Aa history Lovers 2004 moderators Nancy Olson and Glenn F. Chesnut page

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++++Message 2007. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: 1940 AA/mexicanMemberCleveland

From: Bob McK . . . . . . . . . . . . 8/31/2004 6:24:00 AM

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10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;">The March 1946 Cleveland _Central

Bulletin _had this article on pg. 4:

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;">THE BOOK IS TRANSLATED

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;"> Ricardo P. of the Mexican

Consullate[sic] in Cleveland,

and

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;">tremendously impressed with the work of

AA, has trans-

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;">lated the entire AA book in the Spanish

language, and it

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;">will soon be printed in Mexico for the

benefit of its people.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;">Ric is to be commended for this fine

demonstration of

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;">The 12th step.

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy;">

-----

*From:* Mel Barger

[mailto:[e-mail]]

*Sent:* Monday, August 30, 2004 2:16 PM

*To:*

[e-mail]

*Subject:* Re: [AAHistoryLovers]

1940 AA/mexicanMemberCleveland

12.0pt;">

Hi Gilbert,

I called the Cleveland Central Office re your

request. The gentleman was Dick Perez and he and his wife both translated

materials into Spanish. Dick passed away in 1988, about seven years after

retiring from the Central Office. His wife is also deceased. My

source for this information is Elvira A., who has worked at the central office

in Cleveland

for 28 years. She is getting together information about Dick. You

may call her at [phone].

I do recall talking by phone with Dick in 1980, a

short time before he retired. I was trying to interview Cleveland oldtimers

for "Pass It

On," and he gave me some leads.

Mel Barger

~~~~~~~~

Mel Barger

13.5pt;">[e-mail]

----- Original Message -----

*From:* Gilbert Gamboa

*To:* [e-mail]

*Sent:* Sunday, August 29, 2004 10:04 PM

*Subject:* [AAHistoryLovers]

1940 AA/mexicanMemberCleveland

12.0pt;">

12.0pt;">This question is for anyone who can direct me in the direction of

info

on Dick P the

12.0pt;">mexican AA member who joined in 1940 in Cleveland I believe..Mel B

you might

12.0pt;">recall all this,but I believe him to be the key figure in the

translation of the Big Book into spanish words???..all info on this would be

greatly appreciated,and although the hard work has been done in translating

this book to spanish,there is yet a harder piece Ive encountered and that

is to pronounce the words correctly and put an exact definition to the

meaning

in spanish....

12.0pt;">

seek,Trust,and serve

12.0pt;"> Gilbert

G.-Dallas,TX.

12.0pt;">

_Mel Barger

_ wrote:

Since the 20 questions were used for years and

atrributed to Johns Hopkins, it's rather embarrassing to learnh that they

didn't really have backing from the Johns

Hopkins Hospital.

But we no longer need them. AA has 12

questions in the pamphlet "Is AA for You?" which should suffice very

well. Just walk a newcomer through those 12 questions and it should be

immediately clear whether there's a serious drinking problem there.

Mel Barger

~~~~~~~~

Mel Barger

13.5pt;">[e-mail]

----- Original Message -----

*From:* Jim Blair

*To:* AA History Lovers

*Sent:* Friday, August 27, 2004 10:02 AM

*Subject:* [AAHistoryLovers]

20 Questions

12.0pt;">

Here is an email posted some time ago by an archivist in Northern CA.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------

12.0pt;">

Juliet from our local Intergroup has

come up with some interesting facts about the 20 questions.

Below is a snippet from an e-mail I received from a contact from Johns

Hopkins'

media relations department:

This is from a faculty member in our Psychiatry dept.

"The Johns Hopkins

Twenty Questions: Are You An Alcoholic? was developed in the 1930s by

Dr.

Robert Seliger, who at that time was a faculty member in the Department

of

Psychiatry at the Johns

Hopkins Hospital.

It was intended for use as a self-assessment questionnaire to determine

the

extent of one's alcohol use. It was not intended to be used by

professionals as

a screening tool to help them formulate a diagnosis of alcoholism in

their

patients. We do not use this questionnaire at any of the Johns

Hopkins substance abuse treatment programs. To the best of my knowledge,

there have never been any reliable or validated studies conducted using

the

Hopkins Twenty Questions. I advise you to consider using other

instruments such as the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test or the CAGE

--

both of which have proven reliability and validity as reported in the

scientific

literature."

So, the questions should be attributed to Dr.Robert Seliger of Johns

Hopkins

(in the 1930s), not to Johns Hopkins itself as they no longer advocate

their

use. I note as well that the e-mail I sent to you all earlier from the

Literature Desk at GSO stated that the hospital had requested that GSO

not

attribute those questions to their institution in the pamphlet "Memo to

an

Inmate Who May Be an Alcoholic."

