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U.S. NEWS Monday 7 May 2018

Alcoholics Anonymous founding document sells for $2.4M

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY so it can be seen by more been sold. It sold in 2007 for notes and scribbles from them on to her friend Barry
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The people. $850,000 and for $1.6 million one of AA's founders, Wil- Leach. Alcoholics Anony-
founding document of "I've held it. I've looked in 2004. Saturday's auction liam Wilson, more com- mous said Leach signed
Alcoholics Anonymous, through it. It is absolutely was delayed by a dispute monly known as "Bill W." and notarized a letter in
known to adherents as the mind-blowing," he said. "It with Alcoholics Anonymous Wilson's widow Lois owned 1979 saying the manuscript
"Big Book," sold at auction was just a miracle to see World Services, Inc. the papers after his death would belong to the orga-
Saturday for $2.4 million to this thing live." The manuscript includes in 1971, and she passed nization after his death. q

In this Jan. 1, 2017 file photo, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay
speaks before former general manager Bill Polian is inducted
into the team's Ring of Honor during half time of an NFL football
game in Indianapolis.
Associated Press

billionaire and Indianapolis Irsay, who was clearly ex-
Colts owner Jim Irsay. cited about obtaining
The auction house Profiles the manuscript during a
in History announced the telephone interview, said
sale of the manuscript with he considered remaining
handwritten notes from the anonymous about pur-
group's founding fathers. chasing the manuscript,
Irsay told The Associated but wanted to go public to
Press he plans to build try to relieve the stigma of
a special display for the alcoholism and addiction.
manuscript and display it "The only way we stay so-
for several months a year ber is to give it away," Irsay
at Alcoholics Anonymous' said.
headquarters in New York. "I think it'll help a lot of peo-
He says he attempted to ple," he said. "That's the
buy the manuscript when it reason I'm doing it."
was up for auction several He said he attended his
years ago, and he is thrilled first Alcoholics Anonymous
at the opportunity to share meeting 25 years ago, and
it publicly. marvels at the reach of the
Irsay said he considers him- organization and what its
self a steward for the man- founders built.
uscript, which he said he It is the third time the 161-
may also send out on tour page typed document has