Alcoholics Anonymous, known by its members as "AA", is a nonprofit, religiously motivated group, aimed to combat the newly recognized disease of alcoholism. The group was the brainchild of two friends, and seemingly hopeless alcoholics, Bill W., a New York surgeon, and Dr. Bob S., an Akron surgeon. Following the group’s custom, all last names are left out, making those who seek help battling the illness anonymous.

AA was first organized by Bill and Bob in Akron, Ohio five years ago. Their idea was based on the principles they gained from being part of the Oxford Group, a spiritual organization that helps people battle problems such as alcoholism.

Under the guide of the Oxford Group, and with the help of a friend, Ebby T., Bill had gotten sober, and had then maintained his recovery by helping other alcoholics, though none of these had actually recovered. Meanwhile, however, Dr. Bob was having no luck at the Oxford Group. However, when he and Bob became good friends, Bill’s provoking ideas about treating alcoholism as a disease finally brought Dr. Bob to sobriety.

Dr. Bob and Bill then joined up to work with alcoholics at Akron’s City Hospital. There, they practiced much the same message as the Oxford Group - using the idea that alcoholism was a malady of mind, emotions, and body - as a guide for their work. By fall of 1935, the men had formed the general procedure that was later to become the standard format for AA meetings, and had founded a second AA group in New York City.

By 1939, a third group was founded in Cleveland, and after four years, it seemed disturbing that only 100 people had completed the program.

Two years ago, in early 1939, Bill created the first AA textbook, blandly titled Alcoholics Anonymous. The book solidified the methods and philosophy of the group. Included in the book were over thirty success stories, backing up the ideals of Bill and Bob’s creation.

Popularity of the group boomed when it was publicized by the local publication in Cleveland, the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This media publicity brought a flood of new members to the Cleveland group, soon bringing the membership from 20 to 500 people. Bill and Dr. Bob had finally achieved the successful program they were looking for.

Since then, a new committee, aimed to oversee the technical side of the program, including publication of the textbook, shipping, organization, and creation of new groups. The committee, coined the Alcoholic Foundation, included board members that were very good friends of John D. Rockefeller Jr., of New York.

Last year, Rockefeller held a dinner party for many of his prominent New York associates and colleagues to bring more notice to the excellent program. Due to that dinner, hundreds more alcoholics came to AA for help. The textbook was distributed with the help of Mr. Rockefeller’s New York influence, and many new groups blossomed all over the United States. As of three months ago, membership clocked at 2,000 recovering alcoholics.

This excellent organization is much needed now that thousands of people are finding themselves still drinking, after using the bottle as an escape from the pressures of last decade’s depression. If you are one of those thousands, and you have the willpower to break free of your illness, consult the local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter. The program is free, and the award is freedom.