Founders Day Herald — Issue No. 1 — May 1, 1973
38th Annual Alcoholics Anonymous Founders Day | Clancy I. & Ethel Macy | Original Newsletter
Offered here is an original May 1, 1973 issue of the Founders Day Herald, published in Akron, Ohio, ahead of the 38th Annual Alcoholics Anonymous Founders Day celebration, held June 29–July 1, 1973, at the University of Akron.
The Founders Day Herald was distributed ahead of the annual celebration to encourage attendance, introduce featured speakers, announce special events, and provide registration information. The publication continues to be associated with Founders Day more than fifty years later.
Identified as Issue No. 1, this newsletter captures an interesting period in A.A. history when many early members were still actively participating in the Fellowship.
Historical Highlights
Clancy I. — Featured Speaker
The newsletter announces Clancy I. of Venice, California, as the Sunday morning breakfast speaker. Clancy would become one of the most influential and widely recognized speakers in Alcoholics Anonymous, known for his humor, direct approach to recovery, and recorded talks that reached generations of A.A. members.
Ethel Macy — Early Akron Pioneer
The publication announces a graveside memorial service honoring Ethel Macy, an early Akron member recognized as the first woman to achieve lasting sobriety in Akron A.A.
Ethel was also the author of “From Farm to City,” a personal recovery story published in the Second and Third Editions of Alcoholics Anonymous. A separate memorial service honoring Dr. Bob Smith was also scheduled.
An Old-Timers Panel — 135 Years of Sobriety
A special panel featured four longtime A.A. members representing a combined 135 years of sobriety, with sobriety dates reaching back to approximately 1939–1940. Their participation provided a direct connection to the Fellowship’s earliest years.
The newsletter also includes announcements for keynote speaker Bish M., the premiere of Seed of Hope by the Akron A.A. Actors Guild, historical tours, fellowship activities, and convention registration information.
Item Details
Title: Founders Day Herald
Issue: No. 1
Date: May 1, 1973
Location: Akron, Ohio
Event: 38th Annual Alcoholics Anonymous Founders Day
Event Dates: June 29 – July 1, 1973
Notable Individuals: Clancy I., Ethel Macy, Dr. Bob Smith, Bish M.
Format: Original printed newsletter, mounted on backing board
Condition
The original newsletter shows age-related toning, light surface wear, minor creasing, and small edge imperfections.
The newsletter has been adhered to a rigid backing board for display and should not be removed without the possibility of damaging the original paper. The backing board shows some discoloration and spotting.
Its distinctive newspaper-style layout and prominent masthead make it an attractive candidate for professional framing.
Collector Significance
This original 1973 publication brings together several meaningful connections to A.A. history, including Clancy I., early Akron pioneer Ethel Macy, and longtime members whose sobriety reached back to the Fellowship’s formative years.
An interesting piece of Akron and Alcoholics Anonymous history, well suited for collectors or historical display.