If you know anyone who would like permission to reprint this piece, I

have a

contact at Johns Hopkins to whom I can refer them. I have been in

contact

with the faculty member who knew the history of this document and who

recommended that we not use it. She was very adamant about it--in a

second e-mail to me, she said that she'd grant permission to any AA

group who

wanted to use it, but that she really recommended that we don't.

12.0pt;">

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12.0pt;">

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++++Message 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . How It Works.

From: [e-mail] . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/2/2004 2:30:00 AM

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Would anyone who has any information on the sequence of events that led to the

changing of the manuscript for How It Works, provide this information. I am

interested in knowing what sources of AA History, besides AA Comes of Age

provide information as to the actual events that led to the "flying back and

forth between New York and Akron consultation during the book writing process"

and decisions to revise the original submission by Bill Wilson. Why was the

edited version approved by the first 100, instead of the original submission?

I am mainly concerned with what the reasons were for the consultation and

editing? Why was the original submission edited during consultation?

Sincerely

Larry W.

Atlanta, Georgia

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++++Message 2009. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: How It Works.

From: Arthur . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/2/2004 10:41:00 AM

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Hi

Larry

The

progressive development of the Big Book is mapped out in a number of

historical

writings. The book 'Not God'' is a valuable companion reading to AA Comes of

Age.

However, when it comes to outlining many of the underlying reasons 'why'' the

Big Book developed as it did, AA Comes of Age is hard to beat in answering

those questions. Below is a timeline sequence extracted from the reference

sources noted. I'll also send you a separate e-mail that contains a transcript

of a 1954 talk in Fort Worth,

TX by Bill W on how the Big Book

was developed.

Cheers

Arthur

*Reference Sources:*

AACOA _AA Comes of Age_, AAWS

AGAA _The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics

Anonymous_, by Dick B (soft cover)

BW-RT _Bill W_ by Robert

Thompson (soft cover)

BW-FH _Bill W_ by Francis

Hartigan (hard cover)

DBGO _Dr Bob and the Good Old-timers_,

AAWS

GB _Getting Better Inside Alcoholics

Anonymous_ by Nan Robertson (soft cover)

GTBT _Grateful to Have Been There_by Nell Wing (soft cover)

LOH _The Language of the Heart_,

AA Grapevine Inc

LR _Lois Remembers_, by

Lois Wilson

NG _Not God_, by Ernest

Kurtz (expanded edition, soft cover)

PIO _Pass It On_, AAWS

SM _AA Service Manual and Twelve

Concepts for World Service__,_

AAWS

SW _Silkworth - the Little Doctor Who

Loved Drunks_, by Dale Mitchell (hard cover)

WPR _Women Pioneers in 12 Step Recovery_,

by Charlotte Hunter, Billye Jones and Joan Ziegler (soft cover)

www *Internet

Sources* (e.g. Google, Microsoft Encarta, US National Archives &

Records Administration NARA)

*1937*

Nov,

Bill W and Dr Bob met in Akron and compared notes. 40 cases were sober

(more than 20 for over a year). All once diagnosed as hopeless. In a meeting

at

T Henry Williams' home, Bill's ideas, for a book, hospitals and how to expand

the movement with paid missionaries, narrowly passed by 2 votes among 18

members.

The NY group was more enthusiastic. (AACOA vii, 76-77, 144-146, BW-RT 239-243,

DBGO 123-124, NG 56-57, PIO 180, LOH 142)

*1938*

May

20, (PIO 193 and AACOA 153 say Mar/Apr) beginning of the writing of the Big

Book at Hank P's office (Honors Dealers, 17 William St in Newark, NJ).

Bill W wrote, edited and rewrote manuscripts at home on legal pads then

dictated chapters to Ruth Hock (nicknamed 'Dutch'' - short for 'Duchess'').

Most

of the early hand-written Big Book manuscript documents were lost during a

later

move from Newark

to NYC. (AACOA vii, 159, BW-RT 248-250, LR 197, BW-FH 115, PIO 193, 235, GB

55,

LOH 106-107, WPR 79)

Jun,

Bill W wrote to Dr Bob 'By the way, you might all be thinking up a good title.

Nearly everyone agrees that we should sign the volume _Alcoholics Anonymous_.

