ARCHIVES
BEGINNING OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN BERKS COUNTY, PA
Our RBI archives are now available for those who wish to know what we were like then, and what happened to gain a better appreciation of what we are like now.
To begin:
AA was introduced to Reading, PA in 1943 when a local businessman learned of AA while riding the train to Philadelphia. He started attending AA meetings in Philadelphia. In 1944, this businessman started to meet with other Reading area alcoholics in a home in Lincoln Park. The group then opened a local branch of AA with headquarters at 619 Penn Street, Reading, PA in 1945.
Our timeline below gives a condensed view of AA’s history in Berks County from 1943 to the present. Our archive collection also includes more thorough written historical accounts as well as newspaper articles and homegroup histories. We hope that access to our archives in digital form provides an opportunity for the community to experience AA’s rich history in our area.
To begin:
AA was introduced to Reading, PA in 1943 when a local businessman learned of AA while riding the train to Philadelphia. He started attending AA meetings in Philadelphia. In 1944, this businessman started to meet with other Reading area alcoholics in a home in Lincoln Park. The group then opened a local branch of AA with headquarters at 619 Penn Street, Reading, PA in 1945.
Our timeline below gives a condensed view of AA’s history in Berks County from 1943 to the present. Our archive collection also includes more thorough written historical accounts as well as newspaper articles and homegroup histories. We hope that access to our archives in digital form provides an opportunity for the community to experience AA’s rich history in our area.
AA IN BERKS COUNTY - A TIMELINE
1943 – AA was introduced to Reading, PA in 1943 when a local businessman learned of AA while riding the train to Philadelphia. He started attending AA meetings in Philadelphia.
1944 – This businessman started to meet with other Reading area alcoholics in a home in Lincoln Park.
1945 – The group opened a local branch of AA with headquarters at 619 Penn Street, Reading, PA.
1946 – Local membership was about 20 people
The first public AA meeting in Reading, PA was held at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel ballroom. Physicians, clergy, and civic leaders were invited.
The local AA group hosted a radio program on WRAW, Thursday nights at 9:30pm.
First reference of local civic and church organizations hosting AA speakers at their events.
1947 – Local membership had increased to 62 people.
Marty Mann, executive director of National Committee for Education on Alcoholism, spoke at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel ballroom. Her personal story “Women Suffer Too” was later published in the AA pioneers’ section of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions of Big Book.
7 members of the local group attended the annual dinner of the national organization in New York City.
1949 – The group headquarters moved to 24 South 7th Street, Reading, PA. The second floor was for meetings, and the third floor was a recreation room.
1950 – First reference to an annual summer picnic.
1952 – The group headquarters transferred to 26 North 6th Street, Reading, PA. Membership was at 65 men and women.
1953 – A second homegroup started at 10th and Green Streets. This group did not last long, and most members returned to the 6th Street group.
1954 – 10th anniversary dinner was held at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel.
Above summary is based on (1) History of AA in Reading Area originally printed in 1981, (2) Walnut Street Recovery Group history printed in a 1998 District 33 newsletter, and (3) Reading Eagle newspaper articles. Links for the sources are included here. Note: for the above summary, wherever there are discrepancies between the 3 sources – the dates, locations, and addresses referenced in the newspaper articles took precedence.
1955 – a new homegroup started at 5th and Court Streets, Reading, PA.
1957 – this homegroup relocated to 531 Franklin Street, Reading, PA.
1960 – first reference to there being 3 homegroups in Berks County.
1962 – 4 homegroups in Berks County – 2 in Reading, 1 in West Reading, and 1 at Chit Chat Farms.
1966 – 5 homegroups in Berks County – 3 in Reading (26 N. 6th Street, 300 N. 5th Street, and YWCA), 1 in West Reading (Atonement), 1 at Chit Chat Farms.
1970 – 8 AA homegroups in the greater Reading area.
1972 – 12 local AA homegroups.
From 1981 to 1992, District 33 consisted primarily of Berks and Lebanon counties.
1992 – District 33 split into Districts 33 (Berks) and 65 (Lebanon)
1998 – District 33 (Berks) split into Districts 33, 66, and 67
