A Visual History of Alcoholics Anonymous — An Archival Journey — 2021
Offered here is a 2021 edition of A Visual History of Alcoholics Anonymous: An Archival Journey, published by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Richly illustrated throughout, this substantial volume tells the history of Alcoholics Anonymous primarily through photographs, documents, publications, correspondence, artifacts, and other material preserved within A.A.’s archival collections.
Originally conceived in connection with the 85th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous and the planned 2020 International Convention in Detroit, the project took a different course when the convention was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The finished book was subsequently published in 2021, preserving the planned historical presentation in book form.
An Archival Journey Through A.A. History
Rather than presenting A.A.’s history solely as a traditional narrative, A Visual History of Alcoholics Anonymous allows original historical material to tell much of the story.
The book begins with the origins of the Fellowship and follows its development through eight major sections:
The Beginning
The Word Spreads
The Groups
Friends of A.A.
Detroit: A Center of A.A. History
A.A. Moves into the Future
A.A. Grows Around the World
A.A.s Gather Worldwide
Throughout the book are images drawn from A.A. history, accompanied by concise explanations placing the material in historical context.
Bill W., Early A.A. & the Archives
Among the subjects documented is the life of Bill Wilson, beginning with his early years in East Dorset, Vermont, and continuing through the development and expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous.
One particularly interesting opening image shows an original scrapbook now preserved in the General Service Office Archives. According to the book, the scrapbook contains clippings dating to 1939 and was assembled by Jim B., who helped establish the first A.A. group in Philadelphia and contributed the Big Book story “The Vicious Cycle.”
For collectors and researchers, photographs such as these provide an opportunity to see important archival material that ordinarily remains within institutional collections.
From the Beginnings to a Worldwide Fellowship
The scope extends well beyond Bill W. and the earliest years of A.A.
Later sections explore the spread of individual groups, important friends and supporters of the Fellowship, Detroit’s place in A.A. history, international growth, and the large conventions and gatherings that accompanied A.A.’s development into a worldwide fellowship.
The result is both an accessible introduction to A.A. history and a useful visual reference for those already familiar with the people, publications and artifacts associated with Alcoholics Anonymous.
Book Details
Title: A Visual History of Alcoholics Anonymous
Subtitle: An Archival Journey
Publisher: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Year: 2021
Format: Illustrated softcover
ISBN: 978-1-64427-825-3
Printed: United States
Subject: Alcoholics Anonymous History / A.A. Archives
Condition
This copy is in excellent condition, with only very minor evidence of handling or shelf wear.
The blue illustrated covers remain bright and attractive, the binding is sound, and the interior pages are clean and well preserved.
Please review all photographs carefully for the most complete representation of condition.
Collector & Research Significance
Although a modern publication, A Visual History of Alcoholics Anonymous is particularly useful to collectors because it brings together images of historically important A.A. documents, books, photographs, artifacts and archival material in a single volume.
It also occupies an interesting place in A.A. publishing history as a project originally intended to help commemorate the Fellowship’s 85th anniversary and the 2020 Detroit International Convention, an event ultimately canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An excellent reference for collectors, researchers, historians, archivists, and anyone interested in seeing the history of Alcoholics Anonymous through the surviving material of the Fellowship itself.
