The friends who
helped make
it happen.

Inspired by Charlie.
Continued in service.

In memory of Charles “Charlie” Bishop
“The Bishop of Books”

I met Charlie Bishop, and he made a lasting impact on me. After some time, I took up where Charlie left off, creating A.A. history calendars to help keep these stories alive and share them with others.

Charlie was a teacher, journalist, author, and historian. A member of St. Michael Parish in Wheeling, he attended St. Michael Grade School and Central Catholic High School, then graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University in 1960. He taught high school English in Wheeling and Maryland for three and a half years before beginning his writing career.

He reported for The Associated Press in West Virginia and later served as city editor of the Wheeling News Register. In 1976, he founded The Bishop of Books in Wheeling, later operating in Steubenville, Ohio, with his partner, Roger Bertoia. Charlie sold the business to Roger in 1988.

For four decades, Charlie wrote and lectured about the literature of alcoholism, recovery, and Alcoholics Anonymous. He published eleven books and produced the Sobriety & AA History Calendar from 1990 through 2013. His work inspired me to carry on the calendar tradition.

All proceeds go back into A.A.

All proceeds from my calendar sales go back into A.A. I use them to buy Big Books, notebooks, ink pens, highlighters, and pencils for people who cannot afford these materials. I also make donations to area intergroups and support people who present Big Book programs through Zoom.

These calendars are my way of remembering Charlie, sharing A.A.’s history, and helping others have the materials and opportunities to learn.

— Bob Mazur