Edwin throckmorton thacher ebby ebby thatchers eulogy by bill w. Northfield, vermont location of norwich university. Just before christmas, jon did a great podcast for this site with bob k about aa history and the issues that atheists have in 12 step fellowships. Bill was musing about his own beliefs and about the futility of the religions of mankind. Our friend, bob k, has written an exceptional book. Then he commented, but my friend ebby thacher sat before me, and he made the point blank declaration that god had done for him. The caller was ebby thacher, a friend from bills childhood years. Mar 21, 2019 bill wilson wrote this dedication in an aa book he gave to ebby thacher.
History of the 12 steps of na and aa where did they come from. But before we have a look at key players in aa history, lets back up just a little bit bob first starting writing on aa agnostica a little over three years ago, in december, 2011. His immediate identification with the persons in this writing gave him confidence that ebbys neat little formula was indeed in manifest. Bill read enough of this rather difficult book but maybe not allit is 475 pagesto convince him of that he. In 1934, ebby thatcher called an old drinking buddy to tell him about the happiness he was finding in sobriety. Alcoholics anonymous has a rich history to be preserved and cherished. Generations of thachers had succeeded in business, and ebby grew up in luxury in albany, new york. Ebby had generations of christian upbringing through his family and through the first congregational church and burr and burton. Twelve defining moments in the history of alcoholics anonymous. Ebby thatcher tells his alcoholics anonymous story four good talks on two cds history of recovery on. Ebby was bill wilsons sponsor and the man who first carried the recovery message to a very ill bill w.
Carl jungrowland hazard ebby thacher myths or subjects of hindsight quarterbacking. In 1934, ebby thatcher called an old drinking buddy to tell him about the. The story of ebby thacher is one of large privilege and poor performance. He was the son of albany mayor, george thacher, and the uncle of albany mayor, john boyd thacher ii. Jun 16, 2015 ebby thatcher, san jose ca, 3461 aa speakers joe and charlie the doctors opinion the big book comes alive duration. William james, bill wilson, and the development of.
Although the address of the thacher residence is listed in this book, there continues a. Misconceptions about alcoholics anonymous aa abound in spite of or because of the thousands of theses, dissertations, books, professional and popular articles, and internet commentaries that have been written about aa. Aa history early alcoholics anonymous articles bill w. His friends name was bill wilson, and this book is the story of their lifelong. What is known as the big book of alcoholics anonymous was published in 1939 by wilson and smith, or as they were known for years simply bill w. A preaa history book, a study of synchronic events between years 1926 and 1935. Bill wilson wrote this dedication in an aa book he gave to ebby thacher. Ebby thatcher tells his alcoholics anonymous story four good. On a chill november afternoon in 1934 it was ebby who had brought me the message that saved my life. Family prominence took a sharp upward rise when ebbys. Generations of thachers experienced successes in business, politics, society and church.
However, it is available by contacting me directly. Being a history minded sort of guy, i have spent many years studying the ingredients and suggestions of the aa program. Much of the above material is synthesized from ebbys biography by mel b. John boyd thacher september 11, 1847 february 25, 1909 was the mayor of albany, new york and new york state senator as well as an american manufacturer, writer, and book collector. After 15 years of research into the history of alcoholics anonymous, i would. In the bigbook, bill speaks of the visit to him by his old friend, ebby thacher. Vermont aa history workshops radio interview of bill. The vermont boyhood period of bill wilson and ebby thacher, involving bill, ebby, bills friend mark whalon, the burnhams, the congregational churches, the burr and burton seminary, norwich university a military academy, rev. Northfield is the location of norwich university, a prestigious military academy attended by bill w.
