Chit-Chat [Weekly Newsletter, Alcoholics Anonymous] 20 Issues, August 20, 1954 - December 31, 1954

Robesonia, PA: Richard Caron. Very Good-. 1954. Paperback. [Caron Foundation]; Folio 13" - 23" tall; 39 pages; 20 Issues, August 20, 1954 - December 31, 1954. Robesonia [Berks County] PA. Type script mimeo printed on legal sized paper. Each issue, save for one, is 2 pages printed single side only and corner stapled in the top left corner. A sequential run of 20 issues of Caron's rare newsletter sent to AA friends and associates and "loners" all over the world without the resource of an AA chapter or 12 step group. Caron began his newsletter in the early days of his sobriety in 1952 as a follow on from an inter-group newsletter started when he was in St Paul MN. The newsletter aimed at providing support and encouragement to those struggling with alcoholism and contained articles about AA, personal stories of recovery, and practical advice for maintaining sobriety. He provided the newsletter free of charge to anyone worldwide who sent a letter with request. A sort of AA meeting by newsletter, as he shared with readers details and inspiration sent to him in the mail. Caron maintained the newsletter from 1952 until just prior to his death in 1975. It was only in 1953 or so that Caron and his wife began taking in men and women to their home for rehabilitation from alcoholism. Out of this largeness of spirit, eventually the Carons opened Chit Chat farms as a treatment and rehabilitation facility, which later became the Caron foundation. This scarce set of early newsletters provides a window into understanding the approach of Caron to rehabilitation through encouragement, inspiration and generosity of spirit. The newsletters have the expected mailing folds and have here and there some superficial soiling and mild toning and light handling evidence. About VG ... No examples of the Newsletter are located in Worldcat and rarely are seen in the marketplace. .