Saturday Evening Post - I’m a Nurse in an Alcoholic Ward - October 1952
Saturday Evening Post — “I’m a Nurse in an Alcoholic Ward” (October 18, 1952)
Publication: The Saturday Evening Post
Date: October 18, 1952
Article: “I’m a Nurse in an Alcoholic Ward” by “Nurse Teddy”
Condition: Good — moderate age wear with light edge creasing and corner folds; all pages intact and legible. Please review photos for condition details.
Description
Offered here is the October 18, 1952 issue of The Saturday Evening Post — one of America’s most widely read magazines of the mid-20th century — featuring the article “I’m a Nurse in an Alcoholic Ward” by “Nurse Teddy.”
This deeply human and historically significant piece was written by a sober alcoholic and member of Alcoholics Anonymous, known affectionately as “Nurse Teddy,” who worked alongside Dr. William D. Silkworth at New York’s Knickerbocker Hospital — the same physician and setting that played a pivotal role in A.A.’s early formation.
In this article, Nurse Teddy shares her firsthand experiences caring for alcoholics in the ward, blending professional insight with a personal understanding of the struggle for sobriety. Her story brings readers into the front lines of early hospital-based recovery work, offering a compassionate look at alcoholism through the eyes of both a nurse and a recovering patient.
Historical Context
By the early 1950s, Alcoholics Anonymous had grown into an internationally recognized movement. Articles such as “I’m a Nurse in an Alcoholic Ward” helped bridge the gap between the medical community and public understanding of alcoholism as an illness rather than a moral failing.
Nurse Teddy’s connection to Dr. Silkworth — one of A.A.’s earliest medical allies and the physician who treated Bill W. — gives this article unique historical significance. It reflects the continuing collaboration between recovering alcoholics and medical professionals during a formative period in the Fellowship’s development.
Collector’s Significance
Early A.A. Related Article: Written by a sober A.A. member closely linked to Dr. Silkworth and Knickerbocker Hospital.
National Mainstream Exposure: Published in The Saturday Evening Post, one of the leading magazines of the era, reaching millions of readers.
Cultural Snapshot: Demonstrates how A.A.’s message and philosophy were gradually entering public awareness during the 1950s.
Complete Original Issue: Includes all portions of the article as originally published, along with other period content and advertisements from the era.
Condition
This copy is in good condition overall. Covers and spine intact; light wear along edges. Mild corner creasing and small folds from handling. Interior pages are clean, with some age toning consistent with vintage periodicals. All article pages complete and clearly legible.
Please view all photos for exact condition details.
Summary
A complete October 18, 1952 issue of The Saturday Evening Post featuring “I’m a Nurse in an Alcoholic Ward” by Nurse Teddy — a powerful firsthand account from one of A.A.’s early members and hospital pioneers.
A remarkable addition for collectors of A.A. and early recovery history, bridging the worlds of medicine, spirituality, and compassionate care during the movement’s formative years.
