{"product_id":"liberty-magazine-from-september-1939-alcoholics-and-god-article-by-morris-markey-4","title":"Liberty Magazine from September 1939 - Alcoholics and God article by Morris Markey","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLiberty Magazine — September 30, 1939\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeaturing “Alcoholics and God” by Morris Markey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe First National Magazine Article on Alcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDescription\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOffered here is an original September 30, 1939 issue of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e magazine featuring the landmark two-page article \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Alcoholics and God” by Morris Markey\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e — widely recognized as the first article about Alcoholics Anonymous to appear in a nationally syndicated magazine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePublished only months after the release of the First Edition Big Book, this article represents one of the most important early public moments in A.A. history. At the time, Alcoholics Anonymous was still small, fragile, and largely unknown outside a handful of early groups. The \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e article helped introduce A.A. to a national audience and produced one of the first major waves of outside inquiries from alcoholics, families, friends, and professionals seeking help.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe article’s subtitle asks:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e“Is there hope for habitual drunkards? A cure that borders on the miraculous — and it works!”\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eMorris Markey’s article describes alcoholism as an illness rather than a moral failing, discusses the physical craving and mental compulsion, and introduces the then-new movement known as Alcoholics Anonymous. It references the newly published book \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eAlcoholics Anonymous\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, the Alcoholic Foundation, early meetings, the role of spiritual experience, and the idea that one alcoholic helping another was central to recovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe story behind this article is one of the great early publicity moments in A.A. history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eCharles B. Towns, owner of Towns Hospital where Bill Wilson had sobered up, helped bring A.A. to the attention of journalist Morris Markey. Markey then approached Fulton Oursler, editor of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e, who quickly recognized the importance of the story. The resulting article appeared in the September 30, 1939 issue and became A.A.’s first successful piece of national magazine publicity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBill W. reportedly had mixed feelings about the article’s tone and title, fearing that “Alcoholics and God” might scare off some prospects. Even so, the response was remarkable. \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e received hundreds of urgent requests for help, which were forwarded to Bill Wilson and answered by Ruth Hock with personal letters and information about the new A.A. book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe article helped sell copies of the Big Book, opened correspondence with alcoholics and families across the country, and contributed to early A.A. growth beyond New York and Akron. One important result was the beginning of A.A. in Philadelphia, where George S., one of the early “loners,” sobered up after reading the article and later connected with Jim Burwell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eShortly after this article appeared, additional publicity followed, including the famous Cleveland \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003ePlain Dealer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e articles. In that sense, this \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e issue stands at the very beginning of A.A.’s public emergence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeatured Article\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eTitle: “Alcoholics and God”\u003cbr\u003eAuthor: Morris Markey\u003cbr\u003eMagazine: \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDate: September 30, 1939\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Macfadden Publications\u003cbr\u003eArticle Length: Two pages\u003cbr\u003eReading Time Listed: 15 minutes, 25 seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector Significance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis is a cornerstone magazine for collectors of early A.A. history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe September 30, 1939 \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e issue is important because it appeared during the founding year of the Big Book and helped bring Alcoholics Anonymous to national attention for the first time. It is especially desirable for collectors of early A.A. publicity, First Edition Big Book history, Bill W. and Ruth Hock-related material, Alcoholic Foundation history, and pre-Jack Alexander A.A. media coverage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eHighlights include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOriginal September 30, 1939 issue of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e magazine\u003cbr\u003eFeatures Morris Markey’s “Alcoholics and God”\u003cbr\u003eFirst nationally syndicated magazine article on Alcoholics Anonymous\u003cbr\u003ePublished the same year as the First Edition Big Book\u003cbr\u003eHelped generate hundreds of early inquiries to A.A.\u003cbr\u003eConnected to Bill W., Ruth Hock, Charles Towns, Fulton Oursler, and early A.A. growth\u003cbr\u003eAn essential piece of early A.A. public-relations and publishing history\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis magazine is in good condition overall, with age-appropriate wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe cover shows general wear, rubbing, handling marks, edge wear, and staining around the edges. There is a tear at the bottom of the spine. An address label remains on the front cover. Interior pages show age toning, typical of newsprint magazines from this period. The “Alcoholics and God” article is present and readable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003ePlease review all photos carefully for the most accurate representation of condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCollector’s Note\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThis issue of \u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eLiberty\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e captures the moment Alcoholics Anonymous first stepped onto the national stage. Published in 1939, while A.A. was still young and the Big Book was newly released, “Alcoholics and God” helped carry the message beyond the original circles of New York and Akron.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eFor collectors of A.A. history, early recovery journalism, Big Book-related ephemera, or the public story of Alcoholics Anonymous, this is a meaningful and highly collectible piece.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Recovery Collectibles","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49757445095666,"sku":null,"price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0328\/4625\/0120\/files\/30595E95-D4CE-4FA6-9ED7-F4785296FE93.jpg?v=1783138978","url":"https:\/\/recoverycollectibles.com\/products\/liberty-magazine-from-september-1939-alcoholics-and-god-article-by-morris-markey-4","provider":"Recovery Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}