AKRON MANUAL for Alcoholics Anonymous - King School Group - 2nd Edition

Title: A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous (The Akron Manual) – 2nd Edition

Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous, Akron Group No. 1 (King School Group)

Publication Date: Early 1940s

Pages: 26

Condition: Very Good – original blue cover intact with only minor wear; interior pages show light age toning but remain clean, solid, and fully legible. Please review photos for exact condition details.

Description:

This is the rare 2nd Edition of A Manual for Alcoholics Anonymous, often referred to as the “Akron Manual,” produced by Akron Group No. 1, the very first A.A. group also known as the King School Group. Written at the request of A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob by early member Evan W., this manual stands as one of the most important historical pamphlets in A.A. history.

Printed while Dr. Bob was still alive and active in the Akron fellowship, this edition represents only the second printing of the manual. Its contents provide a practical guide for newcomers and sponsors, offering step-by-step insights into the program as it was practiced in the mid-1930s and early 1940s.

The pamphlet outlines the sponsor’s role in introducing newcomers, the process of hospitalization for prospects, how A.A.s carried their message into hospitals, and how new members were expected to begin living sober lives. It includes instructions for daily practices, suggested readings, The Twelve Steps, and even space for visitors’ contact information.

On the front cover appears this remarkable statement of provenance:

“This pamphlet was written and edited by members of Alcoholics Anonymous Akron Group No. 1, popularly known as the King School Group. Akron Group No. 1 is the original chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous and includes in its active membership one of the organization’s founders, the first person to accept the program, and a large number of other members whose sobriety dates back to 1935, 1936 and 1937. The text of this pamphlet has been approved by the membership.”

Collector’s Significance

• Historic A.A. Document: Produced by Akron Group No. 1, the first A.A. group, during Dr. Bob’s lifetime.
• Direct Ties to Dr. Bob: Written by Evan W. at the request of A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob.
• Rare Second Edition: One of the earliest A.A. printed manuals, predating wide distribution of the Big Book.
• Practical Guidance: Provides a window into how A.A. was practiced in the 1930s–40s, including hospitalization and sponsor duties.
• Condition: Exceptionally well-preserved copy, making it a valuable artifact for both collectors and A.A. historians.

This manual is not only a practical guide for A.A. members but also a vital piece of history, capturing the philosophy and methods of Alcoholics Anonymous as it was being formed at its very roots.