Hank P presented by Chris J – 2025-01-14

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Unknown Tuesday Night History Workshop • 2025

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Unknown ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Unknown Chris J speaking on "Hank P" in Tuesday Night History Workshop (January 14, 2025). This recording is preserved in high-fidelity with interactive scrolling transcripts.

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Unknown Interactive Transcript

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[00 00:02.720 – 00:00:06.679] Welcome to the Tuesday Night Recovery Speakers History Workshop.

0:18

[00 00:06.679 – 00:00:09.199] Thank you everyone for joining us tonight.

0:21

[00 00:09.199 – 00:00:14.099] My name is Tim, and tonight we have a great presentation led by Chris J.

0:27

[00 00:14.099 – 00:00:18.399] in Ohio, and Chris is presenting Henry G.

0:31

[00 00:18.399 – 00:00:21.399] Parkhurst, Big Book and Beyond.

0:33

[00 00:21.399 – 00:00:24.280] And looking forward to the presentation tonight.

0:36

[00 00:24.280 – 00:00:28.519] We meet every Tuesday night at the same time and at the same Zoom ID number.

0:43

[00 00:28.519 – 00:00:39.619] This meeting is being recorded, and the audio from tonight's presentation, as well as all of our past presentations, can be found at recoveryspeakers.com.

0:53

[00 00:39.619 – 00:00:49.679] This meeting is not affiliated with any 12-step organization, although our goal is to focus on the history of AA and,

1:02

[00 00:49.679 – 00:00:53.039] um, and other 12-step fellowships.

1:04

[00 00:53.039 – 00:01:03.060] Recoveryspeakers.com is dedicated to preserving and making the audio history of AA and the 12-step movement available for

1:12

[00 01:03.060 – 00:01:04.879] everyone today and in the future.

1:15

[00 01:04.879 – 00:01:12.599] We share a daily email that features a different speaker talk from the Recovery Speakers audio library.

1:22

[00 01:12.599 – 00:01:22.819] Included in the daily emails are links to the recordings from this meeting, as well as information about our upcoming history, uh, presentations.

1:31

[00 01:22.819 – 00:01:34.060] If you would like to receive our daily email, you can subscribe through the link I will be sharing in the chat in a moment, or you can send me an email at info@recoveryspeakers.com

1:46

[00 01:34.060 – 00:01:36.379] and I will add you to our email list.

1:50

[00 01:36.379 – 00:01:41.260] Recovery Speakers is an official 501[c][3] public charity.

1:54

[00 01:41.260 – 00:01:50.180] If you are able to, we accept contributions which allow us to continue our work, and I am sharing in the chat the different ways to make contributions.

2:05

[00 01:50.180 – 00:01:57.269] And tonight, after Chris's presentation, uh, we should have time for Q&A.

2:11

[00 01:57.269 – 00:02:05.040] And so if you have any questions throughout the meeting tonight, please write down your questions and be prepared to ask them at the end.

2:21

[00 02:05.040 – 00:02:12.139] And if we run out of time, I will, uh, ask you to get in touch through email with Chris, um, if we run out of time.

2:32

[00 02:12.139 – 00:02:15.020] I am going to close the chat now.

2:35

[00 02:15.020 – 00:02:17.419] I will open that back up at the end of the meeting.

2:40

[00 02:17.419 – 00:02:20.500] And that is it for...

2:43

[00 02:20.500 – 00:02:24.599] Well, I do have a couple announcements real quick before I turn it over to Chris.

2:50

[00 02:24.599 – 00:02:34.620] Um, January 24th, I'm trying to pull up the flyer right now, but it is the new book being released for,

2:58

[00 02:34.620 – 00:02:43.659] um, A Marriage That Changed the World: Lois and Bill Wilson and the Addiction Recovery Movement by Tom Adams and Joy Jones.

3:07

[00 02:43.659 – 00:02:47.699] And, uh, there is a free virtual event on January 24th.

3:12

[00 02:47.699 – 00:02:58.030] You can attend the sessions with, uh, the authors speaking, as well as presentations by Mike F., um, Claire

3:20

[00 02:58.030 – 00:03:01.759] R., and, um, Gail L.

3:22

[00 03:01.759 – 00:03:06.280] And Sally, um, from Stepping Stones is hosting the event.

3:27

[00 03:06.280 – 00:03:08.629] I will be sharing the flyer in the chat in a moment.

3:32

[00 03:08.629 – 00:03:18.879] And also in February, the Myrtle Beach, uh, History Roundup is, uh, February 20th to the 22nd,

3:39

[00 03:18.879 – 00:03:25.080] and I know me and Mike and Andrew and Eddie and a whole bunch of people on the meeting will be there.

3:48

[00 03:25.080 – 00:03:31.020] And, uh, I will be sharing the links for registration in the chat in just a moment.

3:55

[00 03:31.020 – 00:03:33.340] And that is it for my announcements.

3:58

[00 03:33.340 – 00:03:35.319] I will turn it over to Chris.

4:01

[00 03:35.319 – 00:03:45.500] And, um, Chris, thank you so much for coming back to share this presentation, and I know it is, uh, completely updated, so looking forward

4:12

[00 03:45.500 – 00:03:48.159] to, uh, seeing your work tonight.

4:14

[00 03:48.159 – 00:03:50.620] Good evening.

4:16

[00 03:50.620 – 00:03:51.759] My name is Chris Johnson.

4:18

[00 03:51.759 – 00:03:52.800] I am an alcoholic.

4:20

[00 03:52.800 – 00:03:57.479] Currently live in Columbus, Ohio, and in daily sobriety and so forth there.

4:25

[00 03:57.479 – 00:04:03.319] Thank you for the opportunity to come again to speak with, um, you good people at the Recovery Speakers History Meeting.

4:34

[00 04:03.319 – 00:04:07.280] I would be here more often, but it, uh, is generally a conflict with my home group.

4:41

[00 04:07.280 – 00:04:17.379] The presentation tonight is intended to essentially be an extension of the earlier presentations I've done, which

4:48

[00 04:17.420 – 00:04:22.279] spoke of some of the unknowns, previously unknowns of Hank's early life.

4:53

[00 04:22.279 – 00:04:32.319] And so we're gonna try to do a somewhat of a review of that information, try not to dwell on too much of that, and then get into,

5:05

[00 04:32.319 – 00:04:39.240] uh, his Big Book contributions and some of the things that aren't known about him in his later life.

5:13

[00 04:39.240 – 00:04:46.180] So these presentations are always based on the, the work of Bill Schaber.

5:18

[00 04:46.180 – 00:04:53.560] Writing the Big Book was, uh, really important in raising our awareness of, of Hank and his contributions.

5:26

[00 04:53.560 – 00:05:03.500] Uh, so we're gonna follow this outline in brief, you know, his life before sobriety, during sobriety, and, and life after the Big Book was published.

5:36

[00 05:03.500 – 00:05:11.839] And so we're gonna go through this first portion pretty fast because it's largely a review for a lot of you folks.

5:46

[00 05:11.839 – 00:05:14.439] Um, he was born in Marion, Iowa.

5:49

[00 05:14.439 – 00:05:20.660] Marion is about 60 miles or so to the west of the Mississippi River there adjacent to Cedar Rapids.

5:56

[00 05:20.660 – 00:05:24.860] At the time, it was the county seat of Linn County, Iowa.

6:01

[00 05:24.860 – 00:05:31.050] It was principally a railroad town, the division headquarters of the Chicago Milwaukee St.

6:07

[00 05:31.050 – 00:05:32.040] Paul Railway.

6:08

[00 05:32.040 – 00:05:37.680] Uh, at that time, you know, we were-- Hank was born in the horse and buggy era.

6:16

[00 05:37.680 – 00:05:43.540] The, the automobile was not yet, um, in regular use.

6:20

[00 05:43.540 – 00:05:49.100] Um, his father was in the grocery business, uh, at the time he married his mother.

6:27

[00 05:49.100 – 00:05:59.000] Um, likable guy, but you can see from these ads, he was also prone to a little bit of bombast with the, um, bold claims in some of these advertisements.

6:39

[00 05:59.000 – 00:06:07.600] Dan Parkhurst was fortunate to marry this beautiful woman, um, Mary Louise Giffin Parkhurst.

6:45

[00 06:07.600 – 00:06:11.639] She was, uh, the daughter of a prominent judge and, and his wife there in town.

6:51

[00 06:11.639 – 00:06:21.660] And, uh, she was a well-loved, pretty, happy soul, uh, well-educated, and

6:57

[00 06:21.660 – 00:06:24.319] Hank was a fortunate son to be born into this family.

7:01

[00 06:24.319 – 00:06:32.000] He was born on March 13th, 1895, and he would be their only child.

7:07

[00 06:32.000 – 00:06:42.339] Shortly after they were married, about, um, actually six months after Hank was born, Dan sold the grocery

7:14

[00 06:42.339 – 00:06:47.920] and went into the employment of the company Frick, Stearns, and Russell, which is a wholesale grocer in, in Cedar Rapids.

7:23

[00 06:47.920 – 00:06:51.420] Um, he was a s- traveling salesman from that point forward.

7:28

[00 06:51.420 – 00:06:59.180] Henry was raised in the Congregational Church there in town, First Church in Linn County, Iowa.

7:34

[00 06:59.180 – 00:07:03.029] The- Most of the affluent families in the community worshiped there.

7:39

[00 07:03.029 – 00:07:05.879] His grandparents lived nearby.

7:41

[00 07:05.879 – 00:07:06.310] When he was nine...

7:43

[00 07:06.530 – 00:07:12.510] Years old, his mother suffered some sort of a medical incident.

7:48

[00 07:12.510 – 00:07:22.170] There was a message posted in the local Marion Sentinel newspaper that word had been received from Chicago that Mrs.

7:56

[00 07:22.170 – 00:07:22.470] D.M.

7:57

[00 07:22.470 – 00:07:29.290] Parker has successfully undergone an operation for appendicitis in the Swedish hospital in that city.

8:04

[00 07:29.290 – 00:07:33.110] Not sure that it was really appendicitis.

8:07

[00 07:33.110 – 00:07:43.170] She suffered for eight years thereafter, and there was, you know, at that time, a great deal of, uh, reserve in the

8:16

[00 07:43.170 – 00:07:46.510] types of information that might be shared in the newspaper.

8:20

[00 07:46.510 – 00:07:55.110] So whether she may have suffered from, um, one of the feminine cancers or some other ailment is, is hard to say.

8:29

[00 07:55.110 – 00:07:57.510] But she was a praying woman.

8:32

[00 07:57.510 – 00:08:05.870] Her son saw her praying a lot, uh, for her well-being, for guidance in how to navigate the situation.

8:40

[00 08:05.870 – 00:08:10.310] I'm sure that others in the community were also praying for her.

8:45

[00 08:10.310 – 00:08:16.770] But her son saw her suffer for about eight years before she died between his junior and senior year in high school.

8:54

[00 08:16.770 – 00:08:24.870] I'm sure that this impacted his attitude toward God, as it was evidenced later on in, in his life.

9:02

[00 08:24.870 – 00:08:31.450] She, uh, her f-friends had watched her with this deep and her-heroic battle with ill health.

9:09

[00 08:31.450 – 00:08:41.590] Shortly after Mary Louise Giffen passed away, D.M.

9:13

[00 08:41.590 – 00:08:47.690] Parker sold the house there in Marion and moved over to Cedar Rapids, and he was short- married shortly thereafter.

