American Weekly – March 11, 1951

Featuring: “Dr. Bob” — Early National Article on AA Co-Founder Robert H. Smith

Extremely Scarce Issue • No Known Online Copies • A Premier Piece of AA History

This is an original 1951 issue of The American Weekly, published for the week of March 11, 1951, containing a full-page feature article on Dr. Bob titled:

“Dr. Bob — His Only Monument Is a Plaque, but the Thousands He Helped Rescue From Alcoholism Will Never Forget Him”
By Booton Herndon

This article is one of the earliest national magazine tributes published shortly after Dr. Bob’s passing (November 1950). Herndon—an accomplished writer who later authored The Courage to Change, the major biography of Bill W.—offers a historically rich narrative designed to introduce mainstream America to the quiet Akron physician whose work had already saved thousands of lives.

Rarity & Collector Significance

This issue is extremely scarce. After extensive research:

No copies are currently listed on any other marketplace.

No photographs of this cover or article appear in public online archives.

The issue does not appear in any readily accessible digital microfilm collections.

Even major AA collectors rarely reference seeing this publication “in the wild”.

Most American Weekly issues survive only as isolated clipped pages, and full issues from 1951—especially those with notable articles—are seldom preserved intact due to fragile pulp newsprint.

A complete, original, fully intact issue containing the Dr. Bob article places this piece in the top tier of AA ephemera rarity.

For collectors of early AA history, first-generation AA print coverage, or mid-century recovery ephemera, this is a museum-worthy primary source.

Condition

Very Good for a 1951 newsprint magazine. Bright and complete color cover (“Dreamy Eyes” illustration by Henry Clive). Dr. Bob article fully present and legible. Pages show typical toning expected of mid-century pulp paper. No major tears; edges show wear with small tears. Binding intact; no pages missing. Back cover clean and vibrant, featuring classic 1950s book club advertisements.

Please review all photos for the most accurate representation.

Historical Importance

This issue captures a moment less than a year after Dr. Bob’s passing, when the story of Alcoholics Anonymous was still spreading across the nation through print journalism rather than formal archives.

Herndon’s article provides:

A contemporary perspective on Dr. Bob’s life and early AA work

A tribute written while many early Akron members were still alive

A snapshot of mid-century public understanding of alcoholism and AA

A rare early national acknowledgment of AA’s founders.

For historical researchers, archivists, or AA collectors, this is a primary document of high relevance.