Alcoholics Anonymous — Early January 1944 Promotional Pamphlet

Published by The Alcoholic Foundation, Inc. · New York · Copyright 1943

An uncommon early Alcoholics Anonymous pamphlet issued during the Fellowship’s formative years, when A.A. was still introducing its program to alcoholics, physicians, clergy, hospitals, and the general public.

The pamphlet first appeared in 1943 and was reprinted in several closely related versions as supplies were exhausted. This example has been identified as the January 1944 printing and represents one of the earliest pieces of nationally distributed literature published by The Alcoholic Foundation.

Rather than presenting entirely new material, the pamphlet condensed A.A.’s message into a portable introduction to the Fellowship. It combined an explanation of alcoholism and the A.A. program with selected material from the First Edition Big Book, professional endorsements, and outside commentary intended to establish the credibility of the still-young movement.

Contents Include

• “Alcoholics Anonymous”
• “Am I an Alcoholic?”
• “The Doctor’s Nightmare”
• “The European Drinker”
• “Women Suffer Too”
• “Bill’s Story”
• “Medicine, Religion and Alcoholics Anonymous”
• The Twelve Steps
• “Our Friends Say”
• A review of Alcoholics Anonymous by Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick

The included personal accounts are drawn from the original First Edition Big Book and preserve several of the best-known voices from A.A.’s earliest years. The pamphlet also reproduces Dr. Fosdick’s important review of the Big Book, in which he praised its realism, restraint, tolerance, and unusual understanding of the alcoholic experience.

A particularly interesting feature of this printing is the final page titled “Magazine Articles.” It records national and regional coverage of Alcoholics Anonymous from 1939 through 1943, including Liberty, Newsweek, The Saturday Evening Post, Christian Herald, The Living Church, and numerous medical and religious publications. This page provides a remarkable contemporary record of how quickly public awareness of A.A. spread during its first years.

Historical Significance

Published while Alcoholics Anonymous was still a relatively small and rapidly expanding fellowship, this pamphlet illustrates how A.A. presented itself before the establishment of the General Service Conference and before much of its later standardized literature had been developed.

Bibliographic records describe surviving examples as scarce, with relatively few institutional copies recorded. 

Publication Details

Title: A.A.
Publisher: The Alcoholic Foundation, Inc.
Place of Publication: New York
Printing: January 1944 printing
Copyright: 1943
Format: Stapled pamphlet
Provenance: “Louisville Fellowship” stamp on the front cover

Condition

Very good condition for an early wartime-era A.A. pamphlet.

The covers show scattered staining and age-related discoloration, with moderate toning throughout and light wear along the edges. The original staple remains present in the fold and shows oxidation consistent with age. A period Louisville Fellowship ownership stamp appears on the front cover.

The pamphlet remains complete and presents well as an authentic, historically used piece of early Alcoholics Anonymous literature.

Please review all photographs carefully for the exact condition and appearance of the item offered.