The History of AA in St. Louis
The History of AA in St. Louis
St. Louis holds a unique place in the story of Alcoholics Anonymous. Long before the city hosted the convention that would mark AA's "coming of age," small groups of recovering alcoholics were meeting in living rooms and church basements across the region, carrying a message of hope that had traveled east from Akron, Ohio. For anyone researching St. Louis AA history — whether you're a newcomer, a longtime member, a student, or a family member in Al-Anon — the story is one of quiet beginnings, steady growth, and a moment on the national stage that helped shape the fellowship worldwide.
When did AA come to St. Louis?
Alcoholics Anonymous began in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, when two men — one a struggling alcoholic, the other a member of the Oxford Group — discovered that one alcoholic helping another could accomplish what nothing else had. The movement spread quickly through the Midwest, and by the late 1930s and early 1940s, groups were forming in cities across the country, including St. Louis.
Exact details of the very first meeting in the area are difficult to pin down, and local archives continue to research them. What is well documented is that St. Louis was among the earlier Midwestern cities to establish regular AA groups, and that growth accelerated dramatically after the publication of the Big Book in 1939 and the landmark articles about AA that appeared in national publications in the early 1940s. By the mid-1940s, the St. Louis area supported multiple groups, and the region's central location made it a natural gathering point for the growing fellowship.
What happened at the 1955 International Convention?
The 1955 International Convention in St. Louis is one of the most significant events in all of AA history. Held at the city's downtown convention facilities, it drew thousands of members from around the world and is remembered as the moment AA "came of age."
At that convention, the fellowship formally affirmed the Twelve Traditions and completed the transition of authority from the co-founders and early trustees to the General Service Conference — a structure that still governs AA today. The event also marked the twentieth anniversary of AA's founding. For St. Louis, hosting the convention cemented the city's place in recovery history and energized local groups for decades. If you've ever heard a longtime member refer to "the 1955 Convention," this is what they mean.
How did Al-Anon and Alateen take root here?
Al-Anon Family Groups were founded in 1951, when the wife of one of AA's co-founders and other family members recognized that the relatives and friends of alcoholics needed recovery of their own. As AA grew in St. Louis, so did Al-Anon, and later Alateen for younger family members.
Because Al-Anon honors the same tradition of anonymity as AA, the local history of individual groups is often recorded only in general terms. What is clear is that by the 1950s and 1960s, Al-Anon groups were meeting throughout the St. Louis region alongside AA, and the two fellowships have shared a close, mutually supportive relationship ever since. Today, the St. Louis area hosts a wide range of Al-Anon and Alateen meetings serving families and friends across the metro area and nearby Illinois communities.
How has St. Louis AA grown since the 1950s?
The decades after the 1955 Convention saw steady expansion. As the St. Louis region grew — through the city, the county, and into the surrounding metro area — so did the number of meetings. Groups formed in churches, community centers, hospitals, and clubhouses, and specialized meetings emerged for newcomers, women, men, young people, and other communities.
The St. Louis area also became home to a central office serving as a hub for meeting information and local services, and to a local archives committee dedicated to preserving the region's recovery history. The Bi-State area — encompassing both Missouri and Illinois — now supports hundreds of weekly meetings, a testament to the durability of the program first carried here in the late 1930s.
How can I learn more about St. Louis AA history?
If you want to dig deeper, several reliable resources exist. The local Bi-State AA Archives preserves documents, recordings, and memorabilia from the region's groups, and its volunteers are often glad to answer research questions. The General Service Office of Alcoholics Anonymous (aa.org) maintains official historical materials, including information about the 1955 Convention. For Al-Anon history, the World Service Office (al-anon.org) is the authoritative source.
You can also ask longtime members — respectfully, and without pressing for personal details — about what they remember. Oral history is one of the richest sources for local recovery history, and much of it lives in the memories of the people who were there.
Explore More with Recovery Companion
Whether you're new to recovery or a seasoned historian of the fellowship, Recovery Companion is here to help. Explore our daily text reflections, ask The Archivist your questions about AA and Al-Anon history, and find local St. Louis meetings all in one place.
For the most complete and official records, we always point readers to the Bi-State AA Archives, aa.org, and al-anon.org. History belongs to all of us — and in St. Louis, it's still being written, one meeting at a time.