A Few Big Book Events

In February of 1938, Bill W approached the Rockefeller establishment requesting funds for an alcoholic hospital and recuperation center. Thus was prompted a Rockefeller associate, Frank Amos, to check out  the yet-to-be AA group of ex-drunks in Akron, Ohio.

Mr. Amos brought back a glowing report and a recommended donation of fifty-thousand dollars (nearly a million dollars today). However, Albert Scott, from the Riverside Church, brought up the question: “Won’t money spoil this thing?”

Consequently, the fifty-thousand-dollar idea flew out the window. However, John D. Rockefeller Jr. decided to contribute enough finances to allow Bill and Dr. Bob a weekly allowance and to pay off the Doctor’s house mortgage.

This financial boon allowed Bill time to start writing what turned out to be our Big Book. This was March or April of 1938. Interestingly, he penned, “There Is a Solution,” as Chapter One and “Bill’s Story” as Chapter Two, which was, of course, later reversed.

Dr. Silkworth added, “The Doctor’s Opinion,” in July of that year, and a newly sober journalist, Jim S., began helping the Akron story contributors write their stories. The New York members wrote their own, with editing by Bill W and Hank P., but not without some objections.

Bill’s home, at 182 Clinton Street, Brooklyn Hts. had Tuesday evening meetings, plus several live-in alcoholics. Here Bill, and the ex-drunks, would consider different inclusions for this new book. Bill would then add these to his own thoughts, write them on his yellow scratch pad, take them to his office, then recite this to his secretary, Ruth Hock as she would type (This typewriter is exhibited at GSO Archives).

Up to this this time, the word-of-mouth procedure was a six-step program (there were some variations). Although the Oxford Group had no such program, there was much similarity with their many tenets (note BB page xvi). Bill decided the step process needed to be more definitive, that there were too many loopholes.

While lying in bed with a yellow scratch pad and a pencil. As he started to write, he asked God for guidance and completed the first draft in about thirty minutes! These turned out to be twelve in number. This was late December of 1938.

Four hundred copies of the then-completed manuscript were then distributed for editing and advice. By early 1939, the major tone of essence took place; Dr. Howard suggested that the terms , “We must,”  be changed to, “We Ought,” wherever possible. Also, Jimmy B, added the “ten-strike:” “God as we understood Him.”

The First printing of our Big Book was published on April 10, 1939

By Bob S.