Who invented AA??

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You may have read in ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, page 165

The title "Alcoholics Anonymous" had appeared very early in the discussion, probably in October, 1938. We do not know who first used these words.

That is questionable. As we discovered recently it appeared more than half year earlier around March 1938. How do we know that? We read ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS COMES OF AGE, page 159.

"At 17 William Street, Newark, New Jersey, Henry had an office which was the headquarters for a rapidly failing business. He also had a secretary named Ruth Hock, who was to become one of A.A.'s real pioneers. The other assets consisted of a huge desk and some plush furniture.

Each morning I traveled all the way from Brooklyn to Newark where, pacing up and down in Henry's office, I began to dictate rough drafts of the chapters of the coming book. As we seemed unable to come up with any genuine outline for the publication, I worked from a hastily drawn-up list of possible chapter headings. Week after week, Henry raced around among the stock subscribers, prodding them for their installments."

One of us questioned the phrase "a hastily drawn-up list of possible chapter headings". What was that? Some overdue research revealed the answer. In fact said a hastily drawn-up list of possible chapter headings was a complete outline for our book Alcoholics Anonymous, created and written by Hank Parkhurst around March 1938. download document hank38.pdf 471kB

Chapter 1 - Being dictated - Preface of the Book - History of this work - Questions & answers - Why the Book - What is needed - The Program - List of Chapters - The aim of the book - What is an alcoholic - The medical chapter - The Sales Promotion Possibilities - In the book should be suggestions regarding hospitalization Dr. silkworths [sic] letters. [Bill Wilson's handwriting] Hanks ideas	Click on image to enlarge
2 Why the Book It has been estimated by the Rockefeller Foundation that there are over a million incurable, from medical or psychiatrical standpoints, alcoholics in the United States. These men realize their vital need and are desperately seeking the answer. The book should be so written that it will prove the answer to these people. The work has become so broad that full time assistance and direction is needed. This costs money (which has been offered by foundational funds) however the alcoholics believe it should come from within their own experience.	Click on image to enlarge
3 Questions & Answers - 1. The question is often asked - where does the money come from for this work? 2. How do I know this will work with me? Why is this method better than any other religious method? (It is not - this is only a step toward a religious experience which should be carried forward in christian fellowship no matter what your church) 3. Will I fail if I cannot keep my conduct up to these highest standards? 4 - What happens when an alcoholic has a sexual relapse? 5. There is so much talk about a religious experience - what is it?	Click on image to enlarge
4 Sales Promotion Possibilities The Market - 1. Over million alcoholics (Rockefeller Foundation) 2. At least million non alcoholics that have definite alcoholic relatives 3. Every employer of 100 or more people 4. Those that take an academic interest. [a] 5. Two hundred & ten thousand ministers [b] 6. One hundred sixty nine thousand physicians. 7. The total would be well over three million prospects [c] [a] this entry was first written as number 6, but the 6 was written over by a 4 and the entry was promoted with an arrow [b] First written as "Half million ministers" [c] The word "three" was written over "a"	Click on image to enlarge
5 Suggestion for Chapter 1 - A History of the work - Possibly this could be carried on the first two pages of the book. This history should establish proof of success of the work and carry hope to everyone that reads that much. The opening to the book should arouse the emotion of hope.	Click on image to enlarge
6 Mail order A form letter of acknowledgment must be worked out. This will acknowledge the receipt of the enquiry [sic] and will inform that the writer can secure the book by mailing two dollars [d] or through their local bookseller who can secure from Alcoholics Anonymous, Inc. Post Box xxxx The profits of the book are administered by a foundation for promotion of cure and understanding of alcoholism. [d] first written as "mailing a buck for"	Click on image to enlarge
7 Title Page Alcoholics Anonymous Published by ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, INC A NON PROFIT organization for the promotion of cure and understanding of alcoholism. Profits accruing from sale of this book will be [e] administered by a foundation for promotion of cure and understanding of alcoholism. Members of this foundation......... Post Box... xxxxxxxxx xx [e] first written as "are" and changed to "will be"	Click on image to enlarge
8 Observations - One of the easiest and most talked of things among us is a religious experience. I believe that this is incomprehensible to most people. Simple & meaning words to us - but meaningless to most of the people that we are trying to get this over too. - In my mind religious experience - religion - etc - should not be brought in. We are actually irreligious - but we are trying to be helpful - we have learned to be quiet - to be more truthful - to be more honest - to try to be more unselfish - to make the other fellows troubles - our troubles - and by following four steps we most of us have a religious experience. The fellowship - the unselfishness - appeals to us. I wonder if we are off the track. A very good merchandising procedure is to find out why people do not buy our products - it is good reasoning to find out WHY - I am fearfully afraid that we are emphasizing religious experience when actually that is something that follows as a result of 1-2-3-4. In my mind the question is not particularly the strength of the experience as much as the improvement over what we were. I would ask a man to compare himself as follows after say a month - #1 - as compared to 2 months ago do you have more of a feeling that there is a power greater than you? #2 - Have you cleaned out more completely with a human being than ever before? #3 - Have you less bad things behind you than ever before #4 Have you been	Click on image to enlarge
9 more honest with yourself & your fellow man - Have you been more thoughtful of people with whom you are associated - Has your life been cleaner both by thought & action - Have you looked at others less critically and yourself more critically this past 30 days. You will never be perfect but the question is have you been more perfect?	Click on image to enlarge
10 Alcoholism May be best be defined to the average person by pointing out its leading symptoms and indicating how these reactions differ from the affects of alcohol on normal persons. 1. Total inability to control drinking once drinking is started. 2. Antisocial behavior of these people when intoxicated A. Marked insanity 1. Little relation the - persons normal behavior or ordinary exuberant drinker or drunk Publicity Newspapers When book is nearly ready to leave the presses a short mat article should be sent to the 12,285 newspapers in the U.S. This article would briefly cover the work as it has gone to date. Case histories would be covered. - It possibly would be a brief case history of the work and announcement of the book. At least four news bulletins should be published at weekly intervals, ahead of the book.	Click on image to enlarge

Here is such article -- pushed by Hank

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Read manuscript of 1938
Read pre-publication of February 1939