Bob Smith (doctor)

For other people known as "Doctor Bob", see Doctor Bob (disambiguation)

Dr. Bob Smith (Robert Holbrook Smith, b. 8 August 1879; d. 16 November 1950) was a physician and surgeon from Akron, Ohio and co founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. He was also known as Dr. Bob.

He was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he was raised, to Susan A. Holbrook and Walter Perrin Smith. After graduation from Dartmouth College in 1902, he completed medical school at the University of Michigan. Dr Bob was married to Anne Ripley Smith who played a vital role in the development of the 12 steps of AA. Dr. Bob co-founded the recovery movement Alcoholics Anonymous with Bill Wilson, in 1935.

Smith was called the "Prince of Twelfth Steppers" by Bill Wilson because he personally helped more than 5000 alcoholics without charge. Also, it was in his home that the basic ideas of A.A. were developed. Many A.A. ideas developed initially in an offshoot of the then-popular Oxford Group, which was then a Christian movement. Dr. Bob said that A.A.'s basic ideas came from their study of the Bible, that he personally did not write or have anything to do with the later writing of the 12 Steps, but that the Steps, simmered down to their essence, simply meant "love and service."

See also

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• 12 steps
• Twelve Traditions
• Alcoholism
• Addiction
• Bill W. and Dr. Bob

Literature

• Alcoholics Anonymous. The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism, New York: Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed. new and rev. 2001, ISBN 1-893007-16-2, Dewey 362.29 A347 2001 ('Big Book').
• Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age. A Brief History of A.A., New York: Alcoholics Anonymous, 1990, ISBN 0-916856-02-X, LC HV5278.A78A4, Dewey: 178.1 A1c.
• Dick B., Turning Point: A History of the Spiritual Roots and Successes of Early A.A., Kihei, Hawaii: Paradise Research Publications, 1997, ISBN 1-885803-07-9.
• Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, New York: Alcoholics Anonymous, 1980, ISBN 0-916856-07-0, LCCN 80-65962, LC HV5278.D62 1980.
• Ernest Kurtz, Not-God: A History of Alcoholics Anonymous, Center City, Minnesota: Hazelden, 1979,

ISBN 0-89486-065-8 or ISBN 0-89486-065-8 (pbk.), LC HV5278, LCCN 79-88264, Dewey 362.2/9286 or 362.29286 K87 1979.

• Pass It On: The story of Bill Wilson and how the A.A. message reached the world, New York: Alcoholics Anonymous, 1984. ISBN 0-916856-12-7, LC HV5032 .W19P37x 1984, LCCN 84-072766, Dewey 362.29/286/O92.

Footnotes

External links

• Text of Dr. Bob's famous last words in public at the First International Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous, July 28 - 30, 1950 at Cleveland, Ohio
• "Dr Bob's Home" website, Akron, Ohio
• Official homepage of Alcoholics Anonymous
• Robert Holbrook Smith's autobiography in AA's 'Big Book', copyright to First Edition expired
• Unofficial Alcoholics Anonymous history site
• Extensive directory of AA pioneers
• Anne Ripley Smith, wife of Dr. Bob, Mother and Co-Founder of A.A.

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