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AA Group Histories Needed
Does Your Group Have a History? Share it with the rest of us! Just fill out the below forms and return it to Harbor Area Central Office Archives.
AA Speaker Tapes Available
A collection of AA Speakers is now online to play on a computer or in your smartphone.
Historical AA Documents
10 Year Anniversary of HACO in Intergroup Exchange Bulletin, 1958
The Harbor Area Archives revisits the May 1958 issue of the Intergroup Exchange Bulletin commemorating the 10th anniversary of Harbor Area Central Office.
read moreA Brief History of the Harbor Area Central Office
This month we are delighted to share a unique historical record of AA in the Harbor Area. *A Brief History of the Harbor Area Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous 1948-2012 *provides a detailed overview of the development of AA in our area. Special thanks go out to Neil E, principal author and archivist emeritus for […]
read moreA Brief History of the Harbor Area Intergroup Exchange Bulletin
This month the Harbor Area Archives collection features “A Brief History of the Harbor Area Exchange Bulletin” by former editor, Neil Estes. I hope you enjoy it. *The Harbor Light* is always looking for new subscribers and contributors.
read moreA.A. and the Armed Services
In the mid-1960s, Dr. Joseph Zuska began treating sailors in the Long Beach area for alcoholism. His program, the first of its kind in the history of the U.S. armed forces, served as a model for treatment protocols subsequently adopted by the DoD. In 1980, Dr. Zuska gave an address at the International A.A. Convention […]
read moreA.A. World History excerpt – Los Angeles and Southern California
the Archives presents an excerpt from an unpublished manuscript by Bob P.* In it, the author offers a detailed account of the emergence and growth of A.A. groups in Southern California. Hismdescription of the evolution of the Los Angeles fellowship is especially interesting.
read moreAA Convention in Long Beach, 1960
Caring and Sharing
In 1987, Flossie Lewis, sometimes called the “mother of AA” in Long Beach, spoke with Elizabeth S. about her life and the early days of AA in the Harbor Area. A lifelong teetotaler, Flossie and her husband, Clarence, who began his recovery from alcoholism here in Long Beach, were mainstays of the early recovery community […]
read moreDaily Bulletin – Biggest AA Meeting Gets Underway
In July 1960, Long Beach hosted the 3rd AA International Convention. 8,942 paid admissions were recorded. The *Daily Bulletin*, Harbor Area’s AA newsletter -now known as *The Harbor Light* -published a special 3-day run to provide full coverage of the event. This month’s selection comprises complete reproductions of all three special issues together with a […]
read moreDaily Bulletin – Fellowship Looks Ahead to Next 25 Years
In July 1960, Long Beach hosted the 3rd AA International Convention. 8,942 paid admissions were recorded. The *Daily Bulletin*, Harbor Area’s AA newsletter -now known as *The Harbor Light* -published a special 3-day run to provide full coverage of the event. This month’s selection comprises complete reproductions of all three special issues together with a […]
read moreDaily Bulletin – Ike Hails AA Program and Group Service
In July 1960, Long Beach hosted the 3rd AA International Convention. 8,942 paid admissions were recorded. The *Daily Bulletin*, Harbor Area’s AA newsletter -now known as *The Harbor Light* -published a special 3-day run to provide full coverage of the event. This month’s selection comprises complete reproductions of all three special issues together with a […]
read moreDavis Articles on A.A.
In 1939, Clarence S., the founder of Cleveland’s first A.A. group, decided to promote the local Fellowship by inviting a freelance reporter named Elrick B. Davis to attend the group’s meetings and write a series of articles about his experience for *The Cleveland Plain Dealer*. History records that Davis may well not have been an […]
read moreDr. Bob’s Last Major Talk
This month we pay homage to Dr. Bob with a transcript of his last major talk, given in Detroit, Michigan in 1948.
read moreEarly Hospitals and Institutions in Long Beach
The Archives presents documents related to Long Beach General Hospital’s pioneering alcoholism treatment program and the first H&I panel to visit that facility.
read moreEarly Long Beach A.A.
a sampling from our document files on the early days of A.A. in Long Beach.
