Bill W. and Dr. Bob

Bill W. and Dr. Bob were the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), an international mutual aid fellowship with the stated purpose of enabling its members to "stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Their full names were Bill Wilson and Robert Holbrook Smith, but they are commonly referred to as Bill W. and Dr. Bob to maintain anonymity, a core principle of AA.

Early Lives

Bill W.

Bill Wilson was born on November 26, 1895, in East Dorset, Vermont. He served in the United States Army during World War I and later became a successful stockbroker. However, his career was marred by his chronic alcoholism, which led to numerous personal and professional setbacks.

Dr. Bob

Robert Holbrook Smith, known as Dr. Bob, was born on August 8, 1879, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He graduated from Dartmouth College and later earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College. Despite his professional success, Dr. Bob struggled with alcoholism for many years.

Founding of Alcoholics Anonymous

The two men met on May 12, 1935, in Akron, Ohio, through the efforts of Henrietta Seiberling, a member of the Oxford Group, a Christian fellowship. Their meeting is considered the founding moment of Alcoholics Anonymous. They realized that by sharing their experiences and supporting each other, they could maintain their sobriety.

The Big Book

In 1939, Bill Wilson authored Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recovered from Alcoholism, commonly known as the Big Book. This book outlines the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of AA, which have become the foundation of the program.

Legacy

Bill W. and Dr. Bob's work has had a profound impact on the treatment of alcoholism and other addictions. Alcoholics Anonymous has grown into a global organization with millions of members. Their approach has also influenced the development of other Twelve-step programs.

See Also

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Twelve-step program
• Big Book (Alcoholics Anonymous)
• Oxford Group

External Links

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