Alcoholics Anonymous began with a chance meeting between Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio, on June 10, 1935, as both men sought lasting recovery from alcoholism. Emerging from influences such as the Oxford Group and early spiritual recovery principles, AA developed its now-famous Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, creating a decentralized, peer-led fellowship that has grown to nearly two million members worldwide. Written by Tom Gregoire Mike Broman Keith Warren. Narration by Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle. Video production by Hannah Keller, Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle, Justin Troyer, and Victoria Paige. A transcript is available at https://origins.osu.edu/read/brief-history-alcoholics-anonymous. This is a production of Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective at the Goldberg Center in the Department of History at The Ohio State University and the Department of History at Miami University.
The Story of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous began in Akron, Ohio, in 1935 when Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith met while seeking sobriety. This video explores AA’s origins, the Twelve Steps, and how a small recovery movement grew into a worldwide fellowship.
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