Bring the rich tapestry of A.A. history to life with a deep dive into all the key men and women, the important locales, and, some lesser known facts, from our “basic text”
Who was Dr. Silkworth talking about when he said "In late 1934 I attended a patient who, though he had been a competent businessman of good earning capacity, was an alcoholic of a type I had come to regard as hopeless."? Or the patient Silkworth describes as "a man …partially recoverd from a gastric hemorrhage and seemed to be a case of pathological mental deterioration."? Who was "Our Southern Friend"? Do you know what farm Bill and Lois had to work on for a month to earn money so they could complete their motorcycle trip?
Those answers and many more can be found right here. Adding names, faces, photos of locations and more, all add up to a deeper, richer, more fulfilling understanding of "our basic text."
Those answers and many more can be found right here. Adding names, faces, photos of locations and more, all add up to a deeper, richer, more fulfilling understanding of "our basic text."
Big Book Annotations by Tim B.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Fourth EditionIncluding the Preface, Forwards, The Doctor’s Opinion, The First 164 Pages, and the Personal Stories beginning with Dr. Bob’s Nightmare
Page-xi, 2nd paragraph— “…basic text…”
As in a “textbook”. Meant in the context of being used as a study or reference book.
This is referring to the first 164 pages in which only minor changes have occurred since publication of the first edition in 1939.
FOREWARD TO FIRST EDITION- April / 1939 (p-xiii)
Actually, closer to 75 alcoholics as the manuscript went to print. Of those, approximately 40 achieved permanent sobriety.
FOREWARD TO SECOND EDITION— 1955 (p-xv)
Page-xv, 3rd paragraph- “New York stockbroker and an Akron physician.”
Referring to both Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith.
Referring to Edwin (Ebby) Thacher.
The Oxford Group was an international non-denominational Christian religious movement within the Protestant faith. Founded by Frank Buchman and assisted in America by Rev. Sam Shoemaker. Rev. Shoemaker was Rector of Calvary Church, NYC.
Eddie Reilly was most likely their first and Dr. Roy H. McKay the second. Dr. McKay never achieved permanent sobriety but Eddie Reilly eventually did. Eddie attended Dr. Bob’s funeral sober in 1950 and remained that way. However, here the BB authors are referring to Bill Dotson A.A. #3, “Man on the Bed”.
Clarence Snyder, author of “The Home Brewmiester” started the third group in Cleveland. His story can still be read in Experience, Strength and Hope.
Some known early women were: Jane Sturdevant -Feb/37, Florence Rankin-Sept/37, Edith Scott-Jan/38, Hazel Cloos-Mar/39, Marty Mann-Apr/39, Sylvia Kauffman-Sept/39 and Helen Penhale-Sept/39.
Florence Rankin was responsible for the Big Book not being called One Hundred Men. At the point the book was about to go to print in 1939 she had 1 year continuous sobriety and had proved the Program was effective for women too. Subsequently, the title Alcoholics Anonymous was agreed upon. Although she eventually drank again and died in 1943 of active alcoholism. Her story “A Feminine Victory” can still be read in Experience, Strength and Hope.
The first Foreword not written by Bill Wilson as he passed in Jan, 1971. Note the difference in tone and length.
Written by Dr. William D. Silkworth.
Page-xxv, 4th paragraph— “…was an alcoholic of a type I had come to regard as hopeless.”
Dr. Silkworth is referring to Bill Wilson.
By 1939, Dr. Silkworth had already been at Towns Hospital for approx. 9 years.
Later in life they lived in Manhattan at 45 W81st. Where he died of a heart failure on 3/22/51
Page-xxvii, 5th paragraph— "Many years ago one of the leading contributors to this book…"
Dr. Silkworth is referring to Bill Wilson.
Page-xxviii, 1st paragraph— "We believe, and so suggested a few years ago…"
Dr. Silkworth wrote an article for the medical journal, Medical Record on March 17th 1937, titled Alcoholism as a Manifestation of an Allergy.
This is Henry G. “Hank” Parkhurst, who wrote "The Unbeliever", in the First edition of the Big Book and the chapter "To Employers". Parkhurst could also be considered an editor of the Big Book. He was the architect of the stock certificate idea (Works Publishing) to raise money for the Big Book's first printing.
Fitz Mayo, "Our Southern Friend". Founder of A.A. Washington DC.
Bill Wilson- Sober date, Dec / 34.
A.A. Co-Founder. Born in East Dorset, VT in 1895. Stockbroker.
Page-1, 3rd paragraph— "…had not the men of my battery given me a special token of appreciation?"
Bill Wilson was given a watch, chain and ring.
Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, NY.
Page 2, 3rd paragraph— “…and off we rode on a motorcycle”.
April / 1925
Lois Wilson (Burnham)
Lois driving the Harley
Young Lois Burnham
Lois in later years
Goldfoot Dairy Farm, Scotia, NY (near Schenectady). They were hired help at $75 a month for both, with board and keep. Lois to assist with the housework and Bill to milk and work in the fields.
Ella Goldfoot had two sons who both worked at General Electric. Bill was able to get a tour of inside the plant and made a report back to N.Y. about the companies' positive future potential.
EKWANOK COUNTRY CLUB, Manchester, VT.
XYZ was Penick & Ford founded by William Snydor Penick and his brother-in-law, James Polk Ford, who formed a partnership in Shreveport, Louisiana, to sell barreled syrups and molasses in canned form.
Dick Johnson, a partner at Greenshield's and Co., a Canadian brokerage house.
Dr. Clark Burnham (Gynecologist) and Mrs. Matilda Burnham (Spellman).