American Cryptogram Association

ACA logo

The American Cryptogram Association is an American non-profit organization devoted to the hobby of cryptography, with an emphasis on types of codes, ciphers, and cryptograms that can be solved either with pencil and paper, or with computers, but not computer-only systems.

History

The ACA was formed on September 1, 1929. Initially the primary interest was in monoalphabetic substitution ciphers (also known as "single alphabet" or "Aristocrat" puzzles), but this has since extended to dozens of different systems, such as Playfair, autokey, transposition, and Vigenère ciphers.

Since some of its members had belonged to the National Puzzlers' League, some of the NPL terminology ("nom," "Krewe," etc.) is also used in the ACA.

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Publications and activities

The association has a collection of books and articles on cryptography and related subjects in the library at Kent State University.

An annual convention takes place in August. Recent conventions have been held in Bletchley Park and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

There is also a regular journal called The Cryptogram, which first appeared in February, 1932, and has grown to a 28-page bimonthly periodical which includes articles and challenge ciphers.

Notable members

• H. O. Yardley, who used the nom BOZO, first Vice President in 1933.
• Helen Fouché Gaines, member since 1933, who used the nom PICCOLA, editor of the 1939 book Elementary Cryptanalysis.
• Rosario Candela, who used the nom ISKANDER, member since June 1934.
• David Kahn, who used the noms DAKON, ISHCABIBEL and more recently Kahn D.
• Will Shortz, New York Times Puzzle Editor, who uses the nom WILLz.
• David Shulman, lexicographer and cryptographer, member since 1933, who used the nom Ab Struse.
• James Gillogly, who uses the nom SCRYER.

References

• sci.crypt FAQ, part 10
• Official ACA website
• "Decoding Nazi Secrets", Nova Online, PBS

External links

• Media related to American Cryptogram Association at Wikimedia Commons
• sci.crypt FAQ, part 9
• ACA Computer Supplements
• ACA list of cipher types