Past articles of interest as collected by the Archives Committee If you have historic documents/literature to donate or would like to be interviewed about your group's story or your personal story, please email us at
April 1935 - Dr. Silkworth told Bill to quit preaching at drunks & tell them of obsession & allergy.
April 1950 - Saturday Evening Post article "The Drunkard's Best Friend" by Jack Alexander.
April 1958 - The word "honest" dropped from AA Preamble, "an honest desire to stop drinking".
April 1966 - Change in ratio of trustees of the General Service Board; now two thirds (majority) are alcoholic.
April 1970 - GSO moved to 468 Park Ave. South, NYC.
April 1, 1939 - Publication date of Alcoholics Anonymous, AA's Big Book.
April 1, 1940 - Larry J. of Houston, wrote "The Texas Prayer", used to open AA meetings in Texas.
April 1, 1966 - Sister Ignatia died.
April 2, 1966 - Harry Tiebout, M.D. died.
April 3, 1941 - First AA meeting held in Florida.
April 3, 1960 - Fr. Ed Dowling, S.J., died. He was Bill W's "spiritual sponsor."
April 7, 1941 - Ruth Hock reported there were 1,500 letters asking for help as a
result of the Saturday Evening Post Article by Jack Alexander.
April 10, 1939 - The first ten copies of the Big Book arrived at the office Bill and Hank P shared.
April 11, 1938 - The Alcoholic Foundation formed as a trusteeship for A.A.
(sometimes reported as May 1938)
April 11, 1941 - Bill and Lois finally found a home, Stepping Stones in New Bedford.
April 16, 1940 - A sober Rollie H. catches the only opening day no-hitter in baseball history since 1909.
April 16, 1973 - Dr. Jack Norris presented President Nixon with the one millionth copy of the Big Book.
April 19, 1940 - The first AA group in Little Rock, Arkansas, was formed. First 'mail order' group.
April 19, 1941 - The first AA group in the State of Washington was formed in Seattle.
April 22, 1940 - Bill and Hank transfer their Works Publishing stock to the Alcoholic Foundation.
April 23, 1940 - Dr. Bob wrote the Trustees to refuse Big Book royalties, but Bill W
insisted that Dr. Bob and Anne receive them.
April 24, 1940 - The first AA pamphlet, "AA", was published.
April 24, 1989 - Dr. Leonard Strong died.
April 25, 1939 - Morgan R interviewed on Gabriel Heatter radio show.
April 25, 1951 - AA's first General Service Conference was held.
April 26 or May 1, 1939 - Bank forecloses on 182 Clinton Street.
April 30, 1989 - Film "My Name is Bill W." a Hallmark presentation was broadcast on ABC TV.
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Disclaimer: These pages are neither endorsed nor approved by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. They are solely provided by the South Jersey Intergroup Association as part of its 12 Step work in reaching out to the alcoholic who still suffers.
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