Henrietta Buckler Seiberling

Henrietta Buckler Seiberling (March 18, 1888 – December 5, 1979) was a member of a Christian Fellowship group named the Oxford group. She and others of the Oxford group founded Alcoholics Anonymous.

Born in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky to Judge Julius A. Buckler and Mary Maddox, Seiberling spent her childhood in Texas. She remained in Texas until she went to Vassar College to receive her A.B. degree with a major in music and a minor in psychology, as she was a gifted pianist. While serving as a lieutenant in the Ohio National Guard, she met her husband Fredrick Seiberling. They married in 1917 in Akron, Ohio, and had three children.

Though Seiberling herself was not an alcoholic, she believed as a Christian that it was her responsibility to solve social problems. Seiberling began the “alcoholic squad,” or the first version of Alcoholics Anonymous. In their first case, Dr. Bob Smith admitted that he was a secret drinker, marking the first time the Akron Oxford Group prayed together to help someone through alcoholism. Although the majority of the Seiberling family were members at a Lutheran church near their house, she was not. Seiberling was more of a "student of the bible," rather than a "church-goer."

The Oxford Group came along when Henrietta’s marriage to Fredrick Seiberling was crumbling. Her daughter Dorthy said that “It gave her a new focus, and helped her see that there was more to life than marital problems.” Henrietta grew closer to Bob and Ann Smith, and would call Ann everyday to talk about the comfort they both received through the Oxford Group.

Seiberling was very involved in the development of early Alcoholics Anonymous. Seiberling helped by teaching alcoholics about the Bible, Christianity, and God. Seiberling "called the shots" at many of the early Akron meetings. She would continuously lead the meetings with Bible study and by conferring with the alcoholics.

Her son, John F. Seiberling, was a Representative in the United States Congress from Ohio and a member of the Democratic party. Seiberling also had 2 daughters, Mary S. Huhn and Dorothy Seiberling Steinberg, who was a deputy editor for the New York Times Magazine.

Seiberling died in New York City on December 5, 1979. On her gravestone is an inscription familiar to both the Oxford Group people and to the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous: "Let God and Let Go."