Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the first twelve-step fellowship, was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, known to AA members as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob", in Akron, Ohio. In 1946 they formally established the twelve traditions to help deal with the issues of how various groups could relate and function as membership grew. The practice of remaining anonymous (using only one's first names) when interacting with the general public was published in the first edition of the AA Big Book.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) the first twelve-step fellowship was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr Robert Holbrook Smith known to AA members as "Bill W" and "Dr Bob" in Akron Ohio In 1946 they formally established the twelve traditions to help deal with the issues of how various groups could relate and function as membership grew The practice of remaining anonymous (using only one's first names) when interacting with the general public was published in the first edition of the AA Big Book