Dick B. interviews Jayson J.

Our guest today is Jayson J., MA, MARE, LCDC. Jayson has just been elected Southeast Texas Area AA Archives Chair. We were glad to connect with Jayson because many of the people we know are interested in A.A. archives work—including a number of long-time archivists. Many such people have contacted us for in-depth information on the history of A.A. and the Christian Recovery Movement. This is exciting for us because we were a part of the earliest A.A. archive days when Frank Mauser was still alive and helping to bring historians and archivists together. Often, the archives community seems focused on preservation and conservation of documents and manuscripts, while we, as writers and historians, are much more focused on unearthing the documents, reporting their locations and stewards, making their contents available in our books and articles and online, and endeavoring to make sure that sponsors, speakers, and newcomers learn what their history was. Not just that it is in a locked glass case somewhere. Based on our November 2012 research trip to the Cleveland A.A. District Office Archives, to the Akron A.A. Intergroup Archives & to Dr. Bob's Home in Akron, A.A.'s history is becoming more available.

Jayson has been accumulating Oxford Group literature and A.A. memorabilia, and has a special interest in the well-known Oxford Group book For Sinners Only by A.J. Russell. As many know, I have read just about every Oxford Group book in existence and donated thousands of Oxford Group books and papers to various libraries and archives around the U.S.

Now I will turn Jayson loose to share with us his passion for A.A. history and archives; his remarkable observations and questions about For Sinners Only; and information about his own family, education, professional work, religious affiliation, and plans for the future.