Dr. Bob Smith Signed Letter to Ed Webster Following Publication of the Little Red Book

Two-Page Autograph Letter Signed on Dr. Bob’s Personal Stationery

Only weeks after the publication of what would become one of the most influential companion books in Alcoholics Anonymous history, Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith—“Dr. Bob,” co-founder of A.A.—sat down in Akron and wrote this deeply personal letter to its author, Ed Webster.

Dated December 29, 1946, the letter preserves Dr. Bob’s first known written response to Webster following publication of An Interpretation of the Alcoholics Anonymous Program of the Twelve Steps, the work that would soon become widely known as the Little Red Book.

Written across two sides of Dr. Bob’s personal medical stationery, the letter combines important A.A. publishing history with the warmth and familiarity of a private exchange between friends.

Its most significant passage reads:

“I have enjoyed your little book very much & know that it will prove to be of a lot of help to many.”
— Dr. Bob Smith, December 29, 1946

This brief statement stands as a remarkable early endorsement of a book that would go on to help generations of A.A. members study and better understand the Twelve Steps.

Dr. Bob’s Early Response to the

Little Red Book

Ed Webster’s An Interpretation of the Alcoholics Anonymous Program of the Twelve Steps was first published in 1946 as a practical guide to the spiritual principles and application of the Twelve Steps.

Dr. Bob had reviewed and helped edit the work before publication. In this letter, he responds directly to the completed book and expresses his belief that it would be “of a lot of help to many.”

The wording is especially noteworthy. Dr. Bob refers to the publication simply as “your little book,” reflecting a moment before the familiar title Little Red Book had become firmly established in A.A. vocabulary.

The letter therefore documents not only Dr. Bob’s personal reaction to Webster’s work, but also the earliest life of a publication that would become one of the most recognized and widely used companions to the Big Book.

A Gift Between Friends

The letter opens with Dr. Bob thanking Webster for a group of semi-precious stones, or “boules,” that had arrived safely.

He explains that his jeweler planned to take the stones to New York to determine how they might best be used, adding that he believed the red stone would likely become a pendant.

This exchange offers a rare glimpse into the personal friendship between Dr. Bob and Ed Webster. According to family history, one of the stones was later incorporated into a ring that was passed down to Dr. Bob’s son, Robert Smith Jr.

That detail gives the letter an unusually intimate connection to the Smith family beyond its significance in A.A. publishing history.

A Personal Glimpse into Dr. Bob’s Life

Beyond the discussion of Webster’s book, the letter captures Dr. Bob in the ordinary circumstances of daily life during the final years of his life.

He mentions receiving numerous letters and cards from friends associated with “camp,” including references to several individuals by name. He expresses regret that he and Anne would likely not attend the following year and notes their plans to leave for Florida for a month.

The letter closes warmly:

“Love to Hazel”
“Most Sincerely, Dr. Bob”

These lines reveal the affection and familiarity shared between the Smith and Webster families, transforming the document from an important historical record into a deeply personal artifact.

Why This Letter Matters

Many founder-era letters survive, but relatively few capture a defining moment in the development of A.A. literature.

This letter records Dr. Bob’s immediate reaction to a newly published Twelve Step guide that would become one of the most enduring companion books in Alcoholics Anonymous history. It preserves his handwritten endorsement, his friendship with the author, and a candid glimpse into his personal life—all within a single document.

Its importance rests not merely in Dr. Bob’s signature, but in the historical content of the letter itself.

It connects:

• Dr. Bob Smith
• Ed Webster
• the 1946 publication of the Little Red Book
• early interpretation of the Twelve Steps
• the personal relationships behind formative A.A. literature

For collectors of founder correspondence, early A.A. publishing history, and important association material, this is an exceptional document.

Item Details

Document: Autograph Letter Signed
Author: Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous
Recipient: Ed Webster
Date: December 29, 1946
Place: Akron, Ohio
Format: Two handwritten sides on Dr. Bob’s personal medical stationery
Stationery Heading: “Dr. R. H. Smith — Surgeon”
Signature: “Most Sincerely, Dr. Bob”
Subject Matter: The newly published Little Red Book, semi-precious stones sent by Webster, correspondence from friends, camp plans, and an upcoming trip to Florida

Condition

The letter is in very good historical condition.

Both handwritten sides are complete and legible. The paper shows expected age toning, original fold lines, scattered handling wear, and several small areas of staining, particularly near the margins. These condition issues are consistent with a personal letter dating from 1946 and do not interfere with the principal text or signature.

Please review all photographs carefully for the most accurate representation of the document’s condition, handwriting, folds, staining, and overall presentation.

Collector’s Note

This is far more than a signed letter from Dr. Bob.

It preserves a specific moment in A.A. publishing history: Dr. Bob’s first known written response to Ed Webster after publication of the book that became the Little Red Book. His words—“I have enjoyed your little book very much & know that it will prove to be of a lot of help to many”—carry extraordinary significance when viewed against the book’s later influence.

Combined with its personal references, family connections, and warm closing, the letter presents Dr. Bob not only as a co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, but as a friend, correspondent, and careful supporter of a work he believed would help others.

A museum-quality association piece and a centerpiece document for an advanced collection of Alcoholics Anonymous manuscripts, founder material, or early Twelve Step literature.