Correcting Errors
This article is written by nationally recognized
historian and oft-quoted Alcoholics Anonymous
archivist Mitchell K.
Before continuing on with this series of articles
about AA History we would like to take this brief
opportunity to respond to a question asked by many of
the readers. In fact, it was the most prevalent question
submitted to this writer.
The question related to why some of the
information contained in the articles either could not
be found in the AA Conference-Approved Literature, or
appeared to contradict that which is found there. Most
of the readers referred to AA Comes Of Age, Dr. Bob and
the Good Old-timers and Pass It On. Over the past 20
years, several historians, non-AA members and AA members
alike have been delving into AA's history. The
fascination with AA as the greatest social and spiritual
movement of the 20th Century has grown in leaps and
bounds, considering its growth and success. A plethora
of information has been uncovered by these researchers,
much of which reveals new material or a "fine tuning" of
already existing information.
Names, dates and other "facts," backed up by solid
documentation show that some of the historical data
contained within the pages of AA Conference-Approved
literature is not accurate. Other data even sheds new
light upon AA's History which was hitherto unknown.
In true historical research, the FACTS outweigh
the desire to make the story sound good. Facts should be
backed-up by documentation and the sound recollections
of several sources. Unfortunately, virtually all of the
early AA members have passed on. Several of them have
left behind recorded oral histories outlining their
experiences.
Classified Documentation
Many of these oral histories were recorded during
their later years and as with many people of their age,
their memories may be flawed. Without the written
documentation from the era they refer to, some of the
information they spoke about cannot be verified.
However, there is a lot of written documentation located
in the AA Archives' of several Central Offices, private
collections and the Archives at the AA World Service
Office in New York City.
Due to confidentiality restrictions much of this
documentation has been declared "classified" and as
such, made unavailable to researchers and AA members
alike. Bill W. wished for AA's History to be preserved
for future generations of members of the Fellowship.
Bill was never clear as to which generation or what
future he was talking about.
Members of AA may only view and study materials,
which are already in the public domain. These include
published books, magazine articles and that which has
been released by the AA Archives in their areas or at
the National level. Rightfully so, most researchers have
to go through a lengthy process to study the other
materials contained within these archival repositories.
Even then, there are still many documents, which still
remain unavailable.
Due to the diligent work of many researchers, this
new material which often clarifies some of the
inaccuracies contained in the "official" AA literature,
has been brought to the attention of the AA World
Services Office in New York. They have been given the
opportunity to rectify this difference and have chosen
not to.
In
all our affairs?
This writer has written to the Board of Trustees
of AA and to the Trustee's Archives Committee outlining
the results of our own research and the research of
other historians. We have asked that the history be
updated to reflect this new documentation and have asked
that the AA literature be changed accordingly. Several
months have passed and they have chosen not to respond
to our letters.
As an AA member, this writer has chosen to accept
the suggested Steps and Traditions in my life, as a way
of life. The Board of Trustees are supposed to be the
guardians of these same Steps and Traditions. What we
question is why the Board of Trustees feels itself
above, and immune to following what they were entrusted
to be guardians of?
Step 10 of AA states that we, "Continued to take
personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly
admitted it." The documentation, which revealed the
inaccuracies show that some of the materials contained
in the "official" literature, was in error. The Board of
Trustees was made aware of these errors. Yet, they have
chosen not to follow the 10th Step and admit to, or
correct these errors.
AA members are expected to live a life based upon
the concept of rigorous honesty. Why then isn't the
Board of Trustees, as guardians and Trusted Servants
expected to do the same?
We realize that your question as to why there are
differences in the articles from the AA literature has
not been fully answered. We do not have the answer. Only
the Board of Trustees has that answer and they have
chosen not to respond. Maybe you, dear reader, can help
us in getting the answer. Ask your trusted servants why
the story cannot be changed to reflect the truth.
More will be revealed…
Mitchell K.
the_archivist@excite.com
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