Conference-approved A.A. history · published 1957
A history of A.A.’s first two decades and Three Legacies
Bill W. recounts A.A.’s growth from New York and Akron across the United States and overseas, the development of the Three Legacies, and the Fellowship’s 1955 St. Louis Convention.
- History through the Three Legacies
- New York, Akron, national and overseas growth
- 1955 St. Louis Convention
- Perspectives from early friends of A.A.
About Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age is Bill W.’s account of A.A.’s development from its beginnings in New York and Akron into a Fellowship extending across the United States and overseas. Published in 1957, it records A.A.’s first two decades and includes the 1955 St. Louis Convention.
The book presents that history through A.A.’s Three Legacies: Recovery, Unity, and Service. It follows the development of the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions, and the service relationships that later included the General Service Conference.
The Recovery material concerns A.A.’s message and early growth. The Unity material follows the experience behind the Traditions. The Service material describes how A.A. developed ways to support work extending beyond what individual members or groups could do alone.
The 1955 Convention is a major event in the account. For readers trying to place it in sequence, the official A.A. timeline supplies dates for the Convention, earlier publications and service developments, and the book’s 1957 publication.
The book also includes perspectives from early friends of A.A., including Dr. William D. Silkworth and Father Ed Dowling, and contains sixteen pages of photographs.
History through the Three Legacies
Recovery
The history follows A.A.’s recovery message, the Twelve Steps, the basic text, and the Fellowship’s early growth.
Unity
The account traces the experience from which the Twelve Traditions developed as A.A. expanded.
Service
The book covers the development of offices, boards, delegates, and Conference relationships supporting A.A. service.
Convention and early friends
The 1955 St. Louis Convention, Dr. William D. Silkworth, Father Ed Dowling, and sixteen pages of photographs complete the official description.