M YOUR VOL. XVI11 • No. 1 —

RKINGS

ARCHIVES

INTERCHANGE

c/ o G. S. O., 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115

1998

gan, Oklahoma, as well as Ohio.

A Community

The ‘ 97 Oldtimers

Assembles and Grows

Panel also continued outside the meeting room with over two dozen A.A.s briefly sharing their long lives in the Fellowship. Question and answer sessions followed the

In Akron, Ohio, the city where Alcoholics Anonymous

personal histories.

began in the spring of 1935, the Archives Workshop participants confirmed that the new weekend conferences were

proving valuable and meeting their need to assemble and

share. Beginning with a small number of announcement flyers and word -of -mouth throughout the A.A. Archives com-

munity, 93 registered for the first Workshop sessions, October 25 -27, 1996. One hundred and twenty -three had

registered for the 1997 Archives Workshop, September 2628, at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. Participants arrived from over 20 U.S. States and Canadian Provinces, and addresses

were shared for correspondence and potential networking. Organized and chaired by the Akron Intergroup archivist, Gail L., and supported by the Akron Intergroup Council, the restored sections of the Mayflower Hotel ( currently named the Mayflower Manor, an assisted -living facility) served as the central site for the first- year’ s Workshop sessions. A beautiful and unique gift was dedicated during Friday night’ s opening session. With its exterior and walkup lobby re-

Both years’ Archives Workshop held multi -track activities

for its Saturday afternoon sessions. The University of Akron Archives, which are near the Mayflower, opened for a guid-

ed tour. The Akron A.A. Archives, located in the intergroup office north of the downtown area, also opened to greet

Workshop participants. Guided trips to the many Akron historical A.A. sites were given by volunteers, many of whom serve as their group’ s Archives Representatives. The person-

al perspective given to the many small ” groups of A.A. tourists” delivered a much -appreciated insight into Akron’ s

place in A.A. history, and the agreeable fall weather was a definite plus each year. In 1996 Bob W., Area 4 Arkansas

archivist, chaired a very informative, hands -on training session on conservation techniques .and procedures; at the 1997

Workshop he chaired two levels of introductory and advanced sessions.

stored to mid -1930s opulence, a permanent installation was

unveiled in the Mayflower’ s lobby, created from photographs and the artistic work of Akron Archives

members. Facing a framed photograph of A.A. co- founder Bill W. on the opposite wall of the oval

lobby, a 1930s -era pay telephone

periences.

and a replica of the hotel’ s 1935

Church Directory were placed next

On Saturday night in 1996,

to the original location of telephone booths.

David A. of Texas, past ( Class B) trustee of the General Service

At Friday’ s night kickoff meeting, attendees were treated to a

service, delivered a talk from his

Board, and active many years in research on the ” Writing of the Big

short tour of the Mayflower’ s past

Book.” David’ s keen insight and

layout, including where the bar

quick Texas wit energized the at-

and hotel desk were located. A

mosphere in the overflowing

great sense of the site’ s history was given in talks by former staff

crowd, as he related some of the

more humorous events in that great

of the Mayflower Hotel and vi-

undertaking of 1939.

gnettes of Akron A.A. history from local longtime A.A. members.

The same level of energy was duplicated in 1997 when author Ernie K. of Michigan gave a pre-

At the 1997 Workshop, the entire podium in the Ramada

sentation on the ” Varieties of A.A.

auditorium was filled with A.A. members who had traveled to

Histories.” Currently a tenured pro-

the

fessor at Rutgers University in

Workshop

from

Iowa,

Illinois, Florida, Texas, Michi-

Permanent display in lobby of old Mayflower Hotel.

New Jersey, Ernie is the author of

Paee 2

Not God, the well -known history of Alcoholics Anonymous. He shared, from an exciting archival perspective, themes of the different disciplines that comprise the recovery program

of A.A. today, and he spoke of both the benefits and dangers that new disciplines currently bring to our Fellowship. Participants at both the first and second Workshops were invited to an after -hours Open House at the restored site of

A.A. co- founder Dr. Bob’ s home. Following the Saturday

deal with, so I decided to interview the lady who helped me

almost 20 years ago and is now living in the Yountville I used the interview questions from the Archives Handbook. She was like a drill sergeant and never

Veterans Home.

took any guff, so it was reasonable to feel a bit nervous. I had no idea how exciting it would be to hear her talk about her general service journey. What a gift. I came home that afternoon on a cloud.

