Bill Wilson did. James became friends with Bill Wilson and was the last living person to have attended Oxford Group meetings with him. James died at 100 years of age.
	James Houck - (Oxford Group) speaking at the Wilson House ~ 1996   www.wilsonhouse.org
	James Houck - (Oxford Group) interviewed via telephone ~ Feb 2, 1996
Charlie Parmley - (AA) of Maysville, Arkansas. Charlie is widely known within the fellowship because of his love for the big book and his partnering with Joe McQ to start the Joe and Charlie Big Book Studies since 1977 that have been given all around the world. After Joe McQuany passed in 2007, Charlie continued the BB Study Workshops with Joe McCoy (who passed in 2014).  The workshop can be found on this site by clicking here. Charlie passed away April 21, 2011 at the age of 82.
	Charlie Parmley - (AA) of Maysville, Arkansas tells the history of AA.
12-Step Members Telling The History
	AA History - Bob B & Sandy Beach - Far Corners Retreat, Tampa FL ~ 2013
	Sandy Beach - Oxford Group -  Far Corners Retreat, Tampa FL ~ 2013
	Sandy Beach - Lessons from AA History - Capital City Conference - Des Moines Iowa ~ 2010
	Sybil Corwin (AA) - Speaking on the history of the Traditions and early AA History in Los Angeles - in Laguna Beach CA ~ 1980
	Cliff Roche (AA) of Oceanside CA - AA History - Stateline Retreat - Primm NV ~ 2007
	Clancy Imislund (AA) of Venice CA - AA History - Stateline Retreat - Primm NV ~ 2009
	Marty Mann (AA) - The History of AA ~ June 1957
	Kent C (AA) of Sandusky Ohio - AA History Talk - Stateline Retreat ~ 2021
	Arthur S (AA) of Arlington TX - AA History Talk - Texas Man-2-Man ~ 2014
	Arthur S (AA) of Arlington TX - AA History In Texas - Texas Man-2-Man ~ 2013
	Arthur S (AA) of Arlington TX - History of the Big Book of AA - Texas Man-2-Man ~ 2012
	Mike F (AA) of Chandler AZ - AA History - Cedar Rapids Iowa ~ 2008
	Gail LaC (AA) of Akron OH - The Women Behind the Men in AA - AA Archivist - AA Springtime In The Ozarks - Eureka Springs AR ~ April 2011
	Gail LaC (AA) of Akron OH - The History of AA - AA Archivist - Stateline Retreat - Primm NV ~ 2010
	"Barefoot" Bill L of Dunellen NJ - "AA History and Early 12th Stepping - Techniques" - Bernardsville NJ ~ July 15, 2003
	Dave F (AA) of Flower Mound TX  - Forgiveness & History of The 4 Absolutes - Atlanta GA ~ Feb 2 2013
	Arbutus O'Neal (1916 - 2009) (Al-Anon) - Early family member in Texas before Al-Anon existed, her first meeting was in 1948. Here she telling her memories of the history of Al-Anon. Arbutus served as the 1st Texas delegate to WSO and then as a World Service Organization Trustee. There are also a number of her talks on this site, each contain a few different stories of memories. Tells about the use of the Big Book by Al-Anon. additional Arbutus talks
	Vannoy S (Al-Anon) - The History of Al-Anon
	Art B (Al-Anon) of  San Rafael CA - History of Al-Anon Literature - Joy of Recovery Retreat - 3 Rivers CA ~ 2016