The Harbor Area Archives revisits the May 1958 issue of the Intergroup Exchange Bulletin commemorating the 10th anniversary of Harbor Area Central Office. read more
The final selection from the Harbor Area Archives for 2017 is a brief history of Mid-Southern California Area 09 from 1959-2004 compiled by the Area 09 Archives Committee. read more
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 more
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 more
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 more
the Archives presents an excerpt from an unpublished manuscript by Bob P.* In it, the author offers a detailed account of the emergence and growth of A.A. groups in Southern California. His description of the evolution of the Los Angeles fellowship is especially interesting. read more
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 more
This month from the Archives: Marty Mann, one of the first women to join A.A. and founder of the National Council on Alcoholism, shares her experience, strength and hope in a 1966 paper entitled Counseling the Alcoholic. Mann’s personal story, Women Suffer Too, appears in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous (2nd – 4th editions). read more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
The earliest days of Alcoholics Anonymous in Los Angeles reprinted from a pamphlet issued by the Southern California Archives Committee in 1986. read more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
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 more
The selection this month from the Harbor Area Archives is a bit of history regarding The Circle & Triangle. Our symbolic representation of Alcoholics Anonymous has gone through a lot of changes over the years. Here is a reminder of the meaning of the Circle & Triangle that we can always carry with us. read more
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 more
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 more
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 more
This month from the Harbor Area Archives, an article written for the April 1986 issue of *Reader’s Digest* by Bob P. entitled “Unforgettable Bill W.”* The author, whose story appears in the Big Book on p.553 (4th ed.), managed A.A.’s General Service Office for ten years and served as both director and trustee of the […] read more
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 […] read more
This selection from the Harbor Area Archives is a transcript of the “We The People” broadcast from 1939. This was the first effort to give the newly published book Alcoholics Anonymous widespread publicity. Please enjoy this fascinating slice of AA history. read more