There was a message on my answering machine that the

night speaker -led Open Meeting, many visited the house and shared fellowship late into the night, filling the kitchen, liv-

First Street Group was celebrating its 12th Anniversary and

ing room, front porch, and spilling over to its Foundation’ s

found the original registration form at the archives in

archives in the house next door.

I had

November and had given the group the date at the December

In 1996, the following Presentations and Sharing were heard at the Mayflower:

Ethics and Archives Service:

would like more information about early members.

David A. ( Dallas) on

Traditions and Archives; Fay W. (Arkansas) on Guidelines for Area and Intergroup Archivists.

The archivist panel:

Fay W. on the Area 4 Arkansas archives; Judit Santon (nonalcoholic), G. S. O. Archives, on Classification Policies; Rick on One Area’ s Success in Publishing a

T. ( Illinois)

Comprehensive History.

The weekend ended with a tribute to Nell Wing, A.A.’ s first archivist, celebrating her many years of service to Alcoholics Anonymous. A phone call was placed to Nell in

New York City, and she was advised that a special, hand painted plaque was being sent from the Workshop.

In 1997 Presentations and Sharing Sessions held at the Ramada Plaza:

Early A.A. Publications and Newsletters Panel: Gail L. Akron), Wally Z. (Chicago), Ron R. ( SE Pennsylvania) and Judit Santon. Archivist Panel: Judit Santon on the new A.A. Guidelines on Archives and on the trustees’ Archives

on Finders’ Aids and Database Retrieval; Fay W. on Anonymity and A.A. Archives. In closing, a farewell letter from Frank M., retiring G. S. O. archivist, was read, and the weekend

business meeting. I knew the lady from outside of A.A., and she had left the state and I hadn’ t talked to her in several Through a mutual friend I was able to call her in

years.

Washington State and get a lot of details and even found out

that one of the four or five early members still lived in town. So, after a few phone calls, a page and a half was written!

The next night an early member was present when this

five -minute history was read. He shared how overwhelmed he was by the group’ s present size and said that it had struggled in the first two years with only four or five members. He mentioned that he would start coming again. It was powerful. There was also a new respect for our velvet collection

bag with two wooden handles – -you could put your money in, but you had to let go to get your hand back out. Most

thought that this bag had belonged to the church where the

group is meeting now, but it was, in fact, donated by one of the founding members and came from a church in San Francisco. There was a feeling of belonging. I guess I understand the prejudice about archives:

I

thought it was going to be dusty, musty boxes in the attic, a few rolls of microfiche, and so on. I was wrong!

Committee; Paul L. ( Stepping Stones Foundation)

concluded with a ” brainstorming” session.

The 1998 Archives Workshop will again be held in Akron at the end of September. Inquiries can be directed to the

Akron Archives, c/ o Akron Intergroup Office, 775 North Main Street, Akron, OH 44310.

Rick T., Northern Illinois Area archivist

Observations of an

Early Starter In my first year of sober living, my sponsor decided I should be introduced to Bill W. George ( my sponsor) had gotten sober through correspondence from Bill, by reading the

Saturday Evening Post article of March 1941, and by losing his business and family. Bill had sent him literature and, after many telephone talks, with Bill’s convincing manner, George stayed sober and got a group started in the small

Janeen M. Shares from Bernice, California Last September I started attending the monthly Archives Committee meetings. Intrigued, I looked in our district’ s file

town in Ontario where he lived. The area, at the time, was designated as part of the ” Niagara Frontier Groups,” with the

central office in Buffalo, N.Y. across the border. Toronto,

Ontario was 100 miles away, considered too far to serve as the central office for the Canadian groups in the area. George had become a salesman for one of the firms he had dealt with when he had his business. He traveled

cabinet drawer. This led to more interest, and to a consider-

ation of working with the archives. I announced at my district meeting that I would give it a try, attending meetings and working days at the archives.

So far I’ ve shuffled through two boxes and a filing cabinet drawer full of papers. The empty gaps are the hardest to

Put those early timers to work! Pass It On! Compile your group’s history!

