Archives – AshevilleAA.org

Archives Committee

Mission

The Mission of the District 70 Archives is to act as a storehouse of local documents, and audio, visual, and digital media as it relates to the beginnings and growth of Alcoholics Anonymous in the area defined currently as District 70 in Area 51.

The archivist is the keeper of district history, overseeing collection, preservation and sharing of the AA message through the lens of history.

Oversees the safe preservation and storage of local AA history of individuals and groups
Encourages continued historical documentation of current and past groups, individuals and events
Makes local and worldwide AA history available for any interested parties, as well as oversee-ing archival projects and information gathering

Purpose

This will be accomplished by adhering to AA’s singleness of purpose to carry the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. This task will be guided through

Collect relevant items and memorabilia relating to growth
Catalog, collected items according to Archival Standards
Preserve items safely and for long-term storage and viewing
Share items with other Archives including but not limited to
- Area 51 Archives
- Alcoholics Anonymous Archives
- Local Groups
- Researchers
Protect the Anonymity of members living and deceased
- Through monitoring access to the archives
Collaborate with other Local and Area Archives
- Sharing information collected that may add to other archives

District 70 Archives – Early Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous in Asheville started in the early 1940’s. Following the first printing of the Big Book in April 1939 North Carolina got on board through Dr. Tom M. of Shelby. According to correspondence from A.A. archivist Noela Jordan, that first group began in June of 1941. Dr. Tom was consulted about starting a group in Asheville, NC. In a letter dated January 26, 1944, Samuel F. requested a Big Book be sent to his home. Another letter from Samuel to A.A. dated August 7, 1944, reports Samuel sent a check for $25.00 and announced the Asheville Group held the first meeting on March 19. 1944. A group called the Asheville Group first appeared in the A.A. Directory in August 1944.

A.A. began growing in Asheville, according to research by Noela Jordan. The Asheville Group was not listed in the A.A. Directory after 1949. The 1948 February A.A. Group directory listed two groups Group #1 and the Beverly Hills Group. The 1950 A.A. directory listed the Downtown Group and the Albemarle Group. These groups were short-lived. In 1951 Garrett D.W. was listed as the contact person for the Traditional Group. From February 1946 through 1952 Garrett’s name was noted as a contact person for nine different groups.

The Traditional Group was listed in the Spring edition of the 1950 A.A. World Services Directory. The District 70 Archives had no information about other groups until March 30, 1955, when the West Asheville Group was listed. It appears that the Traditional Group and the West Asheville Group are the longest-serving groups in what is now known as District 70. As of this date, neither group has submitted an updated Group History Form or any information to our local Archives.

Another group serving Asheville and WNC was the Victoria Rd. Group. This group first appeared in the 1972A.A. Directory. According to an undated and unsigned letter from the General Service Office of A.A. Archives, the Victoria Rd Group is listed in the 1972 Directory. They met on Monday and Friday and started with 35 members. They continued to be listed until 1986. The letter listed the members’ names and numbers during this time for the group.

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