1947 -Dr. Bob’s 1st operation; Dr. Oscar Olsen friend & enthusiastic A.A. since 1947; founder Oslo Norway group from Greenwich Connecticut, found A.A. 1947; Captain Jack 1st Internationalist found A.A.; 1st A.A. meeting England; 1st group Brazil & Scotland (A 83) (B 349) (E 32, 41, 47, 51) (G 73) (L 149) (P 334)
• early 47′ -40,000 A.A.’s, 1,250 groups (G 9)
• March 3rd -Nell Wing started work A.A. Fellowship, Alcoholic Foundation 415 Lexington Avenue across Grand Central Station, 13 employees, 2 staff members, Bill once week (G 5, 7, 90)
• March 4th -Nell Wing met Bill 11th floor 415 Lexington Avenue(G 7)
• June -A.A. preamble originally appeared Grapevine (E 30)
1947-1950 -Bill selling Traditions (P 324)
1947-1982 -Nell Wing worked General Service Office March 3 1947-1982, secretary-receptionist, secretary A.A. World Services Inc Board, General Service Conference duties, publications editor, archivist 10 years (G ix)
1948 -Clint F., friend co-worker Bill’s. came A.A.; Dr. Bob diagnosed terminal cancer; Al S. chaired dinner, maybe Bill’s anniversary celebration, Dr. Bob, wife, Bill, wife there, so excited couldn’t remember Dr. Bob’s name; George H. pro-conference New York A.A., surveyed groups around country reference self-government; Bill & Lois extended trip visit groups; Bill on road sound out groups elected conference (A 211) (D 320, 322) (L 149) (P 161, 334)
• Summer -Dr. Bob found with cancer, retired practice (D 320, 348) (TC 7)
• late 48′ -Al S. Grapevine editor succeeding Tom Y. 1st editor (G 88)
• January -1st A.A. meeting Japan English speaking (E 56)
• December -Dr. Bob’s last major talk Detroit (D 287, 348)
1949 -possibility international convention 1st raised Houston A.A.; Bill acts upon Earl T.’s suggestion shorten 12 Points Assure Our Future; Henry W. heard Dr. Bob, Bill, Bill D., Sister Ignatia speak Akron meeting, got drunk, sober 1950; Internationalists Seamen Group organized Captain Jack S., Dr. Bob’s wife Annie died, Earl T. suggested reduce Traditions short form; Sister Ignatia admitted Dr. Bob & Anne St. Thomas Hospital; 1st National Clergy Conference Alcoholism N.C.C.A.; A.A. Grapevine international monthly journal A.A.; American Psychiatric Association recognizes A.A. (A viii, 205) (D 277) (G 10-11, 20, 83) (SM 134) (P 333-334) (S 129, 197)
• end 49′ -A.A. office about 5 staffers, 14 or more other nonalcoholic employees; membership more 96,000 (G 8) (H 1)
• March -Dr. Bob considered idea A.A. conference premature (D 348)
• May 24th -Rochester’s Dr. Kirby Collier, early A.A. admirer among psychiatrists invited Bill participate alcoholism symposium American Psychiatric Association meeting Montreal, printed American Journal Psychiatry (A 2, 205) (H 156, 173, 370) (SM 16) (P 334)
• June 1st -Anne Ripley Smith, Dr. Bob’s wife, died age 68 heart attack (C 7, 60) (D 328, 348) (G 88) (P 334) (S 117, 128, 130)
• June -Dr. Bob’s wife’s burial service Akron (G 83)
• December 7th -Sister Ignatia received Poverello Medal behalf A.A. (S 140)
• December 25th -Perhaps day Dr. Bob’s last visit alcoholic ward St. Thomas Hospital (D 197)
1950’s -Duke University center experiments precognition, researchers assembled extensive records extrasensory perception; General Service began; Bill relinquished overall guidance & leadership groups; put service structure into place & learning how service; Frank Shaw died (G 57, 90) (L 74)
• early 50’s -Jack Alexander member Board Trustees (G 73)
• late 50’s -Bill took LSD under supervision friend Gerald Heard (G 54)
1950-1951 -years leading up to debate desirability some sort advisory board (SM 17)
1950-1971 -Nell Wing Bill’s secretary (W 182)