Edwin throckmorton thacher 29 april 189621 march 1966 commonly known as ebby thach. Twelve defining moments in the history of alcoholics. Even the most consistent and longstanding of aa agnostica fans will be delighted to discover that there are 16 chapters in the book that have never before been published, here or elsewhere. He believes this is the wave of future information about a. This aa group encourages dialogue about the 12 step program of action from the big book. Sidney perkinspastor of the manchester church and befriended roger perkins, son of the pastor, who also attended burr and burton. In affection, bill today march 21st, marks the 54th anniversary of the passing of ebby thacher. Ebby spent much of his remaining life in a battle with alcohol, often ill and destitute. In his seventieth year, and on the twentyfirst of march, my friend and sponsor ebby passed beyond our sight and hearing. Rich in lessons of perseverance, courage and determination. Dear ebby, no day passes that i do not remember that you brought me the message that saved me.
Edwin throckmorton thacher 29 april 1896 21 march 1966 commonly known as ebby thacher or ebby t. Ebby s family edwin throckmorton thacher ebby was born on april 29, 1896, into a family that amassed a great fortune as a railroad wheel manufacturer. The thachers of albany, new york the story of ebby thacher is one of large promise and poor performance. And of course, mel bs book, ebby, the man who sponsored bill w. Ebby told of a simple religious idea a vital spiritual experience, and a practical program of action the. But the only thing edwin ebby thacher had escaped from was the slow strangulation of the spirit imposed upon him by alcoholism. While ebby thacher is important for helping bill become sober, his complete story is also important because it elaborates the complete story of alcoholism.
Ebbys family edwin throckmorton thacher ebby was born on april 29, 1896, into a family that amassed a great fortune as a railroad wheel manufacturer. Ebby then went to bill wilson to pass the message on to him and introduce bill to the oxford group, the worldwide evangelical group which seemed to be having success, not only with them but with other people as well, in using a spiritual method to enable people to stop drinking. Ebby the man who sponsored bill w a vision for you. Another prodigal son story from the 1st edition of the big book. The library is filled with pictures, plaques, pamphlets, records, books, histories, curricula, religious emphasis, chapel data, and more. Thomas thacher, his distant grand father, came to america, from england, during the midsixteen hundreds. On march 21st, 1966 ebby thacher died in ballston spa new york. Michael fitzpatrick has put together an interesting book dr. Edward throckmorton thacher, ebby, was born on april 29, 1896, making him about 5 months younger that his then future school chum, bill wilson. Ebby thatcher tells his alcoholics anonymous story four good talks on two cds. It is both a fascinating history of the formative years of alcoholics anonymous, as well as the bittersweet tale of the troubled man bill w. Why we call it the big book pioneers of alcoholics anonymous.
See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. In 1960, at the long beach, california convention of alcoholics anonymous, bill wilson wrote this dedication in an aa book that he gave to ebby thacher. In spite of the great increase in the size and span of this fellowship, at its. The next day ebby brought bill a copy of william james book the varieties of religious experience.
Then there was ebby, as he was known, or, more properly, edwin throckmorton thacher. Dear ebby, no day passes that i do not remember that you brought me the. A place to start was a november 1934, kitchen table meeting between ebby thacher and bill wilson p. Ebbys role is documented in our big book in the chapter called bills story and in the many history books about aa. Dear ebby, no day passes that i do not remember that you brought me the message that saved me and only god knows how many more. Edwin throckmorton thacher ebby was born on april 29, 1896, into. He is credited with introducing wilson to the initial principles that aa would soon develop, such as one alcoholic talking to another, and the jungian thesis which was passed along to rowland. Jung to ebby thacher and in turn to bill wilsonwho cofounded a. One of the bestknown stories about aas origins concerns a business trip to akron, ohio, made by the newly recovering bill. Ebby thatcher tells his alcoholics anonymous story four good talks on two cds multimedia cd 1900. Sep 19, 2018 but the only thing edwin ebby thacher had escaped from was the slow strangulation of the spirit imposed upon him by alcoholism. Perkins, and the mutual airplane crash involving bill and ebby at manchester. Edwin throckmorton thacher 18961966, more commonly known as ebby is. Narcotics anonymous alcoholics anonymous bill w al anon alcohol is a drug sober life addiction recovery sobriety history.
