Description
The “Jack Alexander Article” is a historic, 1941 Saturday Evening Post piece that introduced Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) to the general public. Published as pamphlet P-12, it is credited with sparking A.A.’s first massive surge in membership and global recognition.
History and Impact
- The Piece: Titled “Alcoholics Anonymous: Freed Slaves of Drink, Now They Free Others”, it hit newsstands on March 1, 1941.
- The Author: Curtis Bok, owner of the Saturday Evening Post and a supporter of A.A. in Philadelphia, assigned star journalist Jack Alexander to investigate the program.
- The Result: Alexander spent weeks observing A.A. groups in New York and Ohio. His highly favorable and deeply reported piece legitimized the fellowship. Prior to the article, A.A. had roughly 2,000 members; following its publication, inquiries flooded in, and membership quadrupled in a short span
