The American Cryptogram Association (ACA) is an American
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organization devoted to the
hobby
A hobby is considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time. Hobbies include collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, playing Sport, sports, or pursu ...
of
cryptography
Cryptography, or cryptology (from grc, , translit=kryptós "hidden, secret"; and ''graphein'', "to write", or ''-logia'', "study", respectively), is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of adver ...
, with an emphasis on types of codes, ciphers, and
cryptograms
A cryptogram is a type of puzzle that consists of a short piece of encrypted text. Generally the cipher used to encrypt the text is simple enough that the cryptogram can be solved by hand. Substitution ciphers where each letter is replaced by ...
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, 1930. Initially the primary interest was in monoalphabetic
substitution ciphers
In cryptography, a substitution cipher is a method of encrypting in which units of plaintext are replaced with the ciphertext, in a defined manner, with the help of a key; the "units" may be single letters (the most common), pairs of letters, trip ...
(also known as "single alphabet" or "Aristocrat"
puzzles
A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together ( or take them apart) in a logical way, in order to arrive at the correct or fun solution of the puzzle ...
), but this has since extended to dozens of different systems, such as
Playfair,
autokey
AutoKey is a free, open-source scripting application for Linux.
AutoKey allows the user to define hotkeys and trigger phrases which expand to predefined text, automating frequent or repetitive tasks such as correcting typographical errors or c ...
,
transposition, and
Vigenère ciphers.
Since some of its members had belonged to the “
National Puzzlers' League The National Puzzlers' League (NPL) is a nonprofit organization focused on puzzle, puzzling, primarily in the realm of word play and word games. Founded in 1883, it is the oldest puzzlers' organization in the world. It originally hosted semiannual c ...
”, some of the NPL terminology ("nom," "Krewe," etc.) is also used in the ACA.
History ACA
Publications and activities
The association has a collection of books and articles on cryptography and related subjects in the library at Kent State University
Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio. The university also includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio and additional facilities in the region and internationally. Regional campuses are located in As ...
.
An annual convention takes place in late August or early September. Recent conventions have been held in Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is an English country house and estate in Bletchley, Milton Keynes ( Buckinghamshire) that became the principal centre of Allied code-breaking during the Second World War. The mansion was constructed during the years following ...
and Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale () is a coastal city located in the U.S. state of Florida, north of Miami along the Atlantic Ocean. It is the county seat of and largest city in Broward County with a population of 182,760 at the 2020 census, making it the tenth ...
.
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
Helen Fouché Gaines (October 12, 1888 – April 2, 1940) was a member of the American Cryptogram Association and editor of the book ''Cryptanalysis'' (originally ''Elementary Cryptanalysis'') first published in 1939. The book described the prin ...
, member since 1933, who used the nom PICCOLA, editor of the 1939 book ''Elementary Cryptanalysis''.
* Rosario Candela
Rosario Candela (March 7, 1890 – October 3, 1953) was an Italian American architect who achieved renown through his apartment building designs in New York City, primarily during the boom