September in Alcoholics Anonymous History
From Bill W.’s return to New York and the founding of Works Publishing, to national media breakthroughs and the first female member joining the fellowship, September holds a monumental place in the history and expansion of Alcoholics Anonymous.
September in Alcoholics Anonymous History
September 1935
Return to New York
Bill W. returned home to New York City after months in Akron, marking the effective beginning of regular A.A. group meetings in New York and bridging the fellowship’s founding roots between Ohio and the East Coast.
September 1937
First Female Member
Florence Rankin (photo above of Bill W. and Florence) became the first woman to join A.A. Her powerful personal recovery journey, titled “A Feminine Victory,” was later published in the first edition of the Big Book, inspiring countless women seeking sobriety.
September 1938
Works Publishing Co. Formed
Bill W. and Hank P. established Works Publishing Company to finance, write, and publish the movement’s foundational text, Alcoholics Anonymous (the Big Book), creating a stable corporate vehicle for the fellowship’s literature.
September 1939
National Media Breakthrough & Midwest Expansion
Liberty magazine published “Alcoholics and God” by Morris Markey, a landmark article that brought national attention to the fellowship and resulted in an overwhelming influx of inquiries from desperate drinkers. Simultaneously, the first official A.A. group in Chicago, Illinois, was founded.
September 1940
Baseball Milestone
Rollie Hemsley, catching for the Cleveland Indians, became a rare example of a sober player to catch a major league no-hitter, living openly in recovery and helping other professional athletes find the program.
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