Bill Wilson Signed Big Book w/ Dr. Bob & Ebby Thacher Alcoholics Anonymous AA – COA JSA

Description

Presented is a Alcoholics Anonymous big book autographed on the front end page by the A.A. co-founders Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob and Ebby Thacher. It was signed by the group in black pen by (7) members with it dated by two of the members 1945 and 1946 respectively. An additonal member Frank Rogers added a salutation inside on the title page. This is the 5th printing version of the big book.

A.A. began in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, as the outcome of a meeting between Bill W., a New York stockbroker, and Dr. Bob S., an Akron surgeon. Both had been hopeless alcoholics.

Before their meeting, Bill and Dr. Bob had each been in contact with the Oxford Group. This mostly nonalcoholic fellowship emphasized universal spiritual values in daily living. The Episcopal clergyman, Dr. Samuel Shoemaker, led the Oxford Groups in the U.S. at that time.

Under this spiritual influence, and with the help of an old-time friend, Ebby T., Bill had gotten sober. Bill maintained his recovery by working with other alcoholics. Yet, before meeting Dr. Bob, none of these other alcoholics had actually recovered.

Bill emphasized that alcoholism was a malady of mind, emotions, and body. Bill learned this important fact from Dr. William D. Silkworth of Towns Hospital in New York. Bill had often been a patient of Dr. Silkworth. Though a physician, Dr. Bob had not known alcoholism to be a disease. Responding to Bill’s convincing ideas, Dr. Bob soon got sober, never to drink again. This sparked the founding of A.A.

Both men immediately set to work with alcoholics at Akron’s City Hospital. One patient quickly achieved complete sobriety. These three men made up the nucleus of the first A.A. group (though the name Alcoholics Anonymous was not yet used.

Authentication: JSA Full Letter

Bill Wilson Signed Big Book