read moreFlyers on Self Support
A document package comprising six flyers issued by the General Service Board of A.A. on the importance of self-support. In September of 1950, lack of voluntary contributions led Bill [W.] to issue to the Fellowship a five-page plea for support, including a request that the group secretaries call a special business meeting for the purpose […]
read moreGrapevine May 1945 – Letter from Jack Alexander
The August selection comprises three pdf files. The first contains a reproduction of *“Alcoholics Anonymous,”* Jack Alexander’s March 1, 1941 article from *The Saturday Evening Post*. The second file is a copy of his follow-up piece entitled: *“A Drunkard’s Best Friend,” *published nine years later in the April 1, 1950 edition of the same periodical. […]
read moreHistory of AA in the Mid-Southern California Area
This month’s offering comprises a short history of AA in the Mid-Southern California Area written by Ellery S. in 1988 for the General Service Archives Committee in New York.
read moreHow A.A. Came to Los Angeles
The earliest days of Alcoholics Anonymous in Los Angeles reprinted from a pamphlet issued by the Southern California Archives Committee in 1986.
read moreJack Alexander, Saturday Evening Post #1
The August selection comprises three pdf files. The first contains a reproduction of *“Alcoholics Anonymous,”* Jack Alexander’s March 1, 1941 article from *The Saturday Evening Post*. The second file is a copy of his follow-up piece entitled: *“A Drunkard’s Best Friend,” *published nine years later in the April 1, 1950 edition of the same periodical. […]
read moreJack Alexander, Saturday Evening Post #2
The August selection comprises three pdf files. The first contains a reproduction of *“Alcoholics Anonymous,”* Jack Alexander’s March 1, 1941 article from *The Saturday Evening Post*. The second file is a copy of his follow-up piece entitled: *“A Drunkard’s Best Friend,” *published nine years later in the April 1, 1950 edition of the same periodical. […]
read moreLetter from Bill W to Ed W
Ed Webster, a founding member of the Nicollet Group of Minneapolis began teaching “Twelve Step Study” classes to other members of the local fellowship in 1942. By 1946, The Grapevine reported that according to the group’s records, 75% of its members achieved recovery. This phenomenal success was attributed in large part to Ed’s contributions. Ed […]
read moreLetter from Lois to Flossie
This month, the Archives brings you a belated treat for the holiday season: photocopies of some correspondence between Lois W and Flossie L from the early 80s. Mostly of interest because of the correspondents but still kind of neat.
read moreLong Beach A.A. History
This month’s offering from the Harbor Area Archives comprises a brief history of early AA in Long Beach by Flossie Lewis. In 1981, she was asked by the incoming Chairman of the Harbor Area Service Committee to compose an historical synopsis of Alcoholic Anonymous in the local area. This is what she wrote.
read moreMusings, Reflections and Thoughts on A.A. Life
Clare M. was an early Long Beach A.A. member who got sober (as near as I can make out) in 1945 at the age of 53. Twenty-seven years later, in 1972, he published a collection of musings, reflections and thoughts on A.A. life. This month, the Archives is pleased to present a reproduction of Clare’s […]
read moreMWA As I Lived It
This month, the Harbor Area Archives is pleased to present a first-person narrative by Hal M., founder and past president of the MWA Club, an enduring feature of the local A.A. landscape. This little-known gem provides a personal and detailed account of the author’s journey to sobriety and the founding of MWA.
read moreThe Long Beach Mother Group
This month’s offering from the Archives should serve as an example of what such a history might look like. It details the founding of the Mother Group, the original AA group in Long Beach.
read moreThe Story of Irma Livoni
For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Irma Livoni, this month’s offering will be an eye-opener. Included in the mailing are a copy of the original letter from the LA mother group to Ms. Livoni and an explanation of the events surrounding its origins as recounted by Matt M, another one of Sybil […]
read moreThe Story of Irma Livoni, by Matt M.
For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Irma Livoni, this month’s offering will be an eye-opener. Included in the mailing are a copy of the original letter from the LA mother group to Ms. Livoni and an explanation of the events surrounding its origins as recounted by Matt M, another one of Sybil […]
read moreVoluntary Contributions Letter by Bill W. – September 1950
In September of 1950, lack of voluntary contributions led Bill [W.] to issue to the Fellowship a five-page plea for support, including a request that the group secretaries call a special business meeting for the purpose of reading his (Bill’s) plea. This month, the Harbor Area Archives presents a copy of the original five-page letter […]
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