Full Archive — 1944 to Present
Every Grapevine issue June 1944–Present
A Year-by-Year History of the AA Grapevine — The Meeting in Print: 1944–2026
When the first issue of the AA Grapevine appeared in June 1944, it was just eight pages, mimeographed on cheap wartime paper, stapled in the corner, and mailed to 1,200 subscribers. Bill W. called it “our meeting in print.” No one imagined it would become the longest continuously published recovery journal in the world — more than 1,000 issues, every month from June 1944 to today.
This archive preserves every cover from June 1944 to 2030. Each cover is a timestamp — when slogans first appeared, how design changed, and how the fellowship saw itself. Below is the full story the covers tell.
1944 — Birth in Wartime New York
Spring 1944, New York. Six AA members meet at 30 Vesey Street. Paper is rationed. First issue June 1944, 8 pages. Bill: “The Grapevine will be the voice of AA.”
1945–1949
V-E and V-J Day bring home sober GIs. Grapevine prints Mail Call. 1946 Bill begins Twelve Traditions series. 1947 incorporates. 1949 Dr Bob dies.
1950–1959
First International Cleveland 1950, Mini sheets 1951-00 and 1957-02, 12&12 serialized 1952-53, 20th Anniversary St Louis 1955, Language of Heart.
1960–1969
International decade, spot-color, Japan Mexico South Africa, GSC 1966, Long Beach Toronto minis, Daily Reflections, Circle Triangle.
1970–1979
Bill dies 1971 memorial, 1 million members 1973, Denver 1975 minis, redesign blue border 1979.
1980–1989
45 years 32k groups, Iron Curtain stories, La Viña 1983, 50th Montreal 1985 mini, digital indexing 1988.
1990–1999
60th San Diego 1995, Grapevine Online bulletin board, full-color photos 1996, online meetings 1999.
2000–2009
Digitization 2000, CD-ROM 2005 Toronto, first app 2009.
2010–2019
Young & Sober 2010, 80th Atlanta 2015, audio podcast 2017, La Viña 20 years 2019.
2020–2026
Empty chair April 2020, virtual convention 2021, hybrid 2022, 90th Detroit 2024, today 180 countries.