Response By Dick B.

November 2007 Question

"In the Twelve & Twelve it says "The world's libraries and places of worship are a treasure trove for all seekers." What are your favorite treasures that helped you and continue to help you on your spiritual journey?"

1. The British Museum Manuscripts, London – which include and display for all to see, the Codex Sinaiticus, the Codex Alexandrinus, and the Magna Carta.
2. The Chester Beatty Library in Dublin – which contains an almost complete set of manuscripts of the Gospels and Pauline Epistles—100 to 200 A.D.
3. The John S. Rylands Library in Manchester, England – which contains the earliest extant papyrus fragment of the Bible – 125 A.D.
4. The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit—which I saw in Alabama—and contains portions of the Ten Commandments and the letters for Yahweh (YHVH).
5. The portion of Isaiah from the Dead Seal Scrolls in Israel—which displays the almost complete Book of Isaiah.
6. Santa Caterina Monastary in the Sinai Peninsula—where the Condex Sinaiticus was discovered by Tischendorf.
7. The Declaration of Independence at National Archives in Washington, D.C.
8. The Constitution of the United Sates in at National Archives in Washington, D.C.
9. A visit to the White House.
10. A visit to both Houses of Congress – in session.
11. A visit to the National Cathedral in Washington.
12. A visit to Westminster Abbey in London.
13. A visit to the home of Sue Smith Windows (daughter of Dr. Bob) in Akron where I first discovered her half of Dr. Bob’s Library
14. A visit to the home of Robert R. Smith (son of Dr. Bob) in Nocona, Texas, where I reviewed his half of Dr. Bob’s Library.
15. Stepping Stones Archives in New York where I saw the Carl Jung letter, Bill’s manuscript writings, and
16. The Episcopal Church Archives in Austin, Texas where my son and I poured over 58 boxes of Rev. Sam Shoemaker’s papers.
17. The Episcopal Diocese Cathedral in Baltimore where I introduced the Shoemaker New Light on Alcoholism title.
18. San Anselmo Theological Seminary where I first saw copies of some of the A.A. books that were part of our heritage
19. Hartford Theoligical Seminary in Connecticut where Dennis Cassidy and I uncovered many of the Shoemaker/Oxford Group papers.
20. Calvary Episcopal Church in New York, Calvary House, and Shoemaker’s quarters.
21. Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, where we lodged all of the Shoemaker papers.
22. Dr. Bob’s Birthplace and Boyhood Home in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, which will soon house a library and information center on Dr. Bob
23. Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron where A.A. was founded
24. The Gate House at Stan Hywet Museum and Gardens in Akron, where Henrietta Seiberling lived, and introduced Bill and Bob.
25. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron which houses some of the Dr. Bob papers and the records of the 1933 Oxford Group events.
26. A.A. General Services in New York, where I saw many of the tapes and manuscripts of A.A. old-timers.
27. The Wilson House in East Dorset, Vermont—where I was privileged to deliver Heritage Seminars for 8 years.
28. The Griffith Library in East Dorset, Vermont—which houses most of the 23,900 A.A. history items in my collection.
29. The home of Grace Snyder (deceased wife of A.A. pioneer Clarence Snyder) where my son and I spent a week in Jacksonville, Florida interviewing her.
30. The headquarters of Moral Re-Armament in Washington, D.C. which contained many of the Oxford Group books I acquired.
31. The office of Hon. John Seiberling at the Peace Center at Akron University, where I first established contact with the Seiberling history and family.
32. The home of James Draper Newton and Eleanor Forde Newton in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida where I spent many days and obtained their books.
33. The home of T. Willard Hunter in Claremont, California, where I obtained his library of Oxford Group books.
34. The home of George Vondermuhll, Jr., in Connecticut, from which I ultimately obtained almost every Oxford Group book written.
35. The home of Rev. Shoemaker’s younger daughter in Florida where my son and I obtained copies of Shoemaker’s personal journals—1931 to 1936.

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