Oxford Group Origins
1931 FebruaryIt’s the early 1930s, and Rowland H. from Rhode Island struggled with alcoholism and sought help from the world-renowned psychoanalyst Carl Jung. Jung told Rowland that nothing but a spiritual solution could cure him of his debilitating alcoholism. He suggested Rowland visit the Oxford Group, a Western religious movement that
Bill W.
1934 DecemberDecember 1934 and Bill W. is in the hospital again due to his chronic and debilitating alcoholism. This time, at the age of 39, something changed and Bill underwent a powerful spiritual experience. He finally stopped drinking and stayed sober by working the rest of his life to help others
Meeting Dr. Bob
1935 MayA woman, non-alcoholic, named Henrietta Sieberling and involved in the Oxford Group arranged for Bill W. to meet Dr. Bob.
Dr. Bob’s Last Drunk
1935 JuneDr. Bob has his last drink, a beer, after a binge in Atlantic City, NJ.
Non-Professional
1936 DecemberBill W. is offered a job at a hospital, he would be given an office and all the resources he needed to set up a program for alcoholics. He ultimately rejected it, AA remained non-professional.
Alcoholics Anonymous
1937 JuneThe first recollection of the usage of the term “Alcoholics Anonymous.”
Big Book
1938 MayThe writing of the book Alcoholics Anonymous (aka the Big Book) begins. It took until January of 1939 for the first draft to be completed.
Self-Supporting
1938 DecemberJohn D. Rockefeller, Jr. is introduced to AA by his friend Frank Amos. Amos asks Rockefeller to donate $50,000 but Rockefeller will only donate $5,000 because he believes AA ought to be self-supporting.
Women in AA
1941 MayEthel M., joins the fellowship and gets sober in Akron, Ohio. She is one of the first female AA members.
Serenity Prayer
1941 JuneThe Serenity Prayer is incorporated into AA after members read it in a newspaper.
Grapevine
1944 JuneThe first issue of the AA Grapevine is printed, it becomes known as a “meeting in print” and eventually adopted as the official magazine of AA.
International
1946 AugustAA goes international when the first AA group is formed in Dublin, Ireland.
Anonymity
1954 MayBill W. is offered honorary degrees by multiple university, including Yale University. He declines them all, citing the AA tradition of anonymity.
Argentina
1954 OctoberHector C., was treated by Dr. Roberto in 1952 who had taken a course on alcoholism in the US. Dr. Roberto introduced Hector to AA. Hector worked to bring AA to Argentina until his sudden death in October 1954. A small group was born from his effort and grew exponentially.
South America
1956 MarchAA comes alive in Venezuela, first with a small ad in an English newspaper followed by the birth of Spanish-speaking groups.
French
1960 JuneAA had been in France since 1949, but it was made up of Americans living in Paris. In 1960 the first French speaking group was founded in France.
Big Book Million
1973 FebruaryThe millionth copy of Alcoholics Anonymous is printed and given to President Nixon.
Living Sober
1975 JuneLiving Sober is published, providing insights on how to live while sober. Eventually becomes one of the most popular pieces of AA literature.
Young People
1977 SeptemberA survey uncovers that AA members under 30 have become nearly 20% of the fellowship in North America. Worldwide trends are similar.
Spanish
1984 MarchThe General Service Office in NY hires a full-time Spanish Services staffer. Service materials and literature are translated to Spanish.
Cuba
1993 FebruaryMexico helps bring AA to Cuba by showing the Cuban government how the program has one purpose and has no other agenda or affiliations.
La Viña
1996 JuneThe Grapevine is published in Spanish as the bimonthly magazine, La Viña. Both original Spanish content and translated Grapevine content are in the magazine.