{"product_id":"1951-a-a-tri-state-conference-denver-colorado-bill-w-featured-speaker","title":"1951 A.A. Tri-State Conference — Denver, Colorado — Bill W. Featured Speaker","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOffered here is an original program from the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e1951 Alcoholics Anonymous Tri-State Conference\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, representing \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eTexas, New Mexico and Colorado\u003c\/span\u003e, held May 18–20, 1951, in Denver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe three-day gathering included A.A. meetings, delegate sessions, an Auxiliary program for the wives and husbands of A.A. members, and a public closing meeting at the Denver City Auditorium featuring an address by \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W\u003cb\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe striking illustrated cover depicts a man leaving a bottle behind and climbing a long staircase toward the letters \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e“AA,”\u003c\/span\u003e while the rear features portraits of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBill W. and Dr. Bob S.\u003c\/span\u003e, identified as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBill W. in Denver — May 1951\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe program states that:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“The Officers and Board of Directors of the Tri-State Conference (Texas, New Mexico and Colorado) will serve as a Welcoming Committee for Bill W.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe conference culminated on \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSunday, May 20, 1951\u003c\/span\u003e, with a public meeting at the Denver City Auditorium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe program identifies:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhil C., Denver — Chairman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eErnie R., Colorado’s oldest A.A. member, 9½ years, and Board of Directors, Tri-State Conference — on stage\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003efollowed by:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAddress by “Bill W.”, Co-Founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, New York City.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eBill’s appearance makes this more than a generic regional conference program—it is a surviving record of one of the early regional gatherings at which A.A.’s co-founder personally participated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA.A. Auxiliary — Immediately Before the Founding of Al-Anon\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAnother particularly interesting feature is the conference’s extensive \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eAuxiliary program\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOn Friday afternoon, the conference scheduled an Auxiliary “Get Acquainted Meeting,” with talks by women from Denver and Colorado Springs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOn Saturday afternoon, another Auxiliary meeting was held:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“For AA members and their wives and husbands.”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe program included speakers from Denver and Pueblo and a reading of a paper written by \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eMrs. Lois W., New York City\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis timing is especially noteworthy. The conference took place in \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eMay 1951\u003c\/span\u003e, during the period when independent A.A. family and auxiliary groups were already active around the country and shortly before Al-Anon Family Groups was formally organized later that year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMaterial documenting these pre-Al-Anon family groups is an important part of the history represented by this conference. A separate surviving publication from this same Denver Tri-State Conference contains family-group presentations and begins with material from Lois Wilson, further demonstrating the family-recovery component of the gathering. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Twelve Steps\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePrinted directly within the program are:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“THESE ARE THE 12 STEPS IN THE LADDER OF COMPLETE SOBRIETY”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003efollowed by all Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTheir inclusion is particularly effective alongside the cover artwork, which depicts the alcoholic climbing a long staircase away from a discarded bottle and toward A.A.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eConference Program\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe three-day conference included meetings and participants from throughout the Tri-State region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eEvents were held primarily at the \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eShirley-Savoy Hotel\u003c\/span\u003e, with additional activities at Denver’s Alano Club and the Denver City Auditorium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe program also records a Saturday evening buffet dinner at the famous \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eElitch Gardens\u003c\/span\u003e, followed by Bill W.’s Sunday public address.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eOf particular historical interest, Sunday’s schedule also included a \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Report of the Third Legacy Conference in New York City”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e by a Colorado Springs delegate. This places the program within an important period in the development of A.A.’s service structure—the first General Service Conference had convened in April 1951.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eItem Details\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eEvent:\u003c\/b\u003e Alcoholics Anonymous Tri-State Conference\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eStates Represented:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Texas, New Mexico and Colorado\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDates:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e May 18–20, 1951\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLocation:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Denver, Colorado\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrimary Venue:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Shirley-Savoy Hotel\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eClosing Meeting:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Denver City Auditorium\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeatured Speaker:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Bill W., Co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFamily\/Auxiliary Content:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e A.A. Auxiliary meetings, including a paper by Lois W.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSpecial Content:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Twelve Steps printed within the program\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Folding illustrated conference program\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e Monitor, Denver\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe original program remains \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003ecomplete and in good vintage condition\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThere is general age toning, handling wear, and horizontal and vertical fold lines from its original use and storage. The illustrated cover shows rubbing and surface wear, with edge and corner wear and a small area of loss at the lower-right corner. There are scattered small marks, creases, and minor edge imperfections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe interior remains clean and highly legible, with the complete three-day conference schedule and Twelve Steps intact. The illustrated rear panel featuring Bill W. and Dr. Bob remains attractive with expected age and handling wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully for the most complete representation of condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis program brings together several important strands of early Alcoholics Anonymous history in a single surviving piece of ephemera.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIt documents \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBill Wilson personally appearing at a regional A.A. conference in 1951\u003c\/span\u003e, features both Bill W. and Dr. Bob as the co-founders, prints the Twelve Steps, records discussion of A.A.’s developing Third Legacy service structure, and preserves evidence of the A.A. Auxiliary and family-group movement immediately before the organization of Al-Anon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFor a collection focused on \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eBill W., Dr. Bob, early A.A. conferences, Colorado A.A., the development of A.A. service, or the origins of Al-Anon\u003c\/span\u003e, this is an especially interesting early conference program.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67575010099442,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/C19BEB20-8723-47A9-A8E1-F6B535E10C7D.jpg?v=1790478397","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/1951-a-a-tri-state-conference-denver-colorado-bill-w-featured-speaker","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}