Page 3

throughout Southern Ontario and of course Bill had him at

work getting groups started in some of the towns on his route. We of A.A. know that Bill had a soft spot for sales-

History of Parkside Group, Philadelphia, PA

men who arrived at the doors of A.A. It was obvious to him

that they would go back to work as soon as they were able. Bill also knew that an ” alcoholic salesman,” when sober, ex-

celled in the business. What better way to ” pass the message.” George told me that Bill referred to salesmen as ” My boys on the road.” They were ” our unsung pioneers,” who delivered the Big Book, literature and the A.A. message to distant places during the Great Depression. There were no jobs and money was scare, yet A.A. survived through those precarious time.

I was kept busy. We traveled a lot, visiting other meet-

ings. Attending meetings in Buffalo, I was privileged to meet some of the first members, though I did not realize the significance of this at the time. The impressions, however,

were indelible, remaining to give me a solid path to follow. George kept me in the midst of things as much as he could,

and it was inevitable that I would get cocky. To take care of this, George told me that we were going to Akron on my next long weekend off from work. It was an anniversary, with Bill as the speaker. When the meeting ended I was striving to penetrate the crowd to get to him and perhaps get a handshake. George stopped me and said, ” Bill will be out of here before you can get to him. Let’ s get out of here so we can go to the next place.” I couldn’ t make out what he

meant but I always followed orders.

house somewhere in Akron. It was an old building with couches and a coffee bar, and there were a number of elderly The room started

to fill up with people. There was a short hush when Bill en-

tered. Most of the elderly people began weeping when he went over to them.

Although Alcoholics Anonymous had come to

Philadelphia in February 1940, very few black alcoholics came into the program. A group was started in the 1940s, and though its existence was short-lived, as a Parkside old –

timer stated: ” We learned a lot from that early effort, which

helped us survive our struggles in the beginning.” One of our deceased oldtimers, Ray S., first came to A.A. at that time. He later came back to Parkside in the early ‘ 60s and became an outstanding Twelfth Stepper and trusted servant at the group and intergroup levels. Ray was known and loved by many people in Philadelphia and all over Alcoholics Anonymous.

Parkside’ s first meeting was held at the YMCA at 714 North 43rd Street, and was attended by Ed B. and Jim B., the group’ s co- founders. They were joined by Art McM. and Joe M. of the 4021 Senior Group. Art and Joe were very strong supporters of our fledgling group, and Marge G. and Ted R. were also helpful. Meetings were on Thursday nights. The problem was how to attract the suffering black and minority alcoholics, and that is why the ” Interracial” in the group -name was used to send a message of welcome. In

We sped away from Kings School and arrived at a club-

people on the couches, some with canes.

The Parkside Group, originally known as the Parkside Interracial Group, was founded on March 9, 1951.

George told me later that Bill had not

been to Akron for quite some time and some people were

fearful that they would not see him again. After the tearful

reunion had settled down, George spoke to Bill, they looked my way and Bill made his way though the crowd, which was overjoyed at seeing him.

1951 integration had hardly begun. Many A.A. groups and members were not at ease and uninformed on how to help. This is not an indictment of Philadelphia A.A. but a fact of American life in the 1950s. ( Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers

and Jim’ s story in the Big Book, also address this issue.)

The group’ s early growth was slow. The first three new but they did not stay. Finally, Andy G., a relative of Jim B.’ s, came and became the third member. He was followed by Barney H., Jacky S.,

people who came were women,

our first female member), Harry K., Lou R., Ed N., Georgia C., Mary C., and Ethel N.

Bill then stood on the couch and

The first anniversary meeting was held at the old Central High School. Its primary focus was on reaching the black

his good friends earlier, since he had been busy on the new

through letters to doctors, ministers and social workers. Emphasis was also placed on black churches as well as on

George introduced me to Bill and I told Bill I had been

saving a seat for him. thanked everyone and apologized for not being able to visit

book. Evidently George had told Bill that I was a W.W. H veteran, and after asking me where I had served, Bill told me

about the ” near miss” he had experienced during artillery practice just prior to the end of W.W. I

I recall little of the conversation I had with Bill, our cofounder and the grand- sponsor to all of us, until he described

an incident he was involved with in France during W.W. I, which he also described in ” Pass It On. ” Erik K, Mobile, Alabama

Won’ t you share your group’s history with us? Each group history we receive is added to that group’s file.

