Anne Ripley Smith

Who was Anne Ripley Smith?

Anne Ripley Smith was a founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, along with her husband, Dr. Bob Smith, and Bill Wilson.

Anne Smith's influence in AA became widely known through her publication, Anne Smith's Journal, 1933-1939. She compiled and shared with early AAs and their families the materials comprising early AA's spiritual program—the Bible, Quiet Time, the teachings of Sam Shoemaker, the principles of the Oxford Group, and Christian literature of the day. Anne became one of the first members of Al-Anon when the founder and wife of Bill W. Lois Wilson visited her in Akron, Ohio during his stay at their house.