Oct 05, 2018 being a historyminded sort of guy, i have spent many years studying the ingredients and suggestions of the aa program. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. Ebby brought bill the oxford group movement message. End of journey report on vermont aa history christian. Sep 17, 2012 one of the most rewarding things about our recent vermont workshops was the discovery of the common and similar christian upbringing dr. Alcoholics anonymous aa 12 step speaker cd ebby thatcher. Ebby thacher had become sober with his affiliation with the oxford group at calvary episcopal church in new york, the head of which was wonderful minister named rev. Ebby s role is documented in our big book in the chapter called bills story and in the many history books about aa. Ebby brought in a book at just that time that proved to remove all doubt. Mar 14, 2017 he states his book does not attempt to delve deeply into prea a history, but simply provides a number of short snippets and photographs of some key figures that influenced the beginning of aa such as bill wilson, dr. Second, the rowland hazardcarl jung account has been related by rowland hazard personally to many on the new york a. This book contained the gifford lectures that were delivered in 19011902 and subsequently published as a book 2002 that bill devoured from cover to cover 1957, p. His friends name was bill wilson, and this book is the story of their lifelong friendship.
However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. When he arrived in new york in the late fall of 1934, ebby thought at once of me. We spent time at, and photos were taken in, kreitzberg library. This huge, prestigious, and very old united states military academy was attended by bill wilson, ebby thacher, and loiss brother rogers burnham. Edwin throckmorton thacher 18961966, more commonly known as ebby is credited as bill wilsons sponsor 1998. If we are going to talk about conversion, rowland hazard, ebby thacher, carl jung, and william james, lets start with the nature of the oxford group, the religious beliefs of carl jung, and the new thought orientation of william james. Ebby was the youngest of five brothers, and his sense of entitlement was most likely to have been shaped at an early age.
Ebby thatcher tells his alcoholics anonymous story four. The big book that gave alcoholics hope in 12 steps turns 75. Big book from the members of the aa history lovers edited by glenn chesnut. A different slant story in the 1st edition of the big book. Ebby, an archetypal black sheep, was a slacker, a floater, who never quite embraced adulthood. We can honor this legacy by remembering those who came before us and by knowing our beginnings and the origins of aa. Ebby, it turned out, was a member of the oxford group, a christian organization founded by frank buchman that believed the root of all problems were the personal problems of fear and selfishness. A few days after bill wilson entered towns hospital december 11, 1934 he was visited by his sponsortobe, ebby thacher.
His friends name was bill wilson, and this book is the story of their. The stage is now set for the next important preaa history person to appear in this sequence of events. His friends name was bill wilson, and this book is. Edwin throckmorton thacher 29 april 1896 21 march 1966 was an old drinking friend and. Ebby reiterated his neat little formula, which was initially discussed at the kitchen table meeting several weeks previous at 182 clinton street. The varieties of religious experience, by william james. Rowland hazard iii was a wealthy rhode island businessman who had become an alcoholic, requiring hospitalization on more than one occasion. Other material was taken from sections of conference approved books listed in the reference section below. When ebby died in 1966, he was sober but living as a dependent at a recovery center in upstate new york. The thacher family had a history in america dating back to prerevolution times. But as fate would have it, he was broughtjust at that timea book titled, varieties of religious experience, by william james, who was the father of modern psychology, no less. He writes anonymously on subjects related to alcoholism and was a contributing writer for pass it on, aas authorized biography of cofounder bill wilson. Sep 12, 2012 the vermont boyhood period of bill wilson and ebby thacher, involving bill, ebby, bills friend mark whalon, the burnhams, the congregational churches, the burr and burton seminary, norwich university a military academy, rev.
As you will see below, there are 32 chapters in the book. Shepard cornell and cebra graves, bill wilson himself, professor philip marshall. Apr 10, 2014 and the big book is their basic, and most important, text. And these comments very much apply to bobs writing in his wonderful book, key players in aa history. Ebby thacher project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. I thought it was really good and decided to read bobs book on the history of aa called key players in aa history. Bill wilson and his aa sponsor ebby thatcher of early.