The Envoy Vol. I No. 5 — April 1966 — Newark, New Jersey A.A. Newsletter
Offered here is the April 1966 issue of The Envoy, Volume I, Number 5, an early Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup newsletter published in Newark, New Jersey.
These locally produced newsletters offer a fascinating look at A.A. life beyond the major books and nationally distributed literature. Rather than presenting the polished history of the Fellowship in retrospect, The Envoy documented A.A. as it was actually being practiced at the local level—group service, Intergroup activity, institutions work, conventions, humor, announcements, and the everyday experiences of members trying to carry the message.
This issue is particularly appealing for its combination of New Jersey A.A. history, service material, institutional outreach, period artwork, and recovery humor.
Inside the April 1966 Issue
Among the features is another installment of:
“Adventures of a Sober Drunk”
Presented as “12 Easy Lessons or One Terribly Hard One,” this installment follows the fictional Bill as his sponsor encourages him to become more involved in his home group. Bill is asked to serve as Group Chairman and learns that service means far more than simply holding a title—welcoming newcomers, visiting other groups, fulfilling commitments, and becoming an active participant in A.A.
The piece is humorous, but the message underneath is unmistakably A.A.: sobriety grows through participation, responsibility, fellowship, and service.
Another section, “The Inside Story,” reports on the work of the Intergroup Institutions Committee. It discusses A.A. members carrying the message into hospitals, farms, and correctional institutions and includes a quotation from The Pointer, identified as the journal of the first English prison group:
“We all know that alcohol is a scarce item in prison… our real days, the days over which we will exercise free control, will begin with one day — the release day.”
The issue also records the expanding organization of institutional service in New Jersey, including Group Institutional Representatives and opportunities for members to participate in Twelfth Step work behind institutional walls.
A.A. Events and New Jersey History
The newsletter provides a remarkably detailed snapshot of New Jersey A.A. activity during the spring of 1966.
The A.A. Calendar lists General Service, Public Relations, Institutions Committee, Intergroup Delegates, and other meetings, along with anniversaries at Annandale and Clinton Farms.
Another section announces the 10th Annual General Service Affair, held at the Alanon Club in Newark on May 15, 1966. Of particular historical interest, the program was scheduled to include several showings of:
“The Bill W. Story” — a 16mm sound and color film
The newsletter also discusses the activities of the New Jersey General Service Conference delegation, Intergroup committees, public relations efforts, and the growth of A.A. service throughout the state.
The Envoy
The Envoy was published for members and groups connected with A.A. Groups of New Jersey, with this issue directing subscriptions to the organization’s Newark post office box.
The back page includes an original subscription form offering the newsletter for $1 per year, along with a cartoon encouraging groups to subscribe and help extend the message to alcoholics still seeking help.
The hand-drawn headings, typewritten articles, cartoons, announcements, and local reporting give The Envoy a distinctly homemade character. These were working pieces of Fellowship literature rather than commercially produced publications, and surviving examples provide an intimate record of how A.A. groups communicated with one another during the period.
Publication Details
Title: The Envoy
Volume: I
Number: 5
Date: April 1966
Location: Newark, New Jersey
Organization: A.A. Groups of New Jersey / New Jersey Intergroup
Format: Stapled newsletter
Contents: A.A. service articles, Intergroup news, institutional outreach, group announcements, cartoons, calendar, recovery humor, and subscription information
Condition
This original issue remains in good vintage condition.
There is a prominent horizontal fold through the newsletter, likely from previous storage or mailing, along with expected light age toning, scattered small spots and stains, and minor handling and edge wear. The pages remain very presentable and the printed material and illustrations are clear and readable.
Please review all photographs carefully for the complete condition and appearance.
An excellent piece of 1960s Alcoholics Anonymous ephemera, preserving the everyday workings of New Jersey A.A. during a period when Intergroup, General Service, public information, and institutional Twelfth Step work were becoming increasingly organized throughout the Fellowship.