9:21

[00 08:47.690 – 00:08:57.850] Henry remained in Marion and lived with his grandmother on 8th Avenue in Marion and graduated from Marion High School, class of nineteen

9:30

[00 08:57.850 – 00:08:58.490] thirteen.

9:31

[00 08:58.490 – 00:09:03.470] Four years later, he eloped with this young lady.

9:35

[00 09:03.470 – 00:09:13.700] This was Kathleen Nixon, and it says in this newspaper announcement of their wedding that yesterday, Kathleen Nixon informed

9:43

[00 09:13.700 – 00:09:18.170] her parents that she had married Henry Giffen, uh, Parkhurst, Henry Parkhurst.

9:48

[00 09:18.170 – 00:09:24.040] That was, uh, probably not the way her parents envisioned getting that news.

9:54

[00 09:24.040 – 00:09:34.230] In nineteen seventeen, the draft card shows that they were still living in Cedar Rapids and that he was also employed with Frick, Stearns,

10:04

[00 09:34.230 – 00:09:41.810] and Russell, the company that his father worked for, which had been bought out by a larger company and was now known as Western Grocery.

10:14

[00 09:41.810 – 00:09:46.250] Wouldn't stay in Marion for long.

10:17

[00 09:46.250 – 00:09:56.510] He was on the move by nineteen eighteen, and through-- and his career ascent till nineteen thirty-five when we find him as,

10:26

[00 09:56.510 – 00:09:58.690] uh, an early member of Alcoholics Anonymous.

10:29

[00 09:58.690 – 00:10:03.050] So this, this next section here, we're gonna blow through this pretty quick.

10:34

[00 10:03.050 – 00:10:10.670] But essentially, he went from Cedar Rapids, which in the, the map here, the state of Iowa is the left, uh, yellow dot.

10:44

[00 10:10.670 – 00:10:18.650] Uh, went up to Minneapolis, then over to Chicago, then back to Davenport, Iowa, in a matter of about seven years.

10:53

[00 10:18.650 – 00:10:27.270] Uh, it was in Davenport, Iowa, that we see the first evidence of employment with Standard Oil.

11:00

[00 10:27.270 – 00:10:33.529] This, uh, particular slide I'm kind of fond of because it brings back a lot of happy memories.

11:07

[00 10:33.529 – 00:10:43.590] I, I made a trip in twenty twenty-one, I guess it was, over to Iowa to research some local

11:15

[00 10:43.590 – 00:10:45.230] archives concerning Hank.

11:17

[00 10:45.230 – 00:10:49.530] And I am a fan of the show American Pickers.

11:21

[00 10:49.530 – 00:10:53.470] Their, their shop is there in LeClaire, just above Dar-Davenport.

11:25

[00 10:53.470 – 00:10:59.510] And that little picture in the bottom right is when I found a Standard Oil sign in the shop, and no, I could not afford to buy it.

11:37

[00 10:59.510 – 00:11:10.070] Our dear friend Mike, uh, provided me this picture above of the actual logo for Standard Oil of Indiana, which is the, the sub-

11:47

[00 11:10.070 – 00:11:18.190] Standard Oil, um, division after the nineteen eleven breakup of the trust where Hank was working.

11:53

[00 11:18.190 – 00:11:25.390] This, for those of you who are looking for some new information, I believe that I'm onto something with this.

12:02

[00 11:25.390 – 00:11:30.570] Robert Stewart was, uh, the first husband of, of Hank's aunt, Josephine.

12:07

[00 11:30.570 – 00:11:35.049] She was the oldest sister of his mother.

12:10

[00 11:35.049 – 00:11:36.850] He'd been born in Cedar Rapids.

12:13

[00 11:36.850 – 00:11:47.890] He'd gone on to Coe College there in Cedar Rapids, and from there to Harvard Law, had returned to Marion, rented space in the upstairs

12:23

[00 11:47.890 – 00:11:49.350] of the D.M.

12:25

[00 11:49.350 – 00:11:53.330] Parkhurst Grocery, circa nine- eighteen ninety-four.

12:28

[00 11:53.330 – 00:11:57.670] And so that shows some pretty strong familial association.

12:32

[00 11:57.670 – 00:12:00.630] Later joined Standard Oil.

12:34

[00 12:00.630 – 00:12:04.190] Uh, he was out there in the western lands involved in some of the leasing.

12:40

[00 12:04.190 – 00:12:14.690] It got him in trouble a little bit later, but in the meantime, he rose to become the chairman of the board of Standard Oil of Indiana, which is the division

12:53

[00 12:14.690 – 00:12:24.750] which in nineteen twenty-five his nephew, Henry Parkhurst, began to work for as a, what was called a sales promoter, a salesman

13:02

[00 12:24.750 – 00:12:27.770] in, in developing that market.

13:04

[00 12:27.770 – 00:12:30.430] Later, he was ousted by John D.

13:07

[00 12:30.430 – 00:12:36.010] Rockefeller in a, um, as a consequence of the Teapot Dome, 'cause apparently Mr.

13:13

[00 12:36.010 – 00:12:45.610] Stewart was involved in some of the leasings of lands, uh, in federal lands that were-- or they were leasing oil rights without competitive bid.

13:24

[00 12:45.610 – 00:12:51.310] It brought a big black eye to the Standard Oil Company, so.

13:29

[00 12:51.310 – 00:13:01.940] However, by nineteen twenty-nine, uh, Henry was installed pretty effectively in a nice position

13:35

[00 13:01.940 – 00:13:06.270] working in the Amoco is another name for Standard Oil of Indiana.

13:40

[00 13:06.270 – 00:13:11.490] And he was working developing the market for their gas and oil.

13:45

[00 13:11.490 – 00:13:23.290] In that community, they had put up a refinery or plant in Dunmore, which is an adjacent community to Scranton, and

13:54

[00 13:23.290 – 00:13:28.250] they were-- essentially, Hank was, was administering that project.

13:58

[00 13:28.250 – 00:13:38.410] Shortly thereafter, around 1930 or thereabouts, he moves over to Standard Oil of New Jersey, where, um, he became the

14:06

[00 13:38.410 – 00:13:40.370] assistant wholesale sales manager.

14:07

[00 13:40.370 – 00:13:47.370] And this is the reference that you see in the book Alcoholics Anonymous, page one thirty-six of the fourth edition in two employers.

14:17

[00 13:47.370 – 00:13:57.370] "I was at one time assistant manager of a corporation department employing sixty-six hundred men." When you're a wholesale sales manager for Standard, you get a

14:28

[00 13:57.370 – 00:13:58.590] large department.

14:29

[00 13:58.590 – 00:14:01.870] So that was where he was at at that time.

14:33

[00 14:01.870 – 00:14:10.310] But we know, as it says here, at one time means that he lost the job, and we know that he lost the job due to alcoholism.

14:44

[00 14:10.310 – 00:14:12.870] Alcohol-

14:45

[00 14:13.003 – 00:14:14.043] alcoholism and recovery.

14:47

[00 14:14.043 – 00:14:22.633] And Hank's story, what we learn about his alcoholism is largely from the unbeliever.

14:52

[00 14:22.633 – 00:14:30.533] We can say there's some evidence of some geographics in all those moves, but you could also say those were just career advancement over time.

15:03

[00 14:30.533 – 00:14:40.313] But the, the unbeliever gives us some pretty telling information, and tells us that he had a wife and two children.

15:11

[00 14:40.313 – 00:14:42.813] The boys would have been three and 10 years old at that time.

15:17

[00 14:42.813 – 00:14:49.513] However, he had a bit of a, an attraction to extramarital affairs.

15:22

[00 14:49.513 – 00:14:59.553] He states in his, in the Big Book story, not in a general way, that he had a mistress that he was worried about his wife finding out about, that he had

15:35

[00 14:59.553 – 00:15:05.053] pa- paid for the town's hospitalization of several plastered play girls who couldn't sober up.

15:41

[00 15:05.053 – 00:15:10.913] He didn't have much confidence that he, there on his 10th or 11th visit to towns, was gonna be able to sober up.

15:50

[00 15:10.913 – 00:15:21.043] Uh, anyway, we can say that his family suffered pretty terribly, and one quote from the story that I find particularly poignant is this:

16:00

[00 15:21.043 – 00:15:27.073] "My Lord, the tragedy that sprang out of her eyes when I came home with the breath on me, and fear.

16:09

[00 15:27.073 – 00:15:30.213] The smiles wiped off the kids' faces.

16:12

[00 15:30.213 – 00:15:32.753] Terror stalking through the house.

16:15

[00 15:32.753 – 00:15:35.313] Yes, that changed it from a home to a house.

16:19

[00 15:35.313 – 00:15:38.633] Not drunk yet, but they knew what was coming.

16:23

[00 15:38.633 – 00:15:39.312] Mr.

16:24

[00 15:39.312 – 00:15:49.573] Hyde was moving in." I think that's a particularly poignant quote, and it suggests that there was likely some spousal abuse, um, domestic violence

16:33

[00 15:49.573 – 00:15:52.433] in that home, just based on, on the way I read that.

16:39

[00 15:52.433 – 00:16:02.493] Hank did enter Townes Hospital, having lost the Standard Oil job, and conditions in his home and whatever other factors

16:47

[00 16:02.493 – 00:16:04.053] were part of his consequences.

16:49

[00 16:04.053 – 00:16:09.533] Um, likely in late August 1935, perhaps early September.

16:53

[00 16:09.533 – 00:16:17.193] First he, of course, was approached by Dr.

16:56

[00 16:17.193 – 00:16:23.873] William Silkworth, who explained to him the, the twofold nature of alcoholism.

17:01

[00 16:23.873 – 00:16:34.093] He, he explained to him the hopeless state of alcoholism for the alcoholic, where an alcoholic is in a

17:09

[00 16:34.093 – 00:16:35.693] life-threatening situation.

17:11

[00 16:35.693 – 00:16:46.193] He explained to him the fatality of alcoholism, and this is something that we know subsequently as, from, from Silkworth's work with Bill Wilson

17:20

[00 16:46.193 – 00:16:49.953] when Bill was just about to go to Akron, that Dr.

17:25

[00 16:49.953 – 00:17:00.483] Silkworth believed it was really important to drive home the fatality of alcoholism to, um, to the sufferer,

17:33

[00 17:00.483 – 00:17:02.853] that they understand what the stakes are.

17:36

[00 17:02.853 – 00:17:09.253] Uh, Bill shared his story with Hank, and Hank could identify, but he wasn't interested in a spiritual solution.

17:44

[00 17:09.253 – 00:17:19.433] Bill explained to him that he thought, "You're trying to complicate this too much." Um, and Hank was willing to concede that there must

17:54

[00 17:19.433 – 00:17:25.553] be something, some spirit of the universe, and he hit, hit his e- knees and made a surrender.

18:01

[00 17:25.553 – 00:17:35.733] He left Townes Hospital there likely around the 10th, 5th to 10th of September of 1935

18:07

[00 17:35.733 – 00:17:39.433] to become the first man Bill was able to help sober in, in New York.

18:14

[00 17:39.433 – 00:17:50.193] So during his early sobriety,

18:16

[00 17:51.073 – 00:17:56.713] you know, there's a lot of assertions made that Hank was an atheist or an agnostic.

18:23

[00 17:56.713 – 00:18:06.753] We know that he certainly in his role in the development of the book Alcoholics Anonymous certainly did not,

18:31

[00 18:06.753 – 00:18:13.813] uh, want to lead with the chin, if you will, regarding the spiritual angle.

