- Why participate in Archive service work?
A.A. history should be an integral part of your gratitude list – comparing how alcoholics were treated before and after the founding of A.A. in 1935.
Alcoholism is a disease of “disconnectedness.” Studying A.A. history helps you feel connected to something “greater than yourself.”
A.A. history shows us how real alcoholics with real problems overcame adversity through the grace of God and A.A.
A.A. history is summed up in the 12 and 12 (p. 75) in Step 7:
“Everywhere we saw failure and misery transformed by humility into priceless assets. We heard story after story of how humility had brought strength out of weakness.”
A.A. history shows proof of a Higher Power:
“During this process of learning more about humility, the most profound result of all was the change in our attitude toward God.”
Sources: A.A. Comes of Age, Pass It On: Bill W’s Biography, and Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers.
Bill W’s Statement on Archives Work
“We are trying to build up extensive records which will be of value to a future historian…
“It is highly important that the factual material be placed in our files in such a way that there can be no substantial distortion…
“We want to keep enlarging on this idea for the sake of the full length history to come…”
– Bill W., 1957
“Whenever a society or civilization perishes, there is always one condition present: they forgot where they came from.”
– Carl Sanburg