Big Book Biography : Acknowledgments And Credits

Nancy O., Moderator of the formally known A.A. History Buffs, now known as The AA History Lovers writes:

    Buffs, I have been preparing short biographies of authors of the stories in the Big Book, including all three editions, plus one story which appeared only in the Original Manuscript (OM).

I have reviewed all the books published by A.A. World Services and the A.A. Grapevine, plus all the books I could locate written about A.A. or by any of its members. A few I acknowledge at the end of individual stories.

In this endeavor I have been helped enormously by other members of the Buffs. Some of these supplied information about only about one or two of the authors. In those cases I will acknowledge them when I post the individual biographies on which they helped.

But there are a few people who have been of such help in providing information that I must acknowledge them here: Lee C. in California, who first got me interested in A.A. history; Jim B. in Canada who has sent me large files full of information on A.A.’s history; Barefoot Bill in Pennsylvania, who has sent both information and a video of one of the authors’ talks; Ron L. and Ted H. in California who have sent me tapes of some of the authors’ talks. (Ron also sent me information on Jim Burwell which I had not known.)

Two people were of special help:

Archie M. of Tennessee provided me with invaluable information on where each of these people are mentioned in the literature. Without his work my task would have been much more difficult.

Tony C. of Texas spent many hours proofreading the nearly 150 pages and offering editorial suggestions, and also researched the net to find information for me.

To me the amazing thing about all this is that I have never met any of these benefactors in person.

    Nancy O., Moderator -AA History Buffs  (AA History Lovers)