List of AA Groups as of February 1946 — Early Alcoholics Anonymous Directory

Published by The Alcoholic Foundation, Inc. · New York City

Offered here is an original February 1946 List of AA Groups, published by The Alcoholic Foundation, Inc. during the early years of Alcoholics Anonymous.

This is a fascinating working document from a period when A.A. was still relatively small, but rapidly expanding across the United States and beginning to establish a presence internationally. Rather than being intended for the general public, the cover specifically identifies this as a confidential list “to be used for AA purposes only,” distributed to group secretaries and a limited number of A.A. members who traveled extensively.

That restricted purpose makes these early directories especially interesting today. They were practical tools used to connect alcoholics, groups, travelers, and the developing A.A. service structure.

A Snapshot of A.A. in 1946

The directory records A.A. groups state by state and frequently includes:

• Group names and locations
• Mailing addresses and P.O. boxes
• Group secretaries and contact persons
• Telephone numbers
• Reported membership totals
• Contributions to the Alcoholic Foundation

The listings provide an unusually detailed picture of how Alcoholics Anonymous was organized at the local level during the mid-1940s.

Among the examples shown are early groups in California, New York, Ohio, Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and many other states.

The New York section, for example, records the Manhattan group with a membership of 400 and identifies its clubhouse at 405 West 41st Street.

The directory also documents multiple groups in important early A.A. communities such as Los Angeles, Hollywood, Long Beach, Toledo, Youngstown, Birmingham, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

Lone A.A. Members

One of the most historically compelling sections is devoted to “Lone AA Members.”

These were alcoholics living in places where an established A.A. group had not yet developed. The directory gives their names and locations so that members traveling through these areas could make contact.

This section is a remarkable reminder of how A.A. spread before modern communications—often through letters, personal visits, traveling members, and individual alcoholics attempting to carry the message in communities where no formal group yet existed.

Early International A.A.

The final pages provide an equally interesting record of A.A.’s developing international reach.

Listings include contacts or groups in:

Australia · Bahamas · Bermuda · Brazil · Canada · England · Mexico · Canal Zone · Territory of Hawaii

The presence of these listings in early 1946 provides a tangible snapshot of the movement beginning to extend beyond the continental United States.

An Early Statement of A.A.’s Purpose

Inside the front portion of the directory appears this striking statement:

“Alcoholics Anonymous has but one purpose:
To help the sick alcoholic recover if he wishes.”

It is followed by another concise statement emphasizing that Alcoholics Anonymous takes no position on controversial subjects and does not oppose anyone.

These brief declarations are particularly interesting when viewed alongside the developing principles and Traditions that were taking shape during this period.

Item Details

Title: List of AA Groups as of February 1946
Publisher: The Alcoholic Foundation, Inc.
Address: P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Annex, New York 17, N.Y.
Date: February 1946
Format: Stapled softcover directory
Contents: United States groups, membership figures, contributions, contact information, Lone A.A. Members, and foreign A.A. contacts

Condition

This original directory remains in good condition for an extensively used piece of A.A. service material from 1946.

The covers and pages show age toning, scattered staining and discoloration, edge and corner wear, small tears and areas of paper loss, particularly around the outer edges and corners. The cover shows surface wear and handwritten notation.

There are also period pencil notations, check marks, and handwritten additions within the directory, including notes associated with individual group listings. These markings appear consistent with the booklet having been actively used as a working A.A. directory and add an interesting element of provenance and historical character.

The binding remains together, and the printed material shown is clear and readable.

Please review all photographs carefully for a complete understanding of the condition and appearance.

Historical Significance

Early A.A. directories offer something very different from books and published articles: they document the actual working network of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Names, addresses, membership figures, isolated members, developing groups, and international contacts combine to show how the Fellowship was spreading person by person and community by community.

For collectors of early Alcoholics Anonymous history, this February 1946 confidential group directory is a particularly evocative artifact from the period when the Fellowship was transforming from a relatively small American movement into an increasingly organized and international network.