18:37

[00 18:13.813 – 00:18:23.853] Uh, but we can see from this 1935 letter that he wrote to Sam Shoemaker, a plan for changing

18:44

[00 18:23.853 – 00:18:24.493] America.

18:45

[00 18:24.493 – 00:18:27.733] E- essentially, he was supporting the Oxford Group objectives.

18:49

[00 18:27.733 – 00:18:37.953] Now we know that in 1935, the members in New York were participating in the Oxford Group meetings at Calvary Episcopal Church.

18:57

[00 18:37.953 – 00:18:45.593] Likely, a lot of the members were embracing their notions of first century Christianity.

19:03

[00 18:45.593 – 00:18:55.753] Uh, and but here we have Hank essentially offering some concrete suggestions on how a first century Christian fellowship could be more effective.

19:13

[00 18:55.753 – 00:19:05.773] Shoemaker did give him a polite reply, stating that a lot of the things he was suggesting were being done, and he invited him to meet with the Oxford Group staff there if he

19:27

[00 19:05.773 – 00:19:06.293] chose to.

19:28

[00 19:06.293 – 00:19:16.373] Sh- sh- in 1936, toward the end of 1936, Hank formed a corporation, HTP Inc, uh, which

19:34

[00 19:16.373 – 00:19:17.933] owned and operated Honor Dealers.

19:37

[00 19:17.933 – 00:19:27.993] Bill Wilson and three of his friends from Quan Foley were the investors, and they get, in exchange for a

19:45

[00 19:27.993 – 00:19:31.233] 49% ownership stake, but Hank was in control.

19:48

[00 19:31.233 – 00:19:34.853] As the principal manager, he had the experience.

19:52

[00 19:34.853 – 00:19:44.873] And Ruth had every, uh, belief that this business would have been successful if they had been paying it the attention that they had been

20:02

[00 19:44.873 – 00:19:51.433] paying to helping alcoholics, and including writing the Big Book project where Ruth would later spend a lot of her time.

20:10

[00 19:51.433 – 00:20:01.473] It's during this new, uh, advent of this new business venture that we see some of the evidence of the

20:19

[00 20:01.473 – 00:20:02.793] ego returning.

20:20

[00 20:02.793 – 00:20:11.823] Um, but there's, in your Big Book, several references to the Honor Dealers company.

20:26

[00 20:11.823 – 00:20:22.173] You've got two employers, has references to it, and where he says that, "Today I run, own a little company." He's referring to H- Honor Dealers.

20:37

[00 20:22.173 – 00:20:30.033] Uh, the two salesmen there that he ha- has in his employer are likely Jim Burwell and Sterling Parker.

20:44

[00 20:30.033 – 00:20:38.033] Uh, the vicious cycle, cycle, which is Jim Burwell's story, has a couple references also.

20:51

[00 20:38.033 – 00:20:48.213] One of the things I really like about this latter reference here in June 1938, Jim Burwell talks

20:58

[00 20:48.213 – 00:20:53.313] about how he went out selling auto polish and got drunk and Hank fired him.

21:04

[00 20:53.313 – 00:20:55.973] But I love this next line.

21:07

[00 20:55.973 – 00:21:06.453] When he came back, he, he was humbled enough that he said, "This was when I really took my first good look at myself.

21:17

[00 21:06.453 – 00:21:14.213] My brilliant agnosticism vanished." So at this point, he's no longer Jimmy the Atheist.

21:23

[00 21:14.213 – 00:21:19.333] You know, uh, people like to call Jim Burwell Jimmy the Atheist, but right here in his story, he sa-

21:31

[00 21:19.456 – 00:21:24.736] Thing that his agnosticism vanished, uh, um, in June of 1938.

21:35

[00 21:24.736 – 00:21:27.226] Page 228 of your big book.

21:38

[00 21:27.226 – 00:21:36.116] Hank's ego got in the way though, in, in several aspects of, of his recovery.

21:44

[00 21:36.116 – 00:21:46.116] I, in my community, Columbus, Ohio, we refer to the ego as edging God out, and this letter that he wrote to the backers of

21:54

[00 21:46.116 – 00:21:49.236] his new enterprise is kind of evidence of that.

21:58

[00 21:49.236 – 00:21:58.936] Telling the backers that they're to be strictly hands-off, have no voice in Honor Dealers, that it's his, his job to head this.

22:08

[00 21:58.936 – 00:22:05.456] And it is nothing but a rude letter, November 21st, 1936.

22:12

[00 22:05.456 – 00:22:10.896] In 1937, you get all the trappings of success.

22:16

[00 22:10.896 – 00:22:13.776] You've got the pretty secretary in Ruth Hock.

22:19

[00 22:13.776 – 00:22:21.056] He- he's gone out and bought himself a 1937 Ford Coupe, which is just a really fine automobile.

22:26

[00 22:21.056 – 00:22:24.576] It's rather sporty for its day.

22:29

[00 22:24.576 – 00:22:28.816] And a new home in Montclair, New Jersey.

22:33

[00 22:28.816 – 00:22:32.816] A little bit more upscale than the home that they left in East Orange.

22:38

[00 22:32.816 – 00:22:40.236] So the big book, October 1937 to April ni- April 1939.

22:42

[00 22:40.236 – 00:22:46.376] If you hear Bill Schubert talk about his book and the focus of his book, it was on this 15-month period.

22:51

[00 22:46.376 – 00:22:55.476] I'm not going to be in any way able to, to characterize all of the contributions that Hank made to the big book during that 18-month period.

23:02

[00 22:55.476 – 00:23:01.536] So if you want those, you should, as our sponsors tell us, read the book.

23:08

[00 23:01.536 – 00:23:03.296] Bill's book.

23:10

[00 23:03.296 – 00:23:08.616] Most of what we know about Hank's work on the big book project comes from that important source.

23:17

[00 23:08.616 – 00:23:11.356] 10 years of research using all the important archives.

23:21

[00 23:11.356 – 00:23:21.356] To launch the project, likely there were some discussions in New York ahead of

23:27

[00 23:21.356 – 00:23:22.436] time.

23:27

[00 23:22.436 – 00:23:31.396] But in October of 1937, Bill and some friends came from New York to visit the Akron group.

23:35

[00 23:31.396 – 00:23:36.936] Akron was by far the larger group, probably at least three to one.

23:40

[00 23:36.936 – 00:23:42.956] At that time, they counted noses and, and had about 40 members sober.

23:45

[00 23:42.956 – 00:23:48.196] The, the three homes here are the three homes where the fam- where the couples stayed.

23:52

[00 23:48.196 – 00:23:57.596] There were three couples, uh, Bill Wilson and Lois, Bill Riddell and his wife, I believe her name is Kathleen, and Sterling Parker and his wife.

24:03

[00 23:57.596 – 00:23:59.316] And then there was Fitz Mayo.

24:05

[00 23:59.316 – 00:24:06.636] So four AA members and, uh, their thir- three wives with them.

24:10

[00 24:06.636 – 00:24:09.536] And they stayed in these three homes of Dr.

24:14

[00 24:09.536 – 00:24:11.876] Bob, the T.

24:16

[00 24:11.876 – 00:24:14.196] Henry Clarice Williams, and Paul Stanley.

24:19

[00 24:14.196 – 00:24:24.276] So the counting noses meeting, which is really where Bill proposed his ideas to the Akron group for the first time, occurred

24:28

[00 24:24.276 – 00:24:28.396] on October 13th, Wednesday, October 13th, 1937.

24:31

[00 24:28.396 – 00:24:37.056] Um, for those of you who are familiar with the King School group, AA group number one, the, those meetings were always held on Wednesday evenings.

24:41

[00 24:37.056 – 00:24:47.096] So Bill's vision for helping alcoholics was the focus of this meeting, and he proposed hospitals, paid missionaries, and a book

24:50

[00 24:47.096 – 00:24:50.336] to prevent the message from becoming garbled.

24:53

[00 24:50.336 – 00:24:54.476] These ideas will cost a lot of money.

24:57

[00 24:54.476 – 00:24:59.016] So there was a lot of objections from the Akron members.

25:01

[00 24:59.016 – 00:25:08.056] Bill was able to win a narrow vote, probably in large part because he brought three votes with him from New York.

25:10

[00 25:08.056 – 00:25:10.696] The, uh...

25:12

[00 25:10.696 – 00:25:20.696] And was told to return, uh, to re- return to New York to do the fundraising, that he wasn't going to g- find any money in Akron

25:23

[00 25:20.696 – 00:25:22.616] for these high-flown ideas.

25:25

[00 25:22.616 – 00:25:32.676] And Bill would later return to Akron in April of 1938, and he encountered an even more skeptical, um,

25:32

[00 25:32.676 – 00:25:36.556] group of members in Akron.

25:34

[00 25:36.556 – 00:25:40.816] He didn't have the Bert Taylor with him at that time and when he returned in April.

25:42

[00 25:40.816 – 00:25:49.536] And he didn't even, uh, call for any kind of a vote because it, it was evident to him that would not have worked out well.

25:52

[00 25:49.536 – 00:25:58.496] So he returns to New York, crestfallen at the lack of support for this book project.

25:59

[00 25:58.496 – 00:26:06.556] Um, they hadn't had any success, um, any real success in raising much money.

26:05

[00 26:06.556 – 00:26:15.156] There had been, in March of 1938, uh, a, a, an agreement from John D.

26:11

[00 26:15.156 – 00:26:16.076] Rockefeller Jr.

26:12

[00 26:16.076 – 00:26:21.436] to provide $5,000, but that was principally for the support of the work in Akron.

26:18

[00 26:21.436 – 00:26:28.296] Uh, I've been asked before where the documentation for the idea that that was principally for the work in Akron comes from.

26:27

[00 26:28.296 – 00:26:37.876] And if you look at the letters, um, the, the report from Frank Amos, and, um, that is where we get that notion.

26:36

[00 26:37.876 – 00:26:48.176] And, and then if you follow the money trail subsequent to, um, Rockefeller's contributions, you'll find that the, the checkbook

26:45

[00 26:48.176 – 00:26:57.156] register documented by Jay Moore shows that, uh, the majority, more than 60% of those funds did indeed go to support Dr.

26:53

[00 26:57.156 – 00:26:58.736] Bob and the work in Akron.

26:56

[00 26:58.736 – 00:27:06.796] So fundraising was a bit of a flop.

27:00

[00 27:06.796 – 00:27:17.196] Um, John Rockefeller, as I said, did provide some funding for the work in Akron, but Bill looked to some of Rockefeller's friends who had been brokering

27:11

[00 27:17.196 – 00:27:18.816] their relationship with John D.

27:13

[00 27:18.816 – 00:27:23.956] And there was a meeting at Hank Parkhurst's home.

27:17

[00 27:23.956 – 00:27:33.296] Humorously, or somewhat serendipitously I guess, it ha- The March 13th, 1938 meeting would have been on Hank's 43rd birthday.

27:25

[00 27:33.296 – 00:27:39.416] Uh, he hosts the meeting and, uh, they discuss fundraising and there are some discussions.

27:31

[00 27:39.416 – 00:27:49.456] And by Lois' recollection, it was Gussie Kellogg who convinced Willard Richardson that a, a foundation was a good idea so that

27:40

[00 27:49.456 – 00:27:51.876] rich donors could receive a tax benefit.

27:43

[00 27:51.876 – 00:27:59.196] That they're looking for some way to incentivize people to contribute to this, this, uh, effort to help alcoholics.

27:51

[00 27:59.196 – 00:28:03.676] Of course, we didn't have the seventh tradition at that time.

