Bill W.’s 32nd A.A. Anniversary — 1966 New York Intergroup Dinner Program
Offered here is an original 1966 program from Bill W.’s 32nd A.A. Anniversary, held on October 29, 1966, at the Hotel Americana in New York City.
Produced for the 32nd Annual Dinner Meeting of the New York Intergroup Association, the program commemorates Bill Wilson’s 32nd A.A. anniversary and lists Bill W., Co-founder, among the featured speakers for the evening.
The front features a striking red-and-yellow design centered around the familiar lowercase “aa,” with the title:
BILL’S 32nd AA ANNIVERSARY
The program is particularly appealing as an intact piece of New York A.A. history, preserving the evening’s speakers, dinner menu, entertainment, and a handwritten message prepared by Bill W. for the occasion.
A Message from Bill W.
The back of the original program features a handwritten message prepared by Bill W. for the occasion, in which he writes:
1966
Dear Friends — Lois joins me in deepest thanks to all who share this happiest of occasions with us.
May God prosper you in the days to come, and may we be blessed by His Grace forever —
Devotedly, Bill
Bill’s message was printed on the programs produced for the 32nd Anniversary Dinner and was part of the original 1966 program design. The handwriting shown on this example was therefore not individually written on this particular copy.
The message is an especially personal element of the program, with Bill mentioning Lois Wilson and expressing their gratitude to the friends gathered to share the occasion.
The 32nd Anniversary Dinner
The interior identifies the event as the:
32nd Annual Dinner Meeting — A.A.
New York Intergroup Association
Saturday, October 29, 1966
Hotel Americana — Imperial Ballroom
The evening’s program included an invocation by Father Fintan Jerome L., C.P. of the Park Madison Group, followed by a welcome from Bill B., also of the Park Madison Group.
The featured speakers were:
Dr. Lewis R. — Youngstown, Ohio
Lee A. — Rhinelander Group
Bill W. — Co-founder
The program concluded with a benediction by Rev. George Callahan, Minister of the First Presbyterian Church of North Haledon, New Jersey.
Opposite the program is the complete dinner menu, including Beef Americana, followed by an announcement of dancing in the Royal Ballroom with the Lester Lanin Orchestra.
Item Details
Event: Bill’s 32nd A.A. Anniversary / 32nd Annual Dinner Meeting
Organization: New York Intergroup Association
Date: October 29, 1966
Location: Hotel Americana, Imperial Ballroom, New York City
Featured Speaker: Bill W., Co-founder
Format: Original folding dinner program and menu
Special Feature: Handwritten message prepared by Bill W. and printed on the programs for the event
Signed: No — the handwriting was printed as part of the original program
Condition
The program remains complete and presents well for its age.
The yellow paper shows expected age toning and handling wear, with scattered staining and discoloration, light edge and corner wear, and several small areas of edge loss. The interior program and menu remain clear and fully legible.
Bill W.’s message on the back remains strong and clearly readable.
Please review all photographs carefully for the most complete representation of condition.
Collector Significance
This is an appealing piece of original 1966 Alcoholics Anonymous event ephemera, documenting a New York Intergroup celebration honoring A.A. co-founder Bill Wilson.
Beyond simply announcing the event, the program provides a remarkably complete record of the evening: the speakers, location, dinner menu, entertainment, Bill W.’s participation as a featured speaker, and the personal message he prepared for those attending.
The message from Bill and Lois Wilson, combined with the striking “Bill’s 32nd AA Anniversary” cover and the complete program for the evening, makes this an especially interesting artifact from the later years of Bill Wilson’s life and an excellent addition to a collection focused on Bill W., Lois W., New York A.A., or Alcoholics Anonymous history.
