Antedating of "A.A."

[RonButters at AOL.COM]

I looked through the 4th edition of a book called ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS that
was first published in April 1939. On page 163 I find this at the beginning of
the second paragraph break:

"We know of an A.A. member who was living in a large community. ..."

I believe if you check the first edition, you will find the identical
wording. This seems to push back the antedating of "A.A." for the organization to
1939.

I suspect that early A.A. literature -- possibly even the book itself --
might push the date for the use of "A.A." to designate members (as opposed to the
organization) to 1939 as well.

In a message dated 11/13/03 7:32:43 AM, fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU writes:


> A.A. (OED 1943 for organization, 1941 for members)
>
> 1940 _Washington Star_ 5 May in _Alcoholics Anonymous 1939-1942_
> Attention was drawn to the movement recently by a dinner that John D.
> Rockefeller, jr. ... gave for 60 A.A.s at the Union Club in New York.
>
> 1940 _Richmond Times-Dispatch_ 18 July in _Alcoholics Anonymous 1939-1942_
> This is a common characteristic of any A.A. meeting.
>
> Fred Shapiro
>