27:56

[00 28:03.676 – 00:28:09.016] The Alcoholic Foundation would later, of course, become the GSO.

28:00

[00 28:09.016 – 00:28:15.136] So fundraising had become a flop.

28:03

[00 28:15.136 – 00:28:22.376] Bill didn't get any support from Rockefeller for his big ideas.

28:08

[00 28:22.376 – 00:28:25.746] The one man that w-

28:10

[00 28:25.993 – 00:28:30.633] Behind him with any initiative and effort was Hank Parkhurst.

28:15

[00 28:30.633 – 00:28:40.293] In this June 1938 outline, th- this starts to document...

28:19

[00 28:40.293 – 00:28:46.893] This is actually a, it's like a, I think, a 17-page handwritten document of Hank's ideas for the big book.

28:27

[00 28:46.893 – 00:28:56.813] And this would prove over time to be, uh, very predictive of the final result of the book.

28:34

[00 28:56.813 – 00:29:06.213] It, but it does give us a glimpse into, to, uh, what Hank and, and Bill envisioned the project would turn out to be.

28:44

[00 29:06.213 – 00:29:16.493] Since they didn't have funding from Rockefeller, and they weren't doing very good with fundraising, Hank came up with another idea,

28:53

[00 29:16.493 – 00:29:17.933] the 100 Men Corporation.

28:55

[00 29:17.933 – 00:29:20.393] This later would become Works Publishing.

28:57

[00 29:20.393 – 00:29:30.412] But the 100 Men Corporation was intended to be a, a stock offering, um, for 200 shares of stock being

29:05

[00 29:30.412 – 00:29:33.933] offered for sale, and there were a total of 600.

29:09

[00 29:33.933 – 00:29:44.333] 200 would go to, to go to Bill and 200 would go to Hank for their work on the project, and the 200 shares at $25

29:18

[00 29:44.333 – 00:29:47.393] were intended to raise $5,000 to help support the work.

29:22

[00 29:47.393 – 00:29:50.353] They had a hard time getting the stock sold.

29:26

[00 29:50.353 – 00:29:52.873] They never sold nearly $5,000 worth.

29:28

[00 29:52.873 – 00:29:55.853] But as you see here, this is the subscription form.

29:32

[00 29:55.853 – 00:30:05.873] This prospectus for 100 Men Corporation was developed by Hank Parkhurst, and they were able to sell, it seems to

29:40

[00 30:05.873 – 00:30:15.773] me they sold 50 some odd shares, and that did give them some revenue to help them can- stay afloat during the development of the book.

29:51

[00 30:15.773 – 00:30:20.873] Hank also authored this chapter to employers.

29:54

[00 30:20.873 – 00:30:30.953] Uh, he, he always believed that the book would sell to businesses because of the potential savings in lost time and, and accidents associated with alcohol and so

30:05

[00 30:30.953 – 00:30:32.673] forth.

30:06

[00 30:32.673 – 00:30:42.833] But one thing that we notice in this book, that you won't find the word God in this chapter, uh, which is somewhat tell-tale of, of Hank not wanting

30:18

[00 30:42.833 – 00:30:44.573] to lead with the spiritual.

30:20

[00 30:44.573 – 00:30:52.503] Obviously, he wrote a story, The Unbeliever, as well, and this followed Dr.

30:26

[00 30:52.503 – 00:30:53.873] Bob's story in the book.

30:28

[00 30:53.873 – 00:31:02.993] One of the most important sets of contributions he made though was in the con- in the editing of the book.

30:37

[00 31:02.993 – 00:31:09.513] This is just a snapshot of, uh, a page from the book that started it all.

30:43

[00 31:09.513 – 00:31:15.013] It's a large format reproduction of the original manuscript.

30:47

[00 31:15.013 – 00:31:22.163] Um, they're available widely from Hazelden and, and places that distr- distribute Ha- Hazelden literature.

30:54

[00 31:22.163 – 00:31:32.313] Um, this is the s- manuscript that is now in the Noblesville clubhouse in Noblesville, Indiana.

31:00

[00 31:32.313 – 00:31:42.573] And this distribution of between 200 and 400 multi-lit copies got input from a variety of different

31:07

[00 31:42.573 – 00:31:46.013] sources, hence a ton of edits.

31:09

[00 31:46.013 – 00:31:56.253] But the really important edits that Hank suggest or supported, or that Bill was not willing to make without a lot of coercion,

31:19

[00 31:56.253 – 00:31:58.973] were suggested by Dr.

31:21

[00 31:58.973 – 00:32:03.533] James Wainwright Howard, who was a psychiatrist in New Jersey.

31:25

[00 32:03.533 – 00:32:13.613] And he was reported to be the state psychiatrist of New Jersey, and he suggested that essentially the tone of the book be softened.

31:35

[00 32:13.613 – 00:32:18.033] Bill gets a lot of credit from folks who, who don't...

31:40

[00 32:18.033 – 00:32:28.113] aren't familiar with this background for the, for the writing here that was inclusive, that was

31:47

[00 32:28.113 – 00:32:31.793] in the language of we versus the language of you must.

31:51

[00 32:31.793 – 00:32:35.853] And I'm gonna give you some examples of this.

31:55

[00 32:35.853 – 00:32:45.853] In Bill's early draft, "Rarely w- have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our directions." Pardon me, there's a typo there.

32:05

[00 32:45.853 – 00:32:55.673] And in the published text, "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path." And you can look down through all these, I'm not gonna read every one of them.

32:19

[00 32:55.673 – 00:33:06.753] But if you look at these, you see that the tone is softened considerably, and that's essentially

32:26

[00 33:06.753 – 00:33:08.933] because of the contributions of Dr.

32:29

[00 33:08.933 – 00:33:19.253] James Wainwright Howard, and Hank fighting for those changes, because the primary source documents

32:35

[00 33:19.253 – 00:33:22.673] make it plain that Bill did not want to make these changes.

32:40

[00 33:22.673 – 00:33:32.673] They did get to Cornwall Press with that marked up manuscript, and

32:45

[00 33:32.673 – 00:33:36.733] the manager there did not want to accept what they had.

32:50

[00 33:36.733 – 00:33:40.313] He told them to take it back and type it up again.

32:55

[00 33:40.313 – 00:33:42.693] They told him they didn't have the resources to do that.

33:00

[00 33:42.693 – 00:33:52.733] And after a great deal of coercion, probably largely given the forceful nature of Hank Parkhurst, they were

33:07

[00 33:52.733 – 00:33:55.333] able to, to proceed, uh, with...

33:10

[00 33:55.333 – 00:34:05.433] In, in the Cornwall Press visit of Wednesday and Thursday, March 29th and 30th, you had Bill Wilson, Hank Parkhurst,

33:18

[00 34:05.433 – 00:34:06.053] Ruth Hock.

33:19

[00 34:06.053 – 00:34:07.493] Uh, pardon.

33:20

[00 34:07.493 – 00:34:08.293] Yeah, that's right.

33:22

[00 34:08.293 – 00:34:10.793] R- Ruth Hock and Dorothy Snyder.

33:25

[00 34:10.793 – 00:34:18.773] And what's important about this is that, um, they were editing as they went.

33:31

[00 34:18.773 – 00:34:28.773] When they, um, put the final, uh, what they call galley prints, um, before then they were h- given a

33:39

[00 34:28.773 – 00:34:36.673] chance to, to proof those and make sure that this is what they wanted, and it was a four-person job.

33:47

[00 34:36.673 – 00:34:39.473] They couldn't hardly pay their hotel bill.

33:50

[00 34:39.473 – 00:34:43.333] I think they had to make a, a run back for more money in order to pay the hotel bill.

33:59

[00 34:43.333 – 00:34:53.443] But Dorothy Snyder had some memories of this, which I, I think are, um, poetic enough that I, uh, like to read

34:08

[00 34:53.443 – 00:34:55.793] them as they, uh, uh, were quoted by her.

34:12

[00 34:55.793 – 00:35:06.093] She said, "I..." This is the 1954 interview and the oral history that Dorothy gave to Bill Wilson in April of 1954.

34:20

[00 35:06.093 – 00:35:09.053] "I can still see you.

34:22

[00 35:09.053 – 00:35:13.413] We were reading parts, different phrases to you, and you would weigh those phrases.

34:28

[00 35:13.413 – 00:35:15.513] 'Did this really say what you mean?

34:31

[00 35:15.513 – 00:35:17.673] Would it really help somebody?

34:34

[00 35:17.673 – 00:35:27.823] Would it offend this group, that group, or the other groups?' And after one of those discussions, Hank was sort of pounding at you that a certain phrase was perhaps

34:46

[00 35:27.823 – 00:35:30.133] too strongly put.

34:48

[00 35:30.133 – 00:35:32.163] I can still hear you say, 'Well...' "

34:52

[00 35:32.436 – 00:35:38.036] I don't want the thing to be so insipid that they don't get the idea of what they have to do to get sober.

35:01

[00 35:38.036 – 00:35:48.236] So the argument of how much God to put into the big book, how much the spiritual solution is emphasized

35:10

[00 35:48.236 – 00:35:57.896] in the text was going on all the way up through the final edits, the final, um, efforts at, at Cornwall Press.

35:19

[00 35:57.896 – 00:36:04.516] So you've got a series of essential contributions that Hank made here.

35:24

[00 36:04.516 – 00:36:13.496] Uh, encouraging Bill to proceed with the book, writing the outline, pushing Bill to keep writing throughout nineteen thirty-eight.

35:32

[00 36:13.496 – 00:36:22.276] The principal writing was done between May nineteen thirty-eight, let's say January, February of nineteen thirty-nine.

35:39

[00 36:22.276 – 00:36:29.036] Um, developing a plan for funding the project, which was the one hundred men corporation and prospectus I showed you.

35:47

[00 36:29.036 – 00:36:39.236] Um, he also was involved, um, of course, in writing his, uh, his two employers and the unbeliever and another chapter on questions and answers

35:57

[00 36:39.236 – 00:36:40.896] that wasn't included in the book.

36:00

[00 36:40.896 – 00:36:44.356] He worked as the publishing manager.

36:03

[00 36:44.356 – 00:36:54.216] He was, uh, hiring, um, the editors, uh, Tom Uzelle, who kinda gave form to the book, and Janet Blair, who did the copy editing.

36:13

[00 36:54.216 – 00:37:04.436] Um, those people were, were overseen by Hank as they d- got their contributions

36:19

[00 37:04.436 – 00:37:04.776] done.

36:20

[00 37:04.776 – 00:37:14.936] And more, most importantly, Bill fighting, or Hank fighting with Bill for these important changes, um, in the tone

36:28

[00 37:14.936 – 00:37:15.496] of the book.

36:29

[00 37:15.496 – 00:37:22.276] So publication day was April of nineteen thirty-nine.

36:33

[00 37:22.276 – 00:37:26.196] Um, each of the authors was given a free copy.

36:37

[00 37:26.196 – 00:37:34.876] And Virginia MacLeod, who was Dorothy Snyder's sister, she was, uh, coming to the meetings at that time.

36:44

[00 37:34.876 – 00:37:35.196] She had...

36:46

[00 37:35.196 – 00:37:41.236] was a friend of, of Bill Wilson's sister, Dorothy, uh, another Dorothy.

36:51

[00 37:41.236 – 00:37:46.656] And she was concerned about the alcoholism of her husband, Myron.

36:56

[00 37:46.656 – 00:37:54.296] She was the first to purchase a book for three fifty, and that book is currently in the general service office archives.

