Anne Smith's Journal, 1933-1939: A.A.'s Principles of Success

Dr. Bob's wife, Anne, kept a journal in the 1930's from which she shared with early AAs and their families ideas from the Bible and the Oxford Group. Her ideas substantially influenced the Alcoholics Anonymous program. From the Of all the pieces of A.A. spiritual history almost completelyunrecognized and ignored, Anne Smith's Journal is Number One on the list. Anne was the wifeof A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob. She was a graduate of Wellesley, a school teacher, and the patientand loving wife of the seemingly hopeless drunk, Dr. Bob. From 1933 onward, Anne beganrecording spiritual materials from the Bible, the meetings Dr. Bob and she attended, and fromthe tremendous amount of reading they did in the Bible and in the Christian literature about it.Then, as the Oxford Group ideas became incorporated in the life-changing program of A.A.,Anne wrote about those in detail. She discussed and recommended other Christian books. Then,each morning, she would hold a Quiet Time with drunks at the Smith home. There would beBible study, prayer, listening for God's guidance, reading of some devotional like The UpperRoom, and then discussion of a topic from her journal. You will see all the ingredients ofA.A.'s Twelve Steps and Big Book in their original and raw form in Anne's own journal whichshe first shared with Bill and Bob themselves. This is a vital part of A.A. spiritual history.