Bill W. Just Before the War

(Bill W. Back row, far right)

Winchester Cathedral Tombstone

A Young Bill W. on Horseback

Traveling in the Early Days with Lois

Early Lois Picture

Lois W. along with Anne B. would become the founders of what is now known as Al-Anon Family Groups.

Mayflower Hotel Lobby

Where Bill W. made the call that led him to Dr. Bob.

A Smiling Bill W. In Uniform

Bill & Lois (1918)

The Wilson's with their Harley

Lois on the Harley

Cleveland Members Prior to the 1950 Conference

Bill &Lois Later in Life

2000 International Conventions

* Over 50,000 attendees. Amazingly, over 50% had over 11 years + sobriety

The Career Officer (Big Book Author)

Ebby T. was Bill W's Sponsor

Dr. Bob & Anne Smith

AA Cofounders, Bill W. & Dr. Bob

Bill Wilson & Ebby Thatcher

Clarence S. "Home Brewmeister" Later in Life

"Stepping Stones", Bill & Lois' Home

*In the spring of 1941, the Wilson's moved into their house. After 23 years of marriage, Lois and Bill finally had a home of their own. The Wilson's lived in the house for the rest of their lives. Bill spent almost 30 years there until his death in January 1971 at age 75. Lois lived on 17 years longer.

A Page from the Original Draft of the Big Book

Lois Wilson

Ebby's Headstone

Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany NY

Bill Wilson c. 1940's

Bill Wilson & His Sister Dorothy

* possibly in the 1960's

Bill W's High School Picture

Rowland Hazard

The Oxford Group member who carried the message of recovery from alcoholism 
by spiritual means to Ebby Thatcher, Bill Wilson's self-proclaimed sponsor.

Bill's Desk at Wit's End, Bedford Hills, NY

The Wilson House , E. Dorset, Vermont

Bill W.'s Birth place.

Wilson House Literature Table

Bill Wilson at an AA Meeting

* probably sometime in the 1960's

Dayton OH Members, 1942

Members wore masks: to protect their anonymity, members of the Dayton,
Ohio, AA chapter donned masks while posing for the press in 1942.

Bill Wilson's Obituary

Dr. Bob's Prescription Pad

Works Publishing Stock Certificate

1939 Liberty Magazine Cover and Article

In 1939, Liberty Magazine offered AA it's first national exposure.

Clarence Snyder's Tombstone (Home Brewmeister)

Classic Bill W. Portrait

The Gatehouse at the Seiberling estate in Akron.

T. Henry & Clarace Williams

Active members of the Oxford Group, T. Henry and Clarace held meetings in their home. Termed “the alcoholic squad,” Dr. Bob, Bill D., Henrietta Seiberling, Anne Smith, Henrietta Dotson and other Oxford Groupers gathered in the Williams’ home for Wednesday night meetings from the summer of 1935 through late 1939, moving then to Dr. Bob’s for a few weeks, and from there to King School in January 1940. T. Henry and Clarace were criticized by many Oxford Group members who did not support their efforts to extend the program primarily to alcoholics.

Henrietta Seiberling

Though not herself an alcoholic, Henrietta had enormous compassion for the plights of the “medically incurable” alcoholics who found their way into the fledgling Akron experiment that began in 1935. Against the vehement wishes of her family, Henrietta was an active member of the Oxford Group, organizing meetings and spreading the principles, literature and practices of the movement. She was also the catalyst who got Dr. Bob interested in the meetings and the Oxford Group. She died on December 5, 1979 with an unwavering belief that alcoholics could be cured through a spiritual program.

Rev. Samuel Shoemaker

Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker was the pastor at Calvary Episcopal Church in New York where he headed the Oxford Group there. He was also a great friend of early AA.

Bill D. with Helen B. (an early Grapevine Editor)

Dr. Silkworth

Dr. Silkworth World War I Picture Plattsburg, NewYork 1911-1918

Dr. William Duncan Silkworth has probably treated more alcoholics than any other physician in history. Dr. Silkworth authored the “Doctor’s Opinion” which appears in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Dr. Silkworth died of a heart attack at his home in 1951.

Ruth Hock

Ruth Hock was AA's first secretary and typed the manuscript for the Big Book.

Young Dr. Bob

Bill & Lois after Dr. Bob's Funeral

Bill D. & Sue, Dr. Bob's Daughter

Bill W. Visiting New Member in Hospital

Bill & Lois in Christmas Photo

Bill W. & Dr. Bob on Vinyl Records

In April, 1947 Rockhill Recording released a two record set of Bill W. and Dr. Bob speaking.

182 Clinton Street, Burnham Townhouse, Bill's & Lois's Home and Meeting Place

John D. Rockefeller, Early AA Advocate

Bill W. at Dr. Bob's Grave

Sister Ignatia

Sister Ignatia befriended Dr. Thomas P. Scuderi,
(an emergency room intern who later became Medical Director at St. Thomas Hospital).
She convinced him that alcoholics were sick and accident-prone
and persuaded Dr. Scuderi to allow them to “rest” in the hospital prior to release.
Dr. Scuderi and Sister Ignatia secretly treated Bill D. (later to become AA #3) prior to his meeting Dr. Bob and Bill. She also worked with Dr. Bob, treating the first 5,000 alcoholics for free.
Sister Ignatia gave each of her newly released patients a Sacred Heart medallion, which she asked them to return before they took the first drink

Read The Eulogy Of Sister Ignatia By Rev. Thomas L. Cooan

Dr. Harry M. Tiebout

Dr. Harry M. Tiebout was the first psychiatrist to see in A.A. a significant approach to the treatment of alcoholics.