37:05

[00 37:54.296 – 00:37:59.056] So where would we be without Hank?

37:08

[00 37:59.056 – 00:38:02.156] It's hard to say when we look at the contributions.

37:12

[00 38:02.156 – 00:38:09.416] But unfortunately, there was a retrogressive groove.

37:15

[00 38:09.416 – 00:38:18.876] Um, all these rude letters to the investors, the, the, uh, return of the ego, which like I said in my community is edging God out.

37:26

[00 38:18.876 – 00:38:32.916] Um, Honor Dealers gives Hank this, this front of a business, of a pretty secretary, a car and all that, but he

37:35

[00 38:32.916 – 00:38:33.756] returned to drinking.

37:37

[00 38:33.756 – 00:38:43.816] It's been suggested to me a- also that during the summer of 'thirty-nine, the book wasn't

37:43

[00 38:43.816 – 00:38:54.036] selling, and likely Hank was suffering a great deal of humiliation because he had been convinced this book would sell by the carloads

37:53

[00 38:54.036 – 00:39:00.976] to business and industry because of the cost of alcoholism and, and the ranks of the working men.

38:00

[00 39:00.976 – 00:39:05.616] Unfortunately, that didn't prove to be true.

38:03

[00 39:05.616 – 00:39:15.626] When they showed up at the post office, um, they had sent out, uh, some several thousand, uh, postcards to physicians in the eastern half of the United States,

38:15

[00 39:15.626 – 00:39:20.496] and they only got a few responses back and only three orders for books, I believe it was.

38:23

[00 39:20.496 – 00:39:28.116] Um, essentially, over time, the book would gain some traction.

38:27

[00 39:28.116 – 00:39:38.016] But in this period of time between publication in April of nineteen thirty-nine and September of nineteen thirty-nine, the book wasn't selling.

38:36

[00 39:38.016 – 00:39:40.016] Prospects did not look good.

38:39

[00 39:40.016 – 00:39:48.376] The group did not have enough money to get all of the editions from the printer.

38:45

[00 39:48.376 – 00:39:57.736] They were only being released in, uh, by the handful as the AAs were able to pay their bill with the printer at Cornwall.

38:55

[00 39:57.736 – 00:40:07.316] So Hank's relapse, um, we have lots of evidence to this, uh, from both Lois' diary.

39:02

[00 40:07.316 – 00:40:10.656] There's lots of references to trouble in the Parkhurst marriage.

39:06

[00 40:10.656 – 00:40:19.756] But Ruth Hock did confirm that there had been a developing romance with Hank and, and saying that, um, they were very interested in each other.

39:17

[00 40:19.756 – 00:40:23.016] Uh, this was, I think, from the Miles Peoples interview.

39:21

[00 40:23.016 – 00:40:33.096] And, um, one time she had seriously considering marriage, marrying Hank, but that after he drank, marriage become impossible

39:29

[00 40:33.096 – 00:40:33.495] for them.

39:30

[00 40:33.495 – 00:40:43.536] Bill Wilson desiring to maintain Ruth's services, he was kinda caught in the middle because he needed a secretary for the

39:39

[00 40:43.536 – 00:40:51.076] developing Alcoholic Foundation, and Hank didn't have much going on anymore with Honor Dealers.

39:45

[00 40:51.076 – 00:41:00.096] That had flopped, and they hadn't been able to pay their rent or the sheriff had showed up and kicked them out of their rented space on, on William Street.

39:57

[00 41:00.096 – 00:41:09.276] So Hank developed some resentments toward Bill, uh, thinking that he was interfering with his relationship with Ruth.

40:05

[00 41:09.276 – 00:41:14.776] And Kathleen files for divorce in December twenty-third, nineteen thirty-nine.

40:09

[00 41:14.776 – 00:41:23.416] Perhaps two weeks prior to that, around I believe it was September the ninth of nineteen thirty-nine, Hank returned to drinking.

40:18

[00 41:23.416 – 00:41:33.836] In the nineteen forty census for Cleveland, we see that Hank is visiting

40:23

[00 41:33.836 – 00:41:38.616] there, and he is in the same rooming house with Clarence Snyder.

40:28

[00 41:38.616 – 00:41:49.316] So if you look at this, um, census page here, you'll s- where I've got the red marks off to the left, um, those indicate that Henry

40:39

[00 41:49.316 – 00:41:50.356] and his son Henry Jr.

40:42

[00 41:50.356 – 00:41:55.096] and Clarence Snyder are all in the same rooming house.

40:46

[00 41:55.096 – 00:42:02.435] And we know that it wasn't much longer after this that Clarence would divorce, uh, Dorothy as well.

40:53

[00 42:02.435 – 00:42:13.456] This is likely where a lot of the negativity in Northeast Ohio about

40:59

[00 42:13.456 – 00:42:23.536] Bill m-making a bunch of money on the big book, getting rich on the book, and so forth, actually led to a, a subsequent, uh, meeting in, in Akron where

41:11

[00 42:23.536 – 00:42:25.896] Bill had to bring out a financial report.

41:15

[00 42:25.896 – 00:42:30.516] Um, it's likely where a lot of this stuff s-got started.

41:20

[00 42:30.516 – 00:42:38.626] However, it's also likely that he began a relationship with Clarence's sister-in-law, uh, Karen

41:25

[00 42:38.899 – 00:42:48.959] Wright, who worked in Cleveland as a nurse, because in the spring of '40, Lois's diary indicates that Carolyn was at Hank's apartment in New Jersey,

41:36

[00 42:48.959 – 00:42:58.998] quote, "All aflutter about Hank." Uh, this marriage record from the State of New Jersey shows that they were married in, uh, 1941, originally living

41:46

[00 42:58.999 – 00:42:59.699] in East Orange.

41:48

[00 42:59.699 – 00:43:07.139] Later moving to West Haven, Connecticut, where Hank started a porcelain business.

41:53

[00 43:07.139 – 00:43:10.959] So here's some Henry Giffin porcelain.

41:55

[00 43:10.959 – 00:43:12.019] Uh, they're...

41:57

[00 43:12.019 – 00:43:16.539] If you look on eBay, you can find these items from time to time.

42:03

[00 43:16.539 – 00:43:26.539] Uh, these Toby mugs, I believe is what they were called, were, uh, kind of a fun way to present your drink at that time.

42:13

[00 43:26.539 – 00:43:32.379] Um, and he worked with manufacturers to produce a variety of different porcelain goods.

42:19

[00 43:32.379 – 00:43:38.309] I particularly like this one.

42:21

[00 43:38.309 – 00:43:41.219] This was a Mark Twain rendition.

42:24

[00 43:41.219 – 00:43:44.719] Uh, this is an, of course, another business named Henry G.

42:29

[00 43:44.719 – 00:43:45.479] Parkhurst.

42:29

[00 43:45.479 – 00:43:47.699] He loved to name things after himself.

42:33

[00 43:47.699 – 00:43:57.499] Um, Clarence Snyder, after he returned from World War II, would go to work with Hank in this business, uh, as a traveling salesman.

42:42

[00 43:57.499 – 00:44:08.839] But it was a rocky relationship and indicate- letters that are available on henryparkhurst.com indicate that Hank's

42:50

[00 44:08.839 – 00:44:12.399] drinking probably had some impact on the business.

42:53

[00 44:12.399 – 00:44:22.199] There's a pretty snarky letter from Hank that we'll get to in a moment, where he rebuffs Clarence's suggestion that he might return to AA.

43:04

[00 44:22.199 – 00:44:29.639] The pay schedule was pretty inconsistent, and in the end, Hank would end up in debt to both Clarence and his wife, Selma.

43:13

[00 44:29.639 – 00:44:39.579] And those letters cover about a almost two-year span from '46 to '48.

43:19

[00 44:39.579 – 00:44:45.579] One of those letters, March 11th, 1947, is particularly telling, though.

43:23

[00 44:45.579 – 00:44:50.508] In there it states that, "About turning to AA.

43:27

[00 44:50.508 – 00:45:00.519] That is so completely out of my calculations and any contact of any shape, manner, or description not only does not attract me, but is extremely

43:38

[00 45:00.519 – 00:45:01.359] distasteful.

43:38

[00 45:01.359 – 00:45:05.159] I'm actually ashamed to say anywhere in the New...

43:42

[00 45:05.159 – 00:45:14.059] in New York that I have ever had anything to do with it." And there again, this is available on hankparkhurst.com if you wanna read it for yourself.

43:54

[00 45:14.059 – 00:45:15.679] March 11th, 1947.

43:55

[00 45:15.679 – 00:45:24.819] The- this was not the only negative statement that he made about Alcoholics Anonymous in those letters in that era.

44:04

[00 45:24.819 – 00:45:33.279] Some of them are just a little less tasteful than I wanted to present in, in this way, damaging to unity, I would think.

44:14

[00 45:33.279 – 00:45:39.619] Dorothy Snyder, um, she would later be Dorothy Brower.

44:17

[00 45:39.619 – 00:45:41.879] She had married again in 1944.

44:20

[00 45:41.879 – 00:45:45.959] She wrote some letters to Clarence.

44:23

[00 45:45.959 – 00:45:52.389] Uh, they had a son in common, and that son, Dick, they called him, uh, they...

44:29

[00 45:52.389 – 00:46:02.399] By this point, she was living out in California, but she was writing back and forth to Clarence, and she's saying that she's truly sorry for the way things had developed

44:42

[00 46:02.399 – 00:46:02.819] with Hank.

44:43

[00 46:02.819 – 00:46:12.899] "I was sick about you going in with him in the first place." By that point, she said Carolyn was working in La Jolla Hospital, but, uh,

44:54

[00 46:12.899 – 00:46:15.379] in an April '47 letter, sh- they hadn't...

44:58

[00 46:15.379 – 00:46:22.809] Carolyn and Hank were still married, and sh- she says, um, "Carolyn left for Connecticut yesterday.

45:04

[00 46:22.809 – 00:46:24.799] The Lord and Master sent for her.

45:08

[00 46:24.799 – 00:46:34.939] 'Nough said, because I always get high blood pressure when I think of Hank, especially after what happened to you both." So this is

45:17

[00 46:34.939 – 00:46:44.959] kind of that smoking gun that I always expected to find r- regarding the marriage between Carolyn and Hank, is that there- there was a lot of

45:28

[00 46:44.959 – 00:46:55.499] animosity from the people who, who loved those who were, um, I guess, victims of the tornado of Hank's alcoholism.

45:37

[00 46:55.499 – 00:47:04.119] This is a picture of Hank that was actually, um, taken with another person, um, that's...

45:43

[00 47:04.119 – 00:47:05.109] So it's been cropped.

45:45

[00 47:05.109 – 00:47:12.199] Um, the person that was kind enough to share this picture with me has asked that it not be published in any way.

45:55

[00 47:12.199 – 00:47:18.659] At any rate, this marriage ends in 1948.

45:58

[00 47:18.659 – 00:47:29.039] Um, quote, Hank is basically telling Clarence that Carolyn is, is planning to, um, get a divorce

46:05

[00 47:29.039 – 00:47:32.439] and go on to Nevada to do so.

46:09

[00 47:32.439 – 00:47:37.479] Uh, at that time, you only had to have six weeks residency in Nevada to get a divorce.

46:16

[00 47:37.479 – 00:47:40.019] It was much harder to get a divorce in tho- divorce in those days.

