{"id":25871,"date":"2025-11-25T17:27:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T22:27:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/?page_id=25871"},"modified":"2026-03-08T13:30:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T18:30:04","slug":"archives","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/archives\/","title":{"rendered":"Los archivos"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"25871\" class=\"elementor elementor-25871\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-793b028a elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"793b028a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f27350a\" data-id=\"f27350a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2236a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e2236a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ARCHIVES<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2d30c35 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"2d30c35\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-14c5b896\" data-id=\"14c5b896\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9becc1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"9becc1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-938a8a4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"938a8a4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-feb2f61\" data-id=\"feb2f61\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-36de3c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"36de3c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">BEGINNING OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IN BERKS COUNTY, PA<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f654a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f654a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><em>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. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ee1b54e elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"ee1b54e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3130e2c\" data-id=\"3130e2c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cff1345 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cff1345\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>To begin:<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p>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.<\/p><p>Our timeline below gives a condensed view of AA&#8217;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&#8217;s rich history in our area.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-587fbf13 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"587fbf13\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b969ab4\" data-id=\"b969ab4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-57777df7 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"57777df7\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5737c6ba\" data-id=\"5737c6ba\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5215b8e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5215b8e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>To begin:<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p>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.<\/p><p>Our timeline below gives a condensed view of AA&#8217;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&#8217;s rich history in our area.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4252f441\" data-id=\"4252f441\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-247c2352 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"247c2352\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/archives-aa-history-in-reading\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">AA HISTORY IN READING<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1bd26985 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1bd26985\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Printed in 1981<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae7964e elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"ae7964e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/archives-newspaper-articles\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">NEWSPAPER ARTICLES<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-165fb407 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"165fb407\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/archives-homegroup-histories-under-construction\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">HOMEGROUP HISTORIES<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ca3fd3d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"ca3fd3d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2fb1185\" data-id=\"2fb1185\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a84d742 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"a84d742\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4f17a2 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"a4f17a2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41cabd2 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"41cabd2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3a969f2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"3a969f2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8a2b386\" data-id=\"8a2b386\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44ef7e19 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"44ef7e19\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">AA IN BERKS COUNTY - A TIMELINE<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2397d4f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"2397d4f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1b9cd6\" data-id=\"c1b9cd6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b39643 elementor-widget elementor-widget-eael-adv-tabs\" data-id=\"7b39643\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"eael-adv-tabs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t        <div data-scroll-on-click=\"no\" data-scroll-speed=\"300\" id=\"eael-advance-tabs-7b39643\" class=\"eael-advance-tabs eael-tabs-vertical eael-tab-auto-active  active-caret-on responsive-vertical-layout\" data-tabid=\"7b39643\">\n            <div