Significant October Dates in A.A. History
With continued appreciation to Billy C. from the AA History Lovers Group for permission to reprint this interesting information.
Significant October Dates in A.A. History
Oct 1936 - Bill C. a Canadian alkie staying at Bill’s house, committed suicide using a gas stove.
Oct 1939 - 1st central committee formed in Cleveland; 1st example A.A. rotation.
Oct 1942 - 1st issue of Cleveland Central Bulletin is published.
Oct 1944 - First non American branch started in Sydney, Australia by Father T V Dunlea & Rex.
Oct 1951 - Lasker Award given to AA by American Public Health Assoc.
Oct 1951 - Sister Ignatia wrote “Care of Alcoholics - St.Thomas Hospital & A.A. Started Movement Which Swept Country” article in “Hospital Progress” the journal of Catholic Hospital Association.
Oct 1954 - The “Alcoholic Foundation” renamed the “General Service Board of A.A.”
Oct 1958 - Playhouse 90 TV airs “The Days of Wine and Roses”.
Oct 1, 1941 - Local news reports 1st AA Group in New Haven, CT.
Oct 1, 1957 - Book “A.A. Comes of Age” published.
Oct 2, 1944 - Marty M. founded National Committee Education Alcoholism, later became National Council on Alcoholism.
Oct 3, 1945 - AA Grapevine adopted as national publication of AA.
Oct 5-7, 1972 - 2nd World Service meeting held in New York.
Oct 5, 1988 - Lois Burnam Wilson died.
Oct 6, 1941 - 900 dine at Cleveland dinner for Bill D, AA #3.
Oct 8, 1988 - Memorial Service for Lois W at Stepping Stones, NY.
Oct. 9-11, 1969 - 1st World Service meeting held in New York with delegates from 14 countries.
Oct 10, 1943 - 6 of 1st 9 AA’s attend clubhouse anniv. in Toledo.
Oct 10, 1970 - Lois reads “Bills Last Message” at annual dinner in NY.
Oct 10, 1988 - Lois is buried next to Bill in Manchester, Vermont.
Oct 13, 1947 - “The Melbourne Group” held its first meeting in Australia.
Oct 14, 1939 - Journal of American Medical Association gives Big Book unfavorable review.
Oct 15, 1904 - Marty M, early AA woman, is born in Chicago.
Oct 17, 1935 - Ebby T, Bills sponsor, moves in with Bill and Lois.
Oct 20, 1928 - Bill wrote promise to Lois in family Bible to quit drinking. By Thanksgiving added second promise.
Oct 21, 1939 - Cleveland Plain Dealer begins series of articles on AA of by Elrick Davis.
Oct 22, 1963 - E M Jellinek, alcoholism educator and AA friend dies.
Oct 24, 1942 - L.A. Times reports AA groups in 14 California cities.
Oct 24, 1943 - Wilson’s start 1st major A.A. tour, returned Jan 19, 1944.
Oct 24, 1973 - Trustee’s Archives Committee of AA has its 1st meeting.
Oct 28, 1994 - National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence celebrates 50 years.
Edit: Well, first things first - they’ve buried Lois in the wrong place - she and Bill are actually both buried together in East Dorset, Vermont (Oct. 10, 1988)
And;
“October 5, 1941 (not sixth) - The dinner honoring Dr. Bob (not Bill D.) was held at the Hotel Statler in Cleveland. According to the press release issued by the Cleveland Central Committee, over 850 people from Cleveland and about 16 out of town groups attended. The newspaper had an article stating - “900 Reformed Alcoholics Hold Anonymous Dinner. The list of people who spoke or were introduced from the podium were: Mr. & Mrs. Borton (non-alcoholic hosts of the Borton Group), Grace G. (Abby’s wife) Edna McD. (George McD.’s wife) Dorothy Snyder, Anne Smith, Henrietta Seiberling, Wally G. Bill D., Bill Wilson and Doc. Smith (Dr. Bob)
According to the Bulletin to All Groups (the precursor to the Central Bulletin), Cleveland AA didn’t lose any money on the dinner…they even made money…. a whole 90 cents.”
Tags: AA History, alcoholics-anonymous, gratitude, RecoveryRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Did You Know
2 opinions for Significant October Dates in A.A. History
Gwen
Oct 4, 2006 at 6:19 am
Thanks Mark ;)
Trudge
Oct 4, 2006 at 7:09 am
Very interesting, thanks!
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