46:22

[00 47:40.019 – 00:47:50.179] But Virginia and her husband, Myron, had been out in La Jolla, near San Diego, California, for

46:29

[00 47:50.179 – 00:48:00.439] a couple years at that point, and over time, um, Dorothy and Virginia would also live out there with them, and Dorothy would remarry

46:39

[00 48:00.439 – 00:48:01.939] out there in 1950.

46:41

[00 48:01.939 – 00:48:12.039] Now, Nancy Oi- Olsen and Michael O'Neill both have reported that Hank married an oil heiress, and she, she was not named

46:50

[00 48:12.039 – 00:48:12.739] at that time.

46:51

[00 48:12.739 – 00:48:23.079] But what happened, if you look at those 1940s letters to Clarence, is that he indicates that as the business was kinda

47:00

[00 48:23.079 – 00:48:27.239] declining, he was filling his car and going into the South selling.

47:06

[00 48:27.239 – 00:48:30.739] Uh, and it's likely on this trip that he met Harriet Breton.

47:11

[00 48:30.739 – 00:48:35.739] Uh, Harriet Breton's prior husband had been David Breton.

47:15

[00 48:35.739 – 00:48:39.439] He was a successful entrepreneur in the oil business.

47:19

[00 48:39.439 – 00:48:42.439] You can find him on the internet if you were to look.

47:24

[00 48:42.439 – 00:48:53.359] But at the sh- it looks like she had a pretty strong, uh, set of resources, um, subsequent to that marriage, and

47:33

[00 48:53.359 – 00:48:57.859] they were married on November 18th, 1948.

47:36

[00 48:57.859 – 00:49:02.259] Uh, this is a record from West Haven, Connecticut.

47:39

[00 49:02.259 – 00:49:10.939] Um, subsequent letters from Hank to his kids point to the idea that this was likely a very, very happy marriage.

47:48

[00 49:10.939 – 00:49:13.299] Um, she...

47:49

[00 49:13.299 – 00:49:19.079] "I think we tried to outdo each other in thoughtfulness in so many ways." She...

47:56

[00 49:19.079 – 00:49:24.899] However, unfortunately, that marriage only lasted three and a half years.

48:00

[00 49:24.899 – 00:49:35.119] Harriet Breton would die on April the 22nd in 1951, while she and Hank were in the Houston area, uh, attending the

48:09

[00 49:35.119 – 00:49:36.939] wedding of her son.

48:11

[00 49:36.939 – 00:49:43.239] Hank would have consider- inherit a considerable sum of money.

48:15

[00 49:43.239 – 00:49:45.129] This collection of letters-

48:17

[00 49:45.456 – 00:49:52.496] Written, um, in 1950, '51 are to Hank's kids.

48:21

[00 49:52.496 – 00:49:55.406] These are in the Akron Intergroup archives.

48:24

[00 49:55.406 – 00:50:03.856] Um, and throughout these letters, Hank frequently professes his love for his kids, including his new daughter, Martha.

48:32

[00 50:03.856 – 00:50:07.616] Um, focused on letters getting on the g- getting the kids set up.

48:37

[00 50:07.616 – 00:50:14.356] And so he wants to take this inheritance money and make sure that they've got a viable business opportunity.

48:45

[00 50:14.356 – 00:50:21.116] Um, it conti- And throughout these letters, there's a great deal of mention of his heart trouble.

48:52

[00 50:21.116 – 00:50:31.736] Um, he states that, "The old ticker is pushing 140 plus skipping." So that's, uh, some very high blood pressure and sounds like arrhythmia.

49:02

[00 50:31.736 – 00:50:38.196] With alcoholics, you gotta always expect the unexpected.

49:05

[00 50:38.196 – 00:50:42.296] What does Hank do with this money but buy a chicken farm?

49:10

[00 50:42.296 – 00:50:48.176] So in late 1952, he buys this farm near Pennington, New Jersey.

49:15

[00 50:48.176 – 00:50:57.656] It's a facility for 2,500 birds with brooding house and, uh, you gotta wonder, was this Hank's idea of a way to get the kids set up?

49:26

[00 50:57.656 – 00:51:00.596] Was the egg business really what he thought?

49:29

[00 51:00.596 – 00:51:04.716] Uh, you know, there's no evidence of an agricultural background in his family.

49:35

[00 51:04.716 – 00:51:08.436] But, uh, so you gotta expect the unexpected with drunks.

49:39

[00 51:08.436 – 00:51:19.196] And, and, uh, in 1953, he remarried Kathleen and, and this marriage only lasted 11 months before he passed away

49:47

[00 51:19.196 – 00:51:21.596] in January of 1954.

49:48

[00 51:21.596 – 00:51:29.136] And you gotta wonder, was that his effort to give her some security because he knew his passing was imminent?

49:56

[00 51:29.136 – 00:51:30.756] The...

49:57

[00 51:30.756 – 00:51:39.546] There's a, his obituary here, and apparently not everybody wanted to be in the egg business.

50:04

[00 51:39.546 – 00:51:44.926] Uh, if, if, at least if you're a suspicious soul like I am, you're gonna come to that conclusion.

50:12

[00 51:44.926 – 00:51:48.516] The fire was blamed on a kerosene heater, but Henry Jr.

50:17

[00 51:48.516 – 00:51:58.656] claimed that, uh, he'd only been out in the building 10 minutes before a passing motor- motorist alerted him to the fire, and unfortunately, 2,500 bird, birds

50:27

[00 51:58.656 – 00:51:59.476] were burned to death.

50:29

[00 51:59.476 – 00:52:05.336] Um, and the estimated damages to the facilities were $40,000.

50:33

[00 52:05.336 – 00:52:10.996] So some conclusions.

50:34

[00 52:10.996 – 00:52:21.096] You know, certainly during this period of 18 months, um, from October through April of 19 th- October of '37

50:42

[00 52:21.096 – 00:52:29.416] through April of '39, Hank was incredibly important, an essential contributor to the development of the book Alcoholics Anonymous.

50:50

[00 52:29.416 – 00:52:39.656] You know, from his initial support, you know, in the face of the o- opposition of the Akron members, um, early ideas which became an outline

51:00

[00 52:39.656 – 00:52:43.116] for the book, his work as a publishing manager.

51:04

[00 52:43.116 – 00:52:52.816] Uh, there's some, plenty of things that I've left out here that I just didn't have time for, but his work as managing editor was m- mega fold.

51:16

[00 52:52.816 – 00:53:02.936] Along the way, though, he s- yeah, he stood with Bill to self-publish, uh, thus maintaining more profits for the fellowship

51:24

[00 53:03.016 – 00:53:04.636] and control of our literature.

51:27

[00 53:04.636 – 00:53:09.576] He developed a plan for financing, you know, which we know to be the Hundred Men Corporation.

51:34

[00 53:09.576 – 00:53:20.076] And perhaps most important was the way he stood up to Bill Wilson, uh, for those incredibly important edits to Bill's drafts, the, the text to revise language from prescriptive

51:46

[00 53:20.076 – 00:53:21.316] to descriptive.

51:47

[00 53:21.316 – 00:53:26.636] From you must to this was our course.

51:51

[00 53:26.636 – 00:53:31.616] However, humility had vanished.

51:53

[00 53:31.616 – 00:53:38.876] In 1937, we see his ego growing with the trappings of success, and, um, resentments grew.

51:59

[00 53:38.876 – 00:53:49.136] By 1940, after Ruth had declined his offer of marriage and, um, not long thereafter, he signed away his rights to the book,

52:08

[00 53:49.136 – 00:53:56.076] um, his resentments would continue to grow and block him from the sunlight of the spirit.

52:15

[00 53:56.076 – 00:54:06.176] So he was pretty much contin- unable to continue to practice the program that was outlined in the book, and returned to drink, never to

52:25

[00 54:06.176 – 00:54:07.775] rejoin Alcoholics Anonymous.

52:27

[00 54:07.775 – 00:54:17.776] So while his cont- contributions were, were indeed essential to the publication of The Big Book, um, we have to wonder

52:35

[00 54:17.776 – 00:54:23.316] if his subsequent behavior was indeed that of a co-founder, and, and I leave that to your own conclusions.

52:43

[00 54:23.316 – 00:54:32.876] The, um, following folks here on this list were all very kind and helpful.

52:49

[00 54:32.876 – 00:54:37.276] Um, the Lemon Tree Group is a gang of folks that I love very much.

52:56

[00 54:37.276 – 00:54:46.516] Some members are on here tonight who've helped to keep me growing in the understanding of, of the history of our fellowship and how to apply this program to my life.

53:08

[00 54:46.516 – 00:54:52.756] And, um, so many of you, dear friends on this meeting, I'm grateful for your kind attendance and attention.

53:16

[00 54:52.756 – 00:54:54.816] Um, I will pass.

53:18

[00 54:54.816 – 00:54:59.616] Thank you so much, Chris.

53:20

[00 54:59.616 – 00:55:01.516] Great job.

53:22

[00 55:01.516 – 00:55:03.616] And okay, go.

53:23

[00 55:03.616 – 00:55:07.096] Um, thank you again, Chris.

53:26

[00 55:07.096 – 00:55:09.196] Um, now we have time for questions.

53:29

[00 55:09.196 – 00:55:17.556] If anyone has a question for Chris, please use the raise hand function, and I will call on you in the order that you raise your hands.

53:40

[00 55:17.556 – 00:55:21.076] And first up is David.

53:42

[00 55:21.076 – 00:55:23.356] You can unmute and ask your question.

53:45

[00 55:23.356 – 00:55:25.156] Hi.

53:46

[00 55:25.156 – 00:55:25.936] Thank you, Chris.

53:48

[00 55:25.936 – 00:55:31.786] I'm Dave, and I'm from, uh, Marion, Iowa, and I was in Des Moines when you appeared.

53:55

[00 55:31.786 – 00:55:33.196] And I- Yes, sir ...

53:57

[00 55:33.196 – 00:55:34.296] and I really- I remember you well.

54:00

[00 55:34.296 – 00:55:35.246] Yes.

54:01

[00 55:35.246 – 00:55:37.516] And I really thank you for your talk tonight.

54:05

[00 55:37.516 – 00:55:40.066] Um, my first quest- I have two questions only.

54:09

[00 55:40.066 – 00:55:50.196] My first question was, um, in Marion, 1414 Eighth Avenue was indicated as the home of Hank,

54:15

[00 55:50.196 – 00:55:56.536] but also there's a rumor that 809 Sixth Avenue was maybe his home.

54:20

[00 55:56.536 – 00:56:00.416] So I, I'm trying to find out which address is, is correct.

54:26

[00 56:00.416 – 00:56:10.616] I'd be hap- Both, both of those addresses are important, but neither one of those addresses were, per se, his home, except the, the Eighth Avenue

54:36

[00 56:10.616 – 00:56:12.756] was where he lived during his senior year of high school.

54:41

[00 56:12.756 – 00:56:14.536] Um- Oh, okay ...

54:42

[00 56:14.536 – 00:56:25.016] the, the, the, the home, and I, it was in the 900 block of Eighth Street, I believe, or no, 12th Street, was where he and,

54:53

[00 56:25.016 – 00:56:28.336] uh, Mary Louise had their home through much of his childhood.

54:57

[00 56:28.336 – 00:56:37.856] But the, um, the home on Eighth Avenue was the home of Judge James Giffen and his wife, um, Helen.

55:06

[00 56:37.856 – 00:56:47.136] And that home is, is, um, I believe where...

55:10

[00 56:47.136 – 00:56:48.356] No, that's not correct.