class=\"eael-tabs-nav\">\n                <ul class=\"\" role=\"tablist\">\n                                            <li id=\"early-aa-in-berks-1943-1954\" class=\"inactive eael-tab-item-trigger eael-tab-nav-item\" aria-selected=\"true\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"early-aa-in-berks-1943-1954-tab\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                            \n                            \n                            \n                                                            <span class=\"eael-tab-title title-after-icon\" >Early A.A. in Berks: 1943-1954<\/span>                                                    <\/li>\n                                            <li id=\"increase-of-homegroups-1955-to-1981\" class=\"inactive eael-tab-item-trigger eael-tab-nav-item\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"increase-of-homegroups-1955-to-1981-tab\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                            \n                            \n                            \n                                                            <span class=\"eael-tab-title title-after-icon\" >Increase of Homegroups: 1955 to 1981<\/span>                                                    <\/li>\n                                            <li id=\"re-districting-in-berks-county-1981-1998\" class=\"inactive eael-tab-item-trigger eael-tab-nav-item\" aria-selected=\"false\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-controls=\"re-districting-in-berks-county-1981-1998-tab\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                            \n                            \n                            \n                                                            <span class=\"eael-tab-title title-after-icon\" >Re-Districting in Berks County: 1981-1998<\/span>                                                    <\/li>\n                    \n                                  <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n            \n            <div class=\"eael-tabs-content\">\n\t\t        \n                    <div id=\"early-aa-in-berks-1943-1954-tab\" class=\"clearfix eael-tab-content-item inactive\" data-title-link=\"early-aa-in-berks-1943-1954-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t        <p><strong>1943 \u2013<\/strong> 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.<\/p><p><strong>1944 \u2013<\/strong> This businessman started to meet with other Reading area alcoholics in a home in Lincoln Park.<\/p><p><strong>1945 \u2013<\/strong> The group opened a local branch of AA with headquarters at 619 Penn Street, Reading, PA.<\/p><p><strong>1946 \u2013<\/strong> Local membership was about 20 people<\/p><p>The first public AA meeting in Reading, PA was held at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel ballroom. Physicians, clergy, and civic leaders were invited.<\/p><p>The local AA group hosted a radio program on WRAW, Thursday nights at 9:30pm.<\/p><p>First reference of local civic and church organizations hosting AA speakers at their events.<\/p><p><strong>1947<\/strong> <strong>\u2013<\/strong> Local membership had increased to 62 people.<\/p><p>Marty Mann, executive director of National Committee for Education on Alcoholism, spoke at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel ballroom. Her personal story \u201cWomen Suffer Too\u201d was later published in the AA pioneers\u2019 section of the 2<sup>nd<\/sup>, 3<sup>rd<\/sup>, and 4<sup>th<\/sup> editions of Big Book.<\/p><p>7 members of the local group attended the annual dinner of the national organization in New York City.<\/p><p><strong>1949 \u2013<\/strong> The group headquarters moved to 24 South 7<sup>th<\/sup> Street, Reading, PA. The second floor was for meetings, and the third floor was a recreation room.<\/p><p><strong>1950 \u2013<\/strong> First reference to an annual summer picnic.<\/p><p><strong>1952 \u2013<\/strong> The group headquarters transferred to 26 North 6<sup>th<\/sup> Street, Reading, PA. Membership was at 65 men and women.<\/p><p><strong>1953 \u2013<\/strong> A second homegroup started at 10<sup>th<\/sup> and Green Streets. This group did not last long, and most members returned to the 6<sup>th<\/sup> Street group.<\/p><p><strong>1954 \u2013<\/strong> 10<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary dinner was held at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel.<\/p><p><em>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 \u2013 the dates, locations, and addresses referenced in the newspaper articles took precedence.<\/em><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\t\t        \n                    <div id=\"increase-of-homegroups-1955-to-1981-tab\" class=\"clearfix eael-tab-content-item inactive\" data-title-link=\"increase-of-homegroups-1955-to-1981-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t        <p><strong>1955 \u2013<\/strong> a new homegroup started at 5<sup>th<\/sup> and Court Streets, Reading, PA.<\/p><p><strong>1957 \u2013<\/strong> this homegroup relocated to 531 Franklin Street, Reading, PA.<\/p><p><strong>1960 \u2013<\/strong> first reference to there being 3 homegroups in Berks County.<\/p><p><strong>1962 \u2013<\/strong> 4 homegroups in Berks County \u2013 2 in Reading, 1 in Wyomissing and 1 in Wernersville.<\/p><p><strong>1966 \u2013<\/strong> 5 homegroups in Berks County \u2013 3 in Reading, 1 in Wyomissing, and 1 in Wernersville.<\/p><p><strong>1970 \u2013<\/strong> 8 AA homegroups in the greater Reading area.<\/p><p><strong>1972 \u2013<\/strong> 12 local AA homegroups.<\/p><p><strong>1981 \u2013<\/strong> approximately 25 homegroups in the Reading area.<\/p>                    <\/div>\n\t\t        \n                    <div id=\"re-districting-in-berks-county-1981-1998-tab\" class=\"clearfix eael-tab-content-item inactive\" data-title-link=\"re-districting-in-berks-county-1981-1998-tab\">\n\t\t\t\t        <p><strong>From 1981 to 1992<\/strong>, District 33 consisted primarily of Berks and Lebanon counties.<\/p><p><strong>1992 \u2013<\/strong> District 33 split into Districts 33 (Berks) and 65 (Lebanon)<\/p><p><strong>1998 \u2013<\/strong> District 33 (Berks) split into Districts 33, 66, and 67<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Area59.