Signed by Nell Wing, Bob(Smitty)& Betty Smith - Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers - Second Printing from 1980

Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers

A Biography, with Recollections of Early A.A. in the Midwest

Second Printing · 1980 · Hardcover with Original Dust Jacket

Signed by Nell Wing, Bob (“Smitty”) Smith & Betty Smith

Overview

Offered here is a Second Printing (1980) of Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., complete with its original dust jacket—and uniquely signed by three major figures connected to A.A.’s founding generation:

• Nell Wing (Bill W.’s longtime secretary and an essential steward of early A.A. history)

• Bob Smith (“Smitty”) (Dr. Bob’s son)

• Betty Smith (Smitty’s wife)

This combination turns a classic A.A. history volume into a personal, family-and-archives association copy—a book that isn’t just about early A.A., but directly connected to the people who preserved and carried its memory forward.

Significance of the Signatures

Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers is already the definitive Conference-approved biography of Dr. Bob and the Akron/Midwest beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous. What elevates this copy is that the signatures come from two different “centers” of A.A. history:

• The Wilson circle through Nell Wing, who worked beside Bill W. for decades and became one of the most important keepers of A.A.’s early records and correspondence.

• The Smith family through Dr. Bob’s son (“Smitty”) and Betty Smith, who represent the closest living family connection to Dr. Bob’s legacy.

Together, these inscriptions add a layer of warmth and provenance that collectors and A.A. history lovers immediately recognize: this book was not signed casually—it was shared.

Inscriptions

• Bob Smith (“Smitty”): “Pete, Keep Steadfast. Bob Smith 5/22/92”

• Betty Smith: “Dear Pete, Sharing in this great fellowship! Betty S.”

• Nell Wing: “Dear Pete, Happy to share - sending good wishes. Nell Wing”

About the Book

This landmark volume remains the cornerstone printed account of Dr. Bob’s life and the “good oldtimers” who helped A.A. take root in Akron and spread throughout the Midwest. Rather than focusing only on biography, it preserves the texture of early A.A. life—letters, recollections, and firsthand accounts that illuminate how sponsorship, group practice, and the spiritual approach developed in real time.

For many A.A. readers, it’s the essential companion to Pass It On—but with a distinct focus on Akron, the Midwest fellowship, and the people who lived the program before A.A. literature became abundant.

Edition Details

Title: Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers

Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., New York

Year: 1980

Printing: Second Printing

Format: Hardcover

Dust Jacket: Original dust jacket present

Signed: Yes — Nell Wing, Bob Smith (“Smitty”), and Betty Smith

Condition

Book: Good condition. Clean pages; binding sound; light general wear consistent with age.

Dust Jacket: Original jacket present with edge wear, small tears, rubbing, and some fading consistent with handling.

Please review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition and inscriptions.

Collector Notes

Signed copies of Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers are desirable on their own—but a copy signed by Nell Wing and members of Dr. Bob’s immediate family is a special combination. This is an ideal piece for the A.A. historian or “archive-minded” member who values emotional provenance as much as bibliographic detail: a classic text, made personal by the hands that shaped and preserved A.A.’s earliest story.