55:12

[00 56:48.356 – 00:56:51.566] But that, that's where Helen and James Giffen lived

55:16

[00 56:52.279 – 00:56:54.479] - lived, the, who were Hank's grandparents.

55:19

[00 56:54.479 – 00:57:04.679] Then the other home on Sixth was the home where, that was built by Amory Keyes, who was, um, Hank's great-grandfather,

55:27

[00 57:04.679 – 00:57:11.059] and it was Hank's grandmother, Helen Keyes, who lived in that home for part of her youth, so, uh.

55:35

[00 57:11.059 – 00:57:13.899] So where, where, which home was he born in, on 12th Street?

55:40

[00 57:13.899 – 00:57:24.078] Um, actually, I think it's 12th, but I, I'd have, I'd have to look again at the, at the records before

55:49

[00 57:24.078 – 00:57:25.879] I could give you a, a- Okay.

55:52

[00 57:25.879 – 00:57:26.379] Okay ...

55:53

[00 57:26.379 – 00:57:26.719] strong answer for that.

55:55

[00 57:26.719 – 00:57:29.179] And my other question, my other question- Feel, feel, feel free to email me.

56:01

[00 57:29.179 – 00:57:31.379] My email, you're more than welcome to email me.

56:05

[00 57:31.379 – 00:57:32.799] That's- Okay, I've got your email address.

56:08

[00 57:32.799 – 00:57:33.939] One other quick question.

56:10

[00 57:33.939 – 00:57:42.039] I, during your talk, I went to henryparkhurst.com and hankparkhurst.com, and I couldn't get either one of them to come up.

56:20

[00 57:42.039 – 00:57:43.019] Did I get that wrong?

56:22

[00 57:43.019 – 00:57:51.519] I think it was hankparkhurst.com, and it, it may be that they've, uh, I know that there was trouble with the site at one time.

56:33

[00 57:51.519 – 00:58:01.999] But, so I, uh, I'm, I believe that the people who operated that site wanted to be anonymous

56:40

[00 58:01.999 – 00:58:08.819] and, and maybe they, uh, wanted to be anonymous because they didn't have necessarily all the archival permissions to use.

56:48

[00 58:08.819 – 00:58:09.779] I don't know.

56:50

[00 58:09.779 – 00:58:15.659] But, um, uh, I can't say for sure, uh, what the status of that site might be.

56:57

[00 58:15.659 – 00:58:18.119] I know that I was able to reference the site.

57:01

[00 58:18.119 – 00:58:18.919] All right.

57:03

[00 58:18.919 – 00:58:19.419] Thank you.

57:04

[00 58:19.419 – 00:58:20.279] Yes, sir.

57:05

[00 58:20.279 – 00:58:23.259] Thank you, David.

57:07

[00 58:23.259 – 00:58:25.999] And next is Joyful Jen.

57:09

[00 58:25.999 – 00:58:26.679] You can unmute.

57:10

[00 58:26.679 – 00:58:34.079] Oh my God, I'm so excited to be back here after so long.

57:16

[00 58:34.079 – 00:58:34.359] I...

57:17

[00 58:34.359 – 00:58:37.419] That's why I had to write down my question for Chris.

57:22

[00 58:37.419 – 00:58:38.919] I'm just so excited and happy.

57:24

[00 58:38.919 – 00:58:39.679] I guess I'm joyful.

57:26

[00 58:39.679 – 00:58:40.939] My name's Jennifer.

57:28

[00 58:40.939 – 00:58:41.779] I'm an alcoholic.

57:29

[00 58:41.779 – 00:58:45.239] And as always, it's, it's good to be here, whatever form of recovery.

57:35

[00 58:45.239 – 00:58:55.719] Chris, before I have my question, which is quick, because I j- just have to shout out, if there are any history people, archives people here,

57:46

[00 58:55.719 – 00:58:58.479] I have a plea, and I'll take two seconds.

57:50

[00 58:58.479 – 00:59:04.859] I'm here from Vermont, here in Bennington, and, um, we have this repository, and I need your help.

57:57

[00 59:04.859 – 00:59:07.019] Area 70 in Vermont.

57:59

[00 59:07.019 – 00:59:17.159] You know, it's a permanent repository, but, um, it's right here in the middle in a beautiful building not far

58:07

[00 59:17.159 – 00:59:19.839] from the courthouse where they took Ebby.

58:10

[00 59:19.839 – 00:59:23.309] And, uh, and that, a lot of people don't even know the location.

58:16

[00 59:23.309 – 00:59:25.319] But I'm the archives person there.

58:18

[00 59:25.319 – 00:59:26.459] Go to Area 70.

58:20

[00 59:26.459 – 00:59:29.939] Tim will help me and put it in there, Area 70, and then go to archives.

58:26

[00 59:29.939 – 00:59:32.759] And then, and send me some research questions.

58:30

[00 59:32.759 – 00:59:41.219] This is my last year with the commitment, and I need your help to hold onto it to let them understand what a repository is.

58:40

[00 59:41.219 – 00:59:44.139] This is the state of Vermont, where our co-founders are born.

58:45

[00 59:44.139 – 00:59:47.559] But you see, they wanna keep things to where they move it around.

58:50

[00 59:47.559 – 00:59:50.499] It's in a beautiful old building down here.

58:54

[00 59:50.499 – 00:59:54.479] And so go to Area 70, visit my site, and that's it.

58:59

[00 59:54.479 – 00:59:56.999] Chris, as usual, awesome job.

59:01

[00 59:56.999 – 00:59:57.879] It's so great to see you.

59:04

[00 59:57.879 – 00:59:59.199] I don't think I've been here in four years.

59:08

[00 59:59.199 – 01:00:02.959] And of course, thank you to all the other people here that do presentations.

59:14

[01 00:02.959 – 01:00:05.599] I've even done a little bit, and I'm coming back into it.

59:19

[01 00:05.599 – 01:00:11.319] And Michael, if you're in the class and you can hear me, God bless you and Tim for the work you're doing.

59:28

[01 00:11.319 – 01:00:21.439] Chris, today you mentioned, uh, I'm more than happy to help you, and I was like, "Wow, this is cool." Um, you mentioned with him

59:38

[01 00:21.439 – 01:00:30.199] about this car wax thing, and then you said it's in New Eng- this thing in New England.

59:46

[01 00:30.199 – 01:00:32.819] I mean, and I'd love to help find that.

59:49

[01 00:32.819 – 01:00:33.819] What info you got on that?

59:52

[01 00:33.819 – 01:00:41.679] Well, I believe that Jim Burwell was, I believe, in Hartford.

59:57

[01 00:41.679 – 01:00:43.179] I'm not sure.

59:59

[01 00:43.179 – 01:00:46.779] I'm, you know, there's another site, a reference to Hartford and two employers.

60:04

[01 00:46.779 – 01:00:54.939] Um, but Jim Burwell was up in that area selling at the time that he, uh, relapsed in June of '38.

60:13

[01 00:54.939 – 01:00:57.569] And that, that's according to The Vicious Circle.

60:16

[01 00:57.569 – 01:00:58.519] I thought if it was in...

60:19

[01 00:58.519 – 01:01:03.259] I was ready to go that if it was in Vermont.

60:24

[01 01:03.259 – 01:01:05.519] And I, I forgot one other thing.

60:27

[01 01:05.519 – 01:01:13.379] If you're ever here to visit Bill's grave, I'm broadcasting to you right from the mountain where a lot of this stuff started.

60:36

[01 01:13.379 – 01:01:23.659] Please, my information, I'm gonna put it in there, because one of the coolest things we have, we have the recording, and I can't share

60:47

[01 01:23.659 – 01:01:23.899] it.

60:47

[01 01:23.899 – 01:01:25.859] I gotta turn off my video, Tim, I enter next week.

60:52

[01 01:25.859 – 01:01:35.959] And I just wanna share, if you wanna come, then you go into Bill's house, put it out there, get in touch with me, and come to our repository, and you can listen

61:06

[01 01:35.959 – 01:01:42.979] to this recording that we have between Bill Wilson and a guy by the name of Seaver Graves.

61:13

[01 01:42.979 – 01:01:53.009] And, um, I'm under copyright with it, but it's an awesome recording, and I can only share it with you if you come to our repository, and it's, that Tim and, and

61:26

[01 01:53.009 – 01:01:56.219] Mike don't have this recording, but I have it.

61:30

[01 01:56.219 – 01:01:59.099] So please, if you're in the area of Vermont, come visit me.

61:35

[01 01:59.099 – 01:02:02.879] And, and I, you know, I can even give you a free tour, right?

61:41

[01 02:02.879 – 01:02:06.719] So thank you, freaking recovery speakers.

61:44

[01 02:06.719 – 01:02:06.829] Hey.

61:45

[01 02:06.829 – 01:02:07.559] It's great to be here.

61:47

[01 02:07.559 – 01:02:07.979] Bye.

61:48

[01 02:07.979 – 01:02:10.979] Thank you, Jennifer.

61:49

[01 02:10.979 – 01:02:13.819] Um, let me see.

61:51

[01 02:13.819 – 01:02:15.559] Next up, we have Charlie.

61:54

[01 02:15.559 – 01:02:16.199] You can unmute.

61:55

[01 02:16.199 – 01:02:18.979] Yes.

61:56

[01 02:18.979 – 01:02:21.099] Yes, Charlie Alcoholic.

61:58

[01 02:21.099 – 01:02:22.339] Thank you, Chris.

61:59

[01 02:22.339 – 01:02:32.429] And, and I guess, um, uh, the obvious question that I, that I come up with is that Hank Parkhurst has a son, and I'm assuming his

62:10

[01 02:32.429 – 01:02:33.599] son had children.

62:12

[01 02:33.599 – 01:02:35.979] Has there been any research?

62:14

[01 02:35.979 – 01:02:45.499] Has any of Hank Park- Parkhurst's offspring ever found the need to attend Alcoholics Anonymous?

62:21

[01 02:45.499 – 01:02:47.279] Do you have any information on that?

62:24

[01 02:47.279 – 01:02:56.279] I do have some scant information, and obviously, anonymity is the heart of our fellowship, so I'm gonna speak in a general way.

62:33

[01 02:56.279 – 01:03:06.699] But, um, I've been informed by a member that, uh, he had a, I think it was a great or a great-great-grandson

62:42

[01 03:06.699 – 01:03:16.299] who was trying to get sober in the Youngstown area a couple years back, and that that boy's father had been killed in an auto accident that was related to alcoholism.

62:55

[01 03:16.299 – 01:03:26.339] Um, so yeah, the, the characterization of the matter from the member in that community was that the

63:02

[01 03:26.339 – 01:03:28.899] alcoholism genes in that family were very strong.

63:06

[01 03:28.899 – 01:03:32.419] So that's- Thank, thank you.

63:08

[01 03:32.419 – 01:03:33.439] Yes, sir.

63:10

[01 03:33.439 – 01:03:36.179] Thank you, Charlie.

63:11

[01 03:36.179 – 01:03:37.879] And next is Carl.

63:13

[01 03:37.879 – 01:03:38.839] You can unmute.

63:15

[01 03:38.839 – 01:03:42.509] My name's Carl, and I'm an alcoholic.

63:18

[01 03:42.509 – 01:03:43.659] Chris, it's good to see you again.

63:21

[01 03:43.659 – 01:03:45.139] We met in '23 in Akron.

63:24

[01 03:45.139 – 01:03:46.119] Yes, sir.

63:25

[01 03:46.119 – 01:03:47.119] Uh- Good to see you, Carl.