Titles such as _Haven, One Hundred Men, Comes the Dawn_,

etc. have been suggested.'' (NG 74-75, 333)

Jun

15, Lois' recollection of the first use of the term _

italic;">Alcoholics Anonymous_. (LR 197)

Jul

18, Dr Esther L Richards (of Johns Hopkins) stated in a letter that Bill W, at

that time, was using the name _Alcoholics

Anonymous_ both as the working title of the book and as the name of

the Fellowship. (PIO 202)

Jul

27, Dr William Duncan Silkworth wrote a letter of support for AA for use in

fundraising for the book. The letter was incorporated into the chapter _The

Doctor's Opinion_. (SW center-fold

photo exhibits, AACOA 168) Dr Esther L Richards of Baltimore had suggested to

Bill W to get a

'Number one physician'' in the alcoholism field to write an introduction. (NG

332)

Sep,

Board Trustee Frank Amos arranged a meeting between Bill W and Eugene Exman

(Religious Editor of Harper Brothers publishers). Exman offered Bill a $1,500

advance ($19,400 today) on the rights to the book. The Alcoholic Foundation

Board urged acceptance of the offer. Instead, Hank P and Bill formed Works

Publishing Co. and sold stock at $25 par value ($325 today). 600 shares were

issued: Hank and Bill received 200 shares each, 200 shares were sold to

others.

Later, 30 shares of preferred stock, at $100 par value ($1,300 today) were

sold

as well. To mollify the board, it was decided that the author's royalty (which

would ordinarily be Bill's) could go to the Alcoholic Foundation. (LR 197,

BW-FH 116-119, SM S6, PIO 193-195, AACOA 157, 188) Encouraged by Dr Silkworth,

Charles Towns loaned Hank and Bill $2,500 for

the book. It was later increased to $4,000. ($52,000 today). (PIO 196, SM S7,

LOH 176, AACOA 13-14, 153-159)

Oct,

Bill W's recollection of the first use of the term _

italic;">Alcoholics Anonymous_. (AACOA 165, PIO 202)

Dec,

the Twelve Steps were written at 182 Clinton St (in about 30 minutes).

Much argument (sometimes heated) ensued over their wording. (LOH 200, AACOA

vii, 160-163, BW-RT 253, PIO 197-199, GB 55-57, AGAA 260)

*1939*

Jan,

The draft book text and personal stories were completed. (AACOA 164, BW-RT

255)

Jan,

400 multilith copies of the book were distributed for evaluation. Each copy

was

stamped 'Loan Copy'' to protect the coming copyright. (AACOA 165, LR 197, NG

74,

319, PIO 200) NY member Jim B (_Vicious Cycle_)

suggested the phrases '_God as we understand

Him''_ and '_Power greater than

ourselves_'' be added to the Steps and basic text. Bill W later wrote

'Those expressions, as we so well know today, have proved lifesavers for many

an alcoholic.'' (LOH 201) Note: Jim B later moved to Philadelphia, PA

in Feb 1940 and started AA there. He also helped start AA in Baltimore, MD.

(AACOA 17, BW-FH 140, GTBT 137, WPR 81)

Feb/Mar

(?), The distributed multilith copies were returned, but reader's comments

produced few alterations in the final text. A major change did occur at the

suggestion of a Montclair, NJ psychiatrist, Dr Howard, who recommended

toning down the use of 'musts'' and changing them to 'we ought'' or 'we

should.''

Dr Silkworth and Dr Tiebout offered similar advice. (AACOA 167-168 NG 67-77)

Mar

(?), The much changed book manuscript was turned over to Tom Uzzell. He was a

friend of Hank P, an editor at _Collier's_

and a member of the NYU faculty. The manuscript was variously estimated as 600

to

1,200 pages (including personal stories). Uzzell reduced it to approximately

400 pages. Most cuts came from the personal stories, which had also been

edited

by Jim S (_The News Hawk_)a journalist from Akron, OH.

(AACOA 164, BW-FH 126, PIO 203)

Mar,

(?), Bill W, Hank P, Ruth Hock and Dorothy S (wife of Cleveland pioneer

Clarence S) drove to Cornwall, NY and presented a much altered manuscript to

the printing plant of Cornwall Press. When the plant manager saw the condition

of the manuscript, he almost sent them back to type a clean copy. Hank P

persuaded the manager to accept the manuscript on condition that the group

would examine and correct galley proofs as they came off the press. The group

checked in to a local hotel and spent the next several days proofreading

galleys. (AACOA 170-171, WPR 81-82)

Apr,

4,730 copies of the first Ed. of _Alcoholics Anonymous_ were published at a

selling price of $3.50 ($46 today). The printer, Edward Blackwell of Cornwall

Press, was told to use the thickest paper in his shop. The large, bulky volume

became known as the 'Big Book.'' The idea was to convince the alcoholic he was

getting his money's worth. (AACOA viii, 170, NG 76, PIO 204-205, GB 59) Ray

(_An Artist's Concept_) designed the 'circus

color'' dust jacket. The book had 8 roman and 400 Arabic numbered pages. _The

Doctor's Opinion_ started as page 1 and

the basic text ended at page 174. The manuscript story of an Akron member, _

italic;">Ace Full - Seven - Eleven,_ was dropped (reputedly, because

he was not too pleased with changes made to the first drafts of the Steps and

text). 29 stories were included (10 from the east coast, 18 from the mid-west

and 1 from the west coast - which was ghost written by Ruth Hock and later

removed from the book) (www)

-----

*From:*

[e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]]

*Sent:* Thursday, September 02, 2004

6:31 AM

*To:* [e-mail]

*Subject:* [AAHistoryLovers] How It

Works.

