Smith, Robert Holbrook, 1879-1950

Robert Holbrook Smith, known simply as "Dr. Bob" in the AA community, was born on August 8, 1879 in St. Johnsbury, VT, the only son of Judge and Mrs. W.P. Smith. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1902 and three years later entered the University of Michigan as a premed student. In 1910, after further training at Rush Memorial College in Chicago, he received his medical degree and secured an internship in City Hospital, Akron, Ohio. In 1912, he began his career as a medical doctor and surgeon. He married Anne Ripley in 1915. They had two children, Susan and Robert.

Smith was an active member of the City Hospital staff in Akron, Ohio, and had frequent contacts with nearby St. Thomas Hospital, where in 1928 he met Sister Ignatia who later became an influential person in Smith's work with recovering alcoholics. Later, in 1935, he became professionally associated with St. Thomas Hospital and in 1943 became a member of its permanent active staff.

Smith started drinking as a young adult and continued to drink heavily during the early years of his marriage and professional career. As his alcoholism progressed steadily, he began a desperate search for an answer to his problem. With strong encouragement and support from his wife, Anne R. Smith, he started attending meetings of the Oxford Group, a Christian evangelical fellowship, founded by Dr. Frank N. D. Buchman in 1919 and considered to be a forerunner of AA because of its emphasis on self-examination, acknowledgement of character defects, restitution of harm done, reliance on God, and working with others.

In May of 1935, Smith, still struggling with alcohol addiction, met William G. Wilson ("Bill W."), who was on a business trip to Akron, Ohio and on the verge of a relapse into alcoholism. The two became friends and were able to support one another in their struggles with alcohol addiction. They began reading the Bible together, offered each other support, engaged in long discussions and reviewed Oxford Group ideas, all of which were influential in the development of AA and its pioneering 12-step recovery program.

Smith died of cancer at City Hospital in Akron, Ohio, on November 16, 1950.

Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who meet in groups to share their experiences and common problems, and to help each other recover from alcoholism. It was the first 12-step recovery program and continues to be the source and the model for all similar recovery groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous and Al-Anon/Alateen. Founded in 1935 by Robert Holbrook Smith and William G. Wilson, it was the first organization run by and for alcoholics, and the first to offer sustained support of alcoholics regardless of their financial standing. It continues to be recognized and supported by the psychiatric, medical, and clerical communities.

From the guide to the Robert Holbrook Smith (Dr. Bob) collection, Smith (Robert Holbrook "Dr. Bob") collection, (bulk 1936-1992), 1885-1992, (John Hay Library Special Collections)