the Wilson correspondence.
In a continuing project, the Trustees’ Archives Committee of Alcoholics Anonymous tape records the memories of surviving “oldtimers” and eventually produces transcripts of these tapes. The tapes may be heard with the permission of those still living; otherwise they remain restricted for twenty-five years after the individual’s death. On occasion, information from those not open was reported to me by Nell Wing — when so, this is noted. I listened directly to the tapes of Clarence S. and Marty Mann. Whether my access was to the tape or to the transcript, the citation is to [name], tr.
The papers of Marty Mann and the National Council on Alcoholism are held by the George Arents Research Library at Syracuse University, under restriction. Permission to research in them may be obtained from Mrs. Mann via the NCA.
VI INTERVIEWS OF HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT FIGURES:
Lois Wilson, widow of William Griffith Wilson. Lois’s diaries and some early scrapbooks are available only through her. At the time of this research, Lois was working on an autobiography, and her materials were well-arranged for reference. The diaries were available for exact citation only with Lois’s specific permission, which I rarely requested out of respect for her age, health, and time. Accordingly, the citation “Lois Wilson” covers both my interviews with her (tape recordings of which I hold), and some diary material.
Nell Wing (occasionally cited: NW) began working for Alcoholics Anonymous in March of 1947. From late 1950 to the time of his death, she was Wilson’s personal secretary; during this time, she was part of the “Research and Writing Project” which produced AACA . From 1955 she was A.A.’s librarian, and since 1972 has been its archivist.
Marty Mann was the first woman to stay sober in Alcoholics Anonymous. (Because of a later “slip” by Marty, there was at the time of this research at least one woman claiming longer continuous sobriety in A.A.). Mrs. Mann had been a patient of Dr. Tiebout and in the early 1940s was his strongest link to A.A. Her role in the founding of the National Council on Alcoholism is treated within this study.
Henrietta Seiberling’s (occasionally cited: HS) role in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous is described within this study. Until the present research, she had declined to give interviews. She has since been interviewed for the A.A. archives, and I have had access to that tr.
Clarence S[nyder] reveals no shyness about the use of his full surname, but following A.A. practice I have retained only the initial within this study. Clarence’s role in A.A. is described herein. He claims to have on tape and ready for publication his own version of the history of Alcoholics Anonymous: I have not had access to this work, but I have interviewed Clarence at length by telephone and hold two lengthy and detailed letters from him answering specific questions. Further, Clarence “annotated” for this research a copy of AACA , detailing his disagreements with Wilson’s version of A.A. history. For a late added detail on my access to and use of Clarence, cf . note #13 to Appendix A.
VII THE SPECIAL PROBLEM OF DR. ROBERT HOLBROOK SMITH SOURCES:
For a time especially during the 1950s, some who were upset with developments within A.A. proclaimed Clarence S. to be the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. According to Henrietta Seiberling, she with Wilson and Dr. Bob and Anne Smith are A.A.’s “co-founders.” Alcoholics Anonymous itself accepted William Griffith Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith as “co-founders”: I accept the general accuracy of this last and delineate it herein.
A problem arises because Dr. Smith was not a writer, even of letters, so that with the exception of HS and Clarence — each of whom tends to argue a particular point of view delineated in Appendix A — Wilson is basically the sole source for the earliest history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
In a continuing project, the Trustees’ Archives Committee of Alcoholics Anonymous tape records the memories of surviving “oldtimers” and eventually produces transcripts of these tapes. The tapes may be heard with the permission of those still living; otherwise they remain restricted for twenty-five years after the individual’s death. On occasion, information from those not open was reported to me by Nell Wing — when so, this is noted. I listened directly to the tapes of Clarence S. and Marty Mann. Whether my access was to the tape or to the transcript, the citation is to [name], tr.
The papers of Marty Mann and the National Council on Alcoholism are held by the George Arents Research Library at Syracuse University, under restriction. Permission to research in them may be obtained from Mrs. Mann via the NCA.
VI INTERVIEWS OF HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT FIGURES:
Lois Wilson, widow of William Griffith Wilson. Lois’s diaries and some early scrapbooks are available only through her. At the time of this research, Lois was working on an autobiography, and her materials were well-arranged for reference. The diaries were available for exact citation only with Lois’s specific permission, which I rarely requested out of respect for her age, health, and time. Accordingly, the citation “Lois Wilson” covers both my interviews with her (tape recordings of which I hold), and some diary material.
Nell Wing (occasionally cited: NW) began working for Alcoholics Anonymous in March of 1947. From late 1950 to the time of his death, she was Wilson’s personal secretary; during this time, she was part of the “Research and Writing Project” which produced AACA . From 1955 she was A.A.’s librarian, and since 1972 has been its archivist.
Marty Mann was the first woman to stay sober in Alcoholics Anonymous. (Because of a later “slip” by Marty, there was at the time of this research at least one woman claiming longer continuous sobriety in A.A.). Mrs. Mann had been a patient of Dr. Tiebout and in the early 1940s was his strongest link to A.A. Her role in the founding of the National Council on Alcoholism is treated within this study.
Henrietta Seiberling’s (occasionally cited: HS) role in the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous is described within this study. Until the present research, she had declined to give interviews. She has since been interviewed for the A.A. archives, and I have had access to that tr.
Clarence S[nyder] reveals no shyness about the use of his full surname, but following A.A. practice I have retained only the initial within this study. Clarence’s role in A.A. is described herein. He claims to have on tape and ready for publication his own version of the history of Alcoholics Anonymous: I have not had access to this work, but I have interviewed Clarence at length by telephone and hold two lengthy and detailed letters from him answering specific questions. Further, Clarence “annotated” for this research a copy of AACA , detailing his disagreements with Wilson’s version of A.A. history. For a late added detail on my access to and use of Clarence, cf . note #13 to Appendix A.
VII THE SPECIAL PROBLEM OF DR. ROBERT HOLBROOK SMITH SOURCES:
For a time especially during the 1950s, some who were upset with developments within A.A. proclaimed Clarence S. to be the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. According to Henrietta Seiberling, she with Wilson and Dr. Bob and Anne Smith are A.A.’s “co-founders.” Alcoholics Anonymous itself accepted William Griffith Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith as “co-founders”: I accept the general accuracy of this last and delineate it herein.
A problem arises because Dr. Smith was not a writer, even of letters, so that with the exception of HS and Clarence — each of whom tends to argue a particular point of view delineated in Appendix A — Wilson is basically the sole source for the earliest history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
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