The A.A. Grapevine — May 1945 | Volume I, No. 12 | Jack Alexander & Marty Mann

An original May 1945 issue of The Grapevine, published at the close of the magazine’s first year and during one of the most formative periods in the history of Alcoholics Anonymous.

This issue is especially notable for its cover article by Jack Alexander, whose 1941 Saturday Evening Post article had given Alcoholics Anonymous its first major national exposure.

Jack Alexander Looks Back on A.A.

The cover article is:

“Jack Alexander of Satevepost Fame Thought A.A.s Were Pulling His Leg”

Alexander recounts how skeptical he was when first assigned to investigate Alcoholics Anonymous for the Saturday Evening Post. He describes meeting early members, spending time with Bill W., visiting A.A. groups and hospitals, and gradually becoming convinced that something genuine was happening.

The article gives a remarkable retrospective view of the reporting process behind the famous 1941 Saturday Evening Post story and of Alexander’s changing opinion of A.A.

He also discusses the flood of correspondence that followed publication, noting that thousands of letters were received from alcoholics and family members seeking help.

For collectors, this article is particularly significant because it connects directly back to one of the most important pieces of outside publicity in early A.A. history.

Women in Early Alcoholics Anonymous

This issue also places unusual emphasis on women and family recovery.

Articles include:

• “Women Alcoholics Have a Tougher Fight”
• “One Woman Alcoholic Writes to Another”
• “A Wife Takes Pleasure in A.A.”
• “A Daughter Is Proud of Her A.A. Mother”
• “Credo for an A.A. Wife”

The article “Women Alcoholics Have a Tougher Fight” discusses the stigma and additional obstacles faced by women seeking recovery during the 1940s and includes commentary from Marty Mann, one of the most important early women in A.A. and later a major national advocate for alcoholism education.

Together, these pieces provide a particularly valuable window into the experiences of women, wives, and families during A.A.’s earliest years.

Editorial on the Seventh Step

The issue contains an early editorial on the Seventh Step:

“Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.”

The article discusses humility, character defects, pride, resentment, responsibility, and the practical spiritual work involved in changing one’s behavior.

A.A. Members in the Armed Forces

Another important feature is “Mail Call for All A.A.s in the Armed Forces.”

Published during the final months of World War II in Europe, the article includes correspondence from A.A. members serving overseas and describes how members attempted to maintain sobriety and spiritual practice while in military service.

One letter reproduced in the issue comes from a serviceman writing from France and describes combat conditions while reflecting on the importance of prayer, faith, and recovery.

A.A.’s Countrywide News Circuit

The issue also documents the continued growth of Alcoholics Anonymous throughout the United States.

Reports include:

• Women entering A.A. groups in greater numbers
• Early A.A. activity among military personnel
• News from New York, Missouri, Connecticut, and other regions
• Continued public interest following early newspaper and magazine coverage
• A.A. outreach through hospitals, radio, and local communities

First-Year Grapevine Significance

This May 1945 issue is Volume I, No. 12, marking the completion of The Grapevine’s first year of publication.

A notice printed on the cover states that the issue completed the magazine’s first year and thanks the original subscribers who helped support the publication when it began.

That makes this issue especially appealing as an artifact from the earliest period of The Grapevine.

Issue Details

Publication: The Grapevine
Date: May 1945
Volume: I
Number: 12
Format: Original large-format monthly journal
Cover Article: “Jack Alexander of Satevepost Fame Thought A.A.s Were Pulling His Leg”
Notable Content: Jack Alexander, Marty Mann, women in early A.A., family recovery, Seventh Step editorial, World War II correspondence, early A.A. news

Condition

This issue remains in fair condition and shows substantial evidence of previous use and storage.

The front and back cover leaves are detached from the spine but remain present.

A series of binder holes has been punched along the left margin throughout the issue, presumably so the magazine could be stored in a binder. These holes extend through the pages but do not materially affect the readability of the articles.

The issue also shows age toning, scattered staining and spotting, edge wear, creasing, and small tears and chips along the margins. There is handwritten notation at the top of the front cover.

Despite these condition issues, the interior text remains clear and readable, and the important Jack Alexander, Marty Mann, women’s recovery, and wartime articles are present.

Please review all photographs carefully for a complete understanding of the condition and appearance.

A historically rich first-year issue of The Grapevine, highlighted by Jack Alexander’s firsthand account of his introduction to Alcoholics Anonymous and an unusually strong collection of material on women, families, wartime recovery, and the early growth of A.A.