12.0pt;">

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">Would anyone who has any information on

the *sequence of

events* that led to the changing of the

manuscript for How It Works, provide this information. I am interested in

knowing what sources of AA History, besides *AA Comes of Age** *provide

information as to the actual events that led to the "flying back and

forth between New York and Akron consultation during the book writing process"

and decisions to revise the original submission by Bill Wilson. Why

was the edited version approved by the first 100, instead of the

original submission? I am mainly concerned with what the reasons

were for the consultation and editing? Why was the original submission

edited during consultation?

Sincerely

Larry W.

Atlanta, Georgia

10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">

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++++Message 2010. . . . . . . . . . . . Steps done quickly?

From: Robert Stonebraker . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/7/2004 3:08:00 PM

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Arial;">Dear History Lovers,

Arial;">

Arial;">There is an example of the "Six Step Process" being completed in

"three

or four hours" in Earl Treat's Story "He

sold Himself Short."

Arial;">(p.292 - 3rd edition of the Big Book). I believe this event took place

in the

summer of 1937. My question is this: Is there documentation of the Step

process

being done that quickly in later years after we had 12 Steps? I am referring

mostly to the years of the early

1940s.

Arial;">

Arial;">Thank you for documented response.

Arial;">

Arial;">Bob S., from Indiana

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++++Message 2011. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Steps done quickly?

From: recoveredbygrace . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/9/2004 4:12:00 PM

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Bob,One example I know of is Clarence S.`s story,Home Brewmiester.

If you can get a tape of his talk,he describes the process Dr. Bob

took him thru and how he did it untill he passed away.

Another example is to research the " Little Red Book`s " history and

you will see it came from beginners meetings from the 1940`s.The

beginners were put thru 4 one hour classes where they took the 12

steps ,if at all possible.Some people took a little longer.After

completing the classes and steps,they were invited to a official AA

meeting.

Hope this helps,Tom

--- In [e-mail], "Robert Stonebraker"

wrote:

> Dear History Lovers,

>

> There is an example of the "Six Step Process" being completed in

"three or

> four hours" in Earl Treat's Story "He sold Himself Short."

> (p.292 - 3rd edition of the Big Book). I believe this event took

place in

> the summer of 1937. My question is this: Is there documentation

of the

> Step process being done that quickly in later years after we had 12

Steps?

> I am referring mostly to the years of the early 1940s.

>

> Thank you for documented response.

>

> Bob S., from Indiana

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++++Message 2012. . . . . . . . . . . . RE: Re: Steps done quickly? and

history of the little red book

From: big book lover . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/10/2004 6:21:00 PM

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The Little Red Book comes out of Nicolette group and was published two years

prior to the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

It was edited by Dr. Bob.

Further documentation of the Little Red Book is in a discontinued published

book by the same author called Our Devilish Alcoholic Personalities. I have

a Xeroxed copy of that book.

There are letters from Bill Wilson regarding the Little Red Book and his

opinion on it.

There are pictures of the primary author in Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers.

The Little Red Book was originally published by ? Merriam Cobb in

Minneapolis in 1948.

Hope this is of assistance.

Stephanie Burgess

Caledonia, Michigan

-----Original Message-----

From: recoveredbygrace [mailto:[e-mail]]

Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 5:12 PM

To: [e-mail]

Subject: [AAHistoryLovers] Re: Steps done quickly?

Bob,One example I know of is Clarence S.`s story,Home Brewmiester.

If you can get a tape of his talk,he describes the process Dr. Bob

took him thru and how he did it untill he passed away.

Another example is to research the " Little Red Book`s " history and

you will see it came from beginners meetings from the 1940`s.The

beginners were put thru 4 one hour classes where they took the 12

steps ,if at all possible.Some people took a little longer.After

completing the classes and steps,they were invited to a official AA

meeting.

Hope this helps,Tom

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.759 / Virus Database: 508 - Release Date: 9/9/2004

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++++Message 2013. . . . . . . . . . . . Sister Ignatia and St. Thomas

Hospital, Akron

From: caseyosh . . . . . . . . . . . . 9/17/2004 8:39:00 AM