RIAMCO

Rhode Island Archival and Manuscript Collections Online

For Participating Institutions

Clarence Snyder A.A. Papers (Ms. 2008.008)

Brown University Library

Box A
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Scope & content

The Clarence Snyder papers consist of letters, periodicals and ephemera dealing with the critical early years of the formation of Alcoholics Anonymous, the now international organization which created and administers a twelve step recovery program for alcoholics. The Snyder collection focuses on the Cleveland, Ohio area and contains materials dated from as early as 1939 into the early 1980's when Snyder moved to Florida. All of the major A. A. figures are represented in the papers: Dr. Bob, Bill W. and his wife Lois, Ruth Hock, Henry Parkhurst, and Clarence Snyder himself. Many of the important early A. A. events are also represented: the writing of the Big Book, the rapid expansion of A. A. chapters in Cleveland, the funding and administration of A. A. and the split between Bill W. and Clarence Snyder.

Most of the materials, which were collected and then arranged by Snyder, were filed in alphabetically labeled albums which constitute the first series. The materials were slipped into plastic sleeves and the sleeves were then clipped into three ring binders. Albums "S", "Y" and "X" were never fully assembled. No Album "Q" was found in the boxes. The original order of the lettered albums has been retained for the albums series but all materials have been transferred to folders.

The periodicals which Snyder saved for important articles on alcoholism and A. A. constitute the second series. The articles cover important events like the Rockefeller dinner, a public acknowledgement of early A. A. work, and actor Robert Young's story as a recovering alcoholic. These are filed in alphabetical order.

The third series consists of a single poster issued by A. A. portraying in vivid color the evils of alcohol.

Series four is housed separately and consists of five boxes of Snyder's audio tape collection. 139 of the audio tapes are an oral history by Snyder, including his talks on sponsorship, the 12-steps, and the four absolutes. Other strengths of the collection are speeches, interviews and personal audiotapes by Bill Wilson, Duke Puddock and Warren Chrisholm, and oral histories of A.A. founders including Claude Fullerton, Fay Chase, Catherine Werling, Al Marineux, Gene Edmiston, Roy Yeargen and Ernest McKenzie. Most tapes are personally recorded and unpublished; some are issued by the A.A. Grapevine and the A.A. Roots Revival Group.

Several books and two sets of bound periodicals, originally included in the collection, have been cataloged separately.