63:28

[01 03:47.119 – 01:03:57.199] Uh, you mentioned that, um, Clarence Snyder got sober in 1938, and he went to work for Latimer Ford, which, where he became their Ford Mercury, which he became their

63:40

[01 03:57.199 – 01:03:58.059] top salesman, so-

63:41

[01 03:58.162 – 01:04:03.012] They had a car, two cars, one a Ford and one a Mercury, so they could bring people down to Dr.

63:50

[01 04:03.012 – 01:04:03.662] Bob's Group.

63:51

[01 04:03.662 – 01:04:09.952] Question is this: you mentioned that Clarence and, uh, uh, Hank Parkhurst went into business together.

63:58

[01 04:09.952 – 01:04:14.422] Did, did Hank Parkhurst, um, work for Latimer Ford?

64:02

[01 04:14.422 – 01:04:15.842] No.

64:02

[01 04:15.842 – 01:04:25.962] The, the, the time that Clarence was in the employment of Hank was subsequent to Clarence's World

64:10

[01 04:25.962 – 01:04:26.942] War II service.

64:11

[01 04:26.942 – 01:04:28.222] Right.

64:12

[01 04:28.222 – 01:04:31.342] In circa 1946 to '48.

64:14

[01 04:31.342 – 01:04:41.382] And it was during that time that Hank was operating a porcelain business out of West Haven, Connecticut, where they were selling those Toby

64:24

[01 04:41.382 – 01:04:43.642] mugs and so forth, and other items of porcelain.

64:28

[01 04:43.642 – 01:04:45.502] And Hank...

64:29

[01 04:45.502 – 01:04:46.262] Pardon me.

64:30

[01 04:46.262 – 01:04:51.562] Yeah, Clarence was essentially a traveling salesman working for Hank.

64:34

[01 04:51.562 – 01:05:01.682] And in the end, I believe he had to take his compensation in stock and the, the merchandise he had on himself at the time, because, uh, Hank

64:46

[01 05:01.682 – 01:05:03.142] didn't have the resources to pay him.

64:49

[01 05:03.142 – 01:05:05.042] But it was a rocky relationship.

64:52

[01 05:05.042 – 01:05:12.402] You know, Hank was drinking, um, and not paying him timely and so forth.

64:58

[01 05:12.402 – 01:05:15.082] So it was...

64:59

[01 05:15.082 – 01:05:17.662] You know, and I, I don't enjoy some of this stuff.

65:04

[01 05:17.662 – 01:05:27.942] You know, when we talk about the consequences of an alcoholic in his cups, you know, you know, I, I hope that the members that are in the room, rather than

65:17

[01 05:27.942 – 01:05:38.282] perceiving this to be criticism of, of Hank, recognize that what I'm trying to do, in part, is show what happens with an alcoholic

65:26

[01 05:38.282 – 01:05:46.522] who doesn't make a rigorous practice of this program, because that- that's, that's the sad evidence in, in Hank's life.

65:35

[01 05:46.522 – 01:05:56.522] And, and you know, there, there were some pretty strong telltale signs that, uh, were evident

65:41

[01 05:56.522 – 01:06:03.062] in, in his sober life that pointed toward relapse, and indeed it wasn't pretty.

65:47

[01 06:03.062 – 01:06:04.642] All right.

65:49

[01 06:04.642 – 01:06:07.682] Yes, sir, the ne- Yeah.

65:51

[01 06:07.682 – 01:06:07.902] Yeah.

65:52

[01 06:07.902 – 01:06:08.091] Chilly Charlie.

65:53

[01 06:08.091 – 01:06:09.982] Thank you, Carl, for the question.

65:56

[01 06:09.982 – 01:06:12.472] Now, uh, Chilly Charlie, and you can unmute.

65:59

[01 06:12.472 – 01:06:15.662] I'm trying.

66:00

[01 06:15.662 – 01:06:16.242] Thanks, Tim.

66:02

[01 06:16.242 – 01:06:17.782] And thank you, Chris.

66:04

[01 06:17.782 – 01:06:19.082] Great presentation.

66:05

[01 06:19.082 – 01:06:24.982] Um, and, uh, apologize I won't be able to have dinner with you and your wife down in Myrtle Beach this year.

66:14

[01 06:24.982 – 01:06:29.602] I have such fond memories of, uh, going out to dinner with you guys last time.

66:21

[01 06:29.602 – 01:06:30.282] Oh, that was great.

66:22

[01 06:30.282 – 01:06:32.402] My wife and I have been trying to think of your name.

66:28

[01 06:32.402 – 01:06:33.002] God bless you.

66:29

[01 06:33.002 – 01:06:34.582] That was me.

66:31

[01 06:34.582 – 01:06:36.862] 'Cause I, we...

66:32

[01 06:36.862 – 01:06:39.402] I was struggling to remember who we went to dinner with.

66:37

[01 06:39.402 – 01:06:42.142] And we just hadn't had enough associations to where...

66:41

[01 06:42.142 – 01:06:43.181] But yeah, we...

66:43

[01 06:43.181 – 01:06:46.602] But by the way, anybody who's going to Myrtle Beach, Mrs.

66:47

[01 06:46.602 – 01:06:48.642] Fish is awesome.

66:49

[01 06:48.642 – 01:06:49.072] Yes.

66:50

[01 06:49.072 – 01:06:49.802] It was awesome.

66:51

[01 06:49.802 – 01:06:50.722] Very awesome.

66:52

[01 06:50.722 – 01:07:01.102] Um, my question is, uh, so do you know if Bill or Clarence or, um, anyone else,

67:00

[01 07:01.102 – 01:07:05.002] um, k- went to Hank's funeral?

67:02

[01 07:05.002 – 01:07:09.362] You know, it does not appear likely.

67:06

[01 07:09.362 – 01:07:16.962] It does say that it was a private funeral, and at that time he had remarried Kathleen.

67:13

[01 07:16.962 – 01:07:26.982] Um, there would've needed to be some time, because it's likely that Robert would've been down in, in,

67:20

[01 07:26.982 – 01:07:28.762] uh, Pinellas County.

67:22

[01 07:28.762 – 01:07:32.262] That Kathleen and the boys lived in, in the St.

67:26

[01 07:32.262 – 01:07:39.431] Petersburg area, uh, after her marriage to Wally Van Arks, and she was down, down there from that point forward.

67:34

[01 07:39.431 – 01:07:45.502] And then until she came back up to New Jersey, and I think Robert stayed in, in Pinellas.

67:42

[01 07:45.502 – 01:07:55.642] But so they would've needed some time for him to travel to get to the service, but I don't believe there's much evidence that a- any known

67:53

[01 07:55.642 – 01:07:57.122] AAs participated.

67:54

[01 07:57.122 – 01:07:59.632] This is one of the sad tha- aspects- Right ...

67:58

[01 07:59.632 – 01:08:09.802] of this, because there was so much animosity toward Alcoholics Anonymous passed on from Hank to his, um, children

68:06

[01 08:09.802 – 01:08:11.342] and, and others.

68:07

[01 08:11.342 – 01:08:19.962] You know, the lines of communication really did not exist after his passing.

68:13

[01 08:19.962 – 01:08:24.112] There was some connection.

68:15

[01 08:24.112 – 01:08:34.302] Uh, actually, I didn't get this in the, in the presentation, but Virginia MacLeod was, uh, familiar with Hank from

68:23

[01 08:34.302 – 01:08:36.882] his marriage to her sister Carolyn.

68:26

[01 08:36.882 – 01:08:40.702] And it was Virginia, Carolyn, and Dorothy were all sisters.

68:30

[01 08:40.702 – 01:08:44.222] And she indicates that she visited.

68:33

[01 08:44.222 – 01:08:54.322] In a, in, in an oral history that she did for GSO, she indicates that she visited Hank and asked him why he returned to drinking, and he gave her a list of 14 reasons.

68:47

[01 08:54.322 – 01:08:59.322] 14 resentments, all of which would've been enough to get him drunk.

68:52

[01 08:59.322 – 01:09:00.002] Right.

68:52

[01 09:00.002 – 01:09:03.202] Any of which would've been enough to get him drunk is what she said.

68:58

[01 09:03.202 – 01:09:06.902] And so, you know, this resentment is the number one offender.

69:03

[01 09:06.902 – 01:09:16.922] I mean to tell you, if you don't take anything else out of this meeting, I don't care if you remember anything, please remember that resentment is the number one offender, and it kills more alcoholics

69:18

[01 09:16.922 – 01:09:17.532] than anything.

69:19

[01 09:17.532 – 01:09:24.822] And very much it played a, a very central role in the death of Hank Parkhurst prematurely.

69:26

[01 09:24.822 – 01:09:28.082] Thank you.

69:27

[01 09:28.082 – 01:09:29.102] Thank you, Charlie.

69:29

[01 09:29.102 – 01:09:32.862] And, uh, next question is from Gary.

69:32

[01 09:32.862 – 01:09:33.722] You can unmute.

69:33

[01 09:33.722 – 01:09:42.832] Thanks, Chris, once again, for, uh, that, all the work that you've done to put that, uh, presentation together.

69:41

[01 09:42.832 – 01:09:44.422] I sometimes get lost.

69:43

[01 09:44.422 – 01:09:54.582] In the time that Hank divorces his wife, and that's ri- right about Ruth, and then he gets back together

69:52

[01 09:54.582 – 01:09:57.342] with his wife towards the end, as I understand it.

69:56

[01 09:57.342 – 01:09:58.182] That's correct.

69:57

[01 09:58.182 – 01:10:01.412] How many women are there in between?

70:00

[01 10:01.412 – 01:10:02.622] Two wives.

70:01

[01 10:02.622 – 01:10:06.122] Can't tell you how many women, but there were two wives.

70:06

[01 10:06.122 – 01:10:08.282] Okay.

70:07

[01 10:08.282 – 01:10:11.742] And so- And it was- He was married in total three times?

70:12

[01 10:11.742 – 01:10:13.302] Yeah, yeah.

70:13

[01 10:13.302 – 01:10:20.222] E- es- essentially from 1917 to 1940, he was married to Kathleen.

70:18

[01 10:20.222 – 01:10:25.802] From 1941 to 1948, he was married to Carolyn.

70:21

[01 10:25.802 – 01:10:30.582] From late 1948 to 1951, he was married to Harriet Bruton.

70:25

[01 10:30.582 – 01:10:36.462] And from 1953 to 1954, about 11 months, he was married again to Kathleen.

70:30

[01 10:36.462 – 01:10:37.362] Thank you.

70:31

[01 10:37.362 – 01:10:43.882] Thank you so much, Gary.

70:33

[01 10:43.882 – 01:10:47.422] And I believe that is it for questions.

70:37

[01 10:47.422 – 01:10:50.542] Um, I am going to go ahead and allow everyone to unmute.

70:42

[01 10:50.542 – 01:10:51.742] And thank Chris.

70:43

[01 10:51.742 – 01:10:56.922] And Chris, thank you again so much for your presentation tonight.

70:48

[01 10:56.922 – 01:10:58.761] And- Thank you for all you do, Tim.

70:52

[01 10:58.761 – 01:11:01.472] God bless you and Mike for the work you guys put into this.

70:57

[01 11:01.472 – 01:11:02.742] Really grateful.

70:58

[01 11:02.742 – 01:11:04.362] Thank you.

The following is an AI-generated transcript. Minor errors may occur. The audio is the authoritative source.

Hank P presented by Chris J – 2025-01-14

Hank P presented by Chris J – 2025-01-14

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