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-26044 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Area59-300x247.png\" alt=\"Area 59 Districts\" width=\"300\" height=\"247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Area59-300x247.png 300w, https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Area59-15x12.png 15w, https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Area59.png 364w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Districts_Enlarged.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-26045 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Districts_Enlarged-300x190.png\" alt=\"3 New Districts Enlarged\" width=\"300\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Districts_Enlarged-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Districts_Enlarged-18x12.png 18w, https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Districts_Enlarged.png 478w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>                    <\/div>\n\t\t                    <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ef46e2a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"ef46e2a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-787fff2\" data-id=\"787fff2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e606b5 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"3e606b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6da7525 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6da7525\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-956fdd8 elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"956fdd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f58078e elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"f58078e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9a1e8fd\" data-id=\"9a1e8fd\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-252d551 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"252d551\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/archives-aa-history-in-reading\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">AA HISTORY IN READING<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f97644 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9f97644\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Printed in 1981<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4271a1f elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4271a1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/archives-newspaper-articles\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">NEWSPAPER ARTICLES<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6927a76 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"6927a76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/archives-homegroup-histories-under-construction\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">HOMEGROUP HISTORIES<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5fb79ca elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"5fb79ca\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-10b0073\" data-id=\"10b0073\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db591e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"db591e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;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&#8217;s rich history in our area. AA HISTORY IN READING Printed in 1981 NEWSPAPER ARTICLES HOMEGROUP HISTORIES AA IN BERKS COUNTY &#8211; A TIMELINE Early A.A. in Berks: 1943-1954 Increase of Homegroups: 1955 to 1981 Re-Districting in Berks County: 1981-1998 1943 \u2013 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 \u2013 This businessman started to meet with other Reading area alcoholics in a home in Lincoln Park. 1945 \u2013 The group opened a local branch of AA with headquarters at 619 Penn Street, Reading, PA. 1946 \u2013 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 \u2013 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 \u201cWomen Suffer Too\u201d was later published in the AA pioneers\u2019 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 \u2013 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 \u2013 First reference to an annual summer picnic. 1952 \u2013 The group headquarters transferred to 26 North 6th Street, Reading, PA. Membership was at 65 men and women. 1953 \u2013 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 \u2013 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 \u2013 the dates, locations, and addresses referenced in the newspaper articles took precedence. 1955 \u2013 a new homegroup started at 5th and Court Streets, Reading, PA. 1957 \u2013 this homegroup relocated to 531 Franklin Street, Reading, PA. 1960 \u2013 first reference to there being 3 homegroups in Berks County. 1962 \u2013 4 homegroups in Berks County \u2013 2 in Reading, 1 in Wyomissing and 1 in Wernersville. 1966 \u2013 5 homegroups in Berks County \u2013 3 in Reading, 1 in Wyomissing, and 1 in Wernersville. 1970 \u2013 8 AA homegroups in the greater Reading area. 1972 \u2013 12 local AA homegroups. 1981 \u2013 approximately 25 homegroups in the Reading area. From 1981 to 1992, District 33 consisted primarily of Berks and Lebanon counties. 1992 \u2013 District 33 split into Districts 33 (Berks) and 65 (Lebanon) 1998 \u2013 District 33 (Berks) split into Districts 33, 66, and 67 AA HISTORY IN READING Printed in 1981 NEWSPAPER ARTICLES HOMEGROUP HISTORIES<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25871","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"trp-custom-language-flag":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Sam Dillman","author_link":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/author\/rbi-webmaster\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"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&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25871"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26473,"href":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25871\/revisions\/26473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readingberksintergroup.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}