and minority community, and an intensive effort was made

radio stations and press releases. To stimulate interest we had two non -A.A. speakers: Dr. Martin D. Kissen, a life-

long friend of A.A., and Mr. Anthony, a popular radio host of the time who wanted to help A.A. Jim B., our co- founder, was the A.A. speaker. This first anniversary was a success

because, surprisingly, a couple hundred people showed up! Still, growth was slow and the small group persevered by carrying the message anywhere and anytime. Sometime in

1953 the group got its own place at 904 Walnut Street, which was at first a mixed blessing. Many times the group members had to dig into their own pockets to come up with the rent. More members started to come in the late 1950s and early

1960s. We increased our Twelfth Step work by carrying the message to other groups in the Delaware Valley and out of

town: for example, to the Cosmopolitan Group in Washington

Page 4

D. C., the Stuyvesant Group in Brooklyn, and to groups in Baltimore, Allentown, Wilmington, Reading and New Jersey. Our group was very active in Philadelphia Intergroup and encouraged taking more commitments to hospitals, institutions and prisons. The Parkside Group was active at the general service area and district levels as well. In fact, Lou R., Ted R.

and Dick C. worked hard to help set up the district as the link between the group, area and the General Service Conference. Lou later became the Eastern Pennsylvania Area delegate and the first black General Service Conference delegate in A.A.

Bill W., co- founder of A.A., was especially gratified by this development because it set another precedent for the

Fellowship. The importance of the support Parkside received from other groups cannot be overstated; these groups helped

strengthen the Parkside Group, especially during the first We added a weekly Step meeting on Tuesday nights in the early ‘ 60s. We carried the message in the five years.

special meeting was held following our 29th Anniversary, and on March 7, 1980, we voted to move as soon as possible.

On Saturday, March 15, we had our first meeting at

5053 Walnut Street.

Since then we have done many things: started the weekend Alkathon, added a monthly women’ s and a monthly

men’ s meeting and a Saturday midnight meeting, improved our group guidelines and began an Operating Committee Meeting. In September 1989 we formed an Archives Committee to try to put together a written and oral history of the group.

Much has been done by Parkside, and much remains to We believe that the God of our understanding

be done.

will continue to pour His grace on us so long as we rightly relate ourselves to Him. A word of encouragement to our

many younger and newer Parkside members — beep on coming back!!

Philadelphia Tribune in the ‘ 50s and the Philadelphia

Herman L., member of Philadelphia

Independent in the early ‘ 60s. These articles included basic

Intergroup’s Archives Committee

quotes from A.A. literature and members’ ” stories,”

which

were prepared and edited by one of the longtime members. Later, Bill J. succeeded in getting a radio program on station WDAS, which grew and was taken over by the intergroup. Mr. Joe Rainey of WDAS was always cooperative in giving us air time each year for our anniversary. We also made ourselves available to churches, particularly in Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey, to share our strength, hope and lifesaving experiences.

Another accomplishment was starting the Beginners Meeting on Monday nights, and forming a Sponsorship Committee around 1966. Sobriety for many people began there. Parkside’ s annual July 4th picnic began at ” 904.” We also had many social activities in members’ homes; one member had an open house on Christmas Day. Because of redevelopment, in June 1969 the group moved to 5200 Walnut Street, where we occupied the second and

third floors. As we had hoped, this move proved an opportu-

nity for enhanced growth. We added a Big Book Meeting on Saturdays, and started our annual New Year’ s Eve Party, which was followed by a special meeting of gratitude. This was a period of accomplishment for us.

Groups started in

other sections of the city, beginning with the North Philly Group. We were beginning to see a dream come true — seeing A. A. spread and the lives of our brothers and sisters being saved.

For many years Parkside sponsored the ” Court Ward” meeting at Byberry Prison at the request of Chaplain Glenn. , In the ‘ 70s, the Intergroup Prison Committee took over this commitment.

Because the new owner at 5200 Walnut Street wanted the

entire building for his business, we had to move again.

In

July 1977 we moved to 6203 -05 Market Street. The group enjoyed continued growth there for a time, but then a series of problems began. Vandalism was one of the worst, and put

Headstone in Winchester Cathedral churchyard, England, that

the acceptance, courage to change, and wisdom of the pro-

got Bill W.’ s attention when he visited in 1918. The story is

gram to a severe test.

related in ” Pass It On” ( page 60).

3. SM — 7/ 98 ( CG)

The problem was so serious that a