The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous

274 Pages·1994·0.8 MB·English

by  Bill Pittman

title: The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous
author: Pittman, Bill.
publisher: Hazelden Publishing
isbn10 | asin: 1568385056
print isbn13: 9781568385051
ebook isbn13: 9780585322117
language: English
Alcoholism--Treatment, Alcoholics
subject
Anonymous.
publication date: 1988
lcc: HV5278.P58 1988eb
ddc: 362.292
Alcoholism--Treatment, Alcoholics
subject:
Anonymous.
Page i
The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous
Bill Pittman
Foreword by Daniel J. Anderson, Ph.D. President Emeritus, Hazelden
Foundation
Page ii
Disclaimer:
Due to non-consecutive note order, the endnotes in this e-book are not
linked.
Hazelden
Center City, Minnesota 55012-0176
1-800-328-9000
1-651-213-4590 (Fax)
http://www.hazelden.org
© 1988 by Bill Pittman
First published by Glen Abbey Books 1988 (originally titled A.A.: The
Way It Began). First published by Hazelden Foundation 1999 All
rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America No portion of
this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written
permission of the publisher
ISBN: 1-56838-505-6
03 02 01 00 99 6 5 4 3 2 1
Editor's note:
The publication of this volume does not imply affiliation with nor
approval or endorsement from Alcoholics Anonymous World
Services, Inc.
Hazelden Information and Educational Services is a division of the
Hazelden Foundation, a not-for-profit organization. Since 1949,
Hazelden has been a leader in promoting the dignity and treatment of
people afflicted with the disease of chemical dependency.
The mission of the foundation is to improve the quality of life for
individuals, families, and communities by providing a national
continuum of information, education, and recovery services that are
widely accessible; to advance the field through research and training;
and to improve our quality and effectiveness through continuous
improvement and innovation.
Stemming from that, the mission of this division is to provide quality
information and support to people wherever they may be in their
personal journeyfrom education and early intervention, through
treatment and recovery, to personal and spiritual growth.
Although our treatment programs do not necessarily use everything
Hazelden, publishes, our bibliotherapeutic materials support our
mission and the Twelve Step philosophy upon which it is based. We
encourage your comments and feedback.
The headquarters of the Hazelden Foundation is in Center City,
Minnesota. Additional treatment facilities are located in Chicago,
Illinois; New York, New York; Plymouth, Minnesota; St. Paul,
Minnesota; and West Palm Beach, Florida. At these sites, we provide
a continuum of care for men and women of all ages. Our Plymouth
facility is designed specifically for youth and families.
For more information on Hazelden, please call 1-800-257-7800. Or
you may access our World Wide Web site on the Internet at
http://www.hazelden.orgwww.hazelden.org
Page iii
This book is gratefully dedicated to
Patrick Butler
Page iv
Foreword
The Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous is a careful, well-documented
history of the original sources of knowledge, inspiration, and wisdom
developed by the early members of Alcoholics Anonymous. Over
time and through experience, these important ingredients were forged
into the basic, now traditional principles and practices that constitute
the Fellowship of AA.
Author Bill Pittman's attention to detail and obvious caring and
sensitivity to the material have brought that history alive. The Roots of
Alcoholics Anonymous is a significant contribution to the literature on
this exciting subject. It is a much needed and very readable accounting
of the remarkable organization known as AA. I am quite confident
that AA members throughout the country will find this history very
interesting, for their groups and as individuals.
DANIEL J. ANDERSON, PH.D.
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
HAZELDEN FOUNDATION
Page v
Preface
The modern conception of alcoholism as a disease actually dates back
to the late 1700s. During approximately the next 200 years,
alcoholism was dealt with in a variety of ways. Whether alcoholism is
a disease or merely "drinking more alcohol than others think you
should" will not be argued in the pages of this book. It is the
contention of this work that efforts used to deal with alcohol in the
past have dramatically and dynamically influenced our present
attitudes. As an example, does 18th century thoughts on American
temperance have any relevance today?
An outline of American ideas, treatments and movements dealing with
alcohol use and misuse will be discussed in the pages to follow, and
will focus especially on the 1890s. This presentation will hopefully
provide a background for an understanding of the founding of
Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1930s. This history will concentrate on
the life of Bill Wilson (18951971), co-founder of AA, prior to and
including the publication of the book Alcoholics Anonymous in 1939,
(also referred to as the "Big Book") the "bible" of this therapeutic
social movement.
Although any attempt to write this history must rely on conflicting
interpretations, (as self-reports are usually not complete and tend to
conflict) it is the intention of this analysis to add information on the
history of AA to the present literature.
Page vi
This work (formerly titled "Alternative Explanations For the
Beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous, 19341939") was originally
written as partial fulfillment for my Bachelor of Science degree
summa cum laude, Major Alcohol Studies and Alcoholism
Counseling, University of Minnesota, June 1983. The comments of
two friends, Nell Wing and Ernest Kurtz, Ph.D., have helped in the
revision of this work, although interpretations, opinions and
conclusions expressed herein are the responsibility of the author. My
hope is that this book will not only be of interest to persons in the
Alcohol Studies Field, but also to members of Alcoholics
Anonymous.
Page vii
Acknowledgments
I wish to express my gratitude to the individuals whose
encouragement and support allowed me to begin and complete this
work: Dan Anderson, Ph.D., Leonard Blumberg, Ph.D., Bruce
Carruth, Ph.D., Eli Coleman, Ph.D., Gordon Grimm, Ernest Kurtz,
Ph.D., Mark Lender, Ph.D., and Damian McElrath, PH.D, Penny
Page, and Sharon Woods, M.D. And a note of appreciation to the
members of my summa cum laude committee at the University of
Minnesota at Minneapolis: Paul Cashman, Ph.D., Marjorie
Cowmeadow, Ph.D., Bruce Fisher, M.A., William Goodman, Ph.D.,
Jim Rothenberger, M. Ph.
My thanks to the following individuals who allowed me, through
written and oral communications, to obtain an historical perspective of
Alcoholics Anonymous: Ruth Hock Crecelius, Irving Harris, Mark
Keller, Barry Leach, Helen Shoemaker, Clarence Snyder, Lois Wilson,
and Nell Wing.
Also, a special thank you to Ann Cordillia, Ph.D., Robert Dentler,
Ph.D., Gerald Garrett, Ph.D., Karen O'Jenos, M.A., Colleen Price-
Rys, M.A., and Rita Siragusa, M.A. at the University of
Massachussets at Boston and John Dodd, Sheryl Feldinger, M.A.,
Herbert Menzel, Ph.D. and Erika Segall at New York University for
their assistance in my educational progress.
Page viii
A special acknowledgment and thanks to the following individuals
who have helped me with my writing, academic endeavors, and
personal journey: Lee Asselta, Charles B., Franklin B., Pete B., Ed
Brady, Judy C., Lillian D., Fred, Helen and Steve Dahlin, Norman
Denzin, Ph.D., Lee Dean, Joan Frederickson, Dale Fuqua, Retha G.,
Dorothy G., Fran H., Barry and Heidi Herman, Maritza Hernandez,
Joan Jackson, Ph.D., Margie Janicek, Eurdora and Joe Jenkins, Orv
L., Tom and Mary Beth Legeros, Regina and Peter L., Frank M., Don
Meurer, Curtis and Wendy M., Bill Mc K., Bob M., Gerrie M., Jose
Natal, Gail N., Ciarán; O'Mahony, Tony Osnato, Brad, Matt, Mark,
Nancy, Marilyn, and Randi Pittman, Wayne P., Susan and Erik U.,
Julie R., Charles S., Naomi Strassberg, Ames S., Harold A. Swift,
A.C.S.W., Marcia T., Helen T., Albert Waldman, M.D., Ann W.,
Eleanor W., and a special note of gratitude for his friendship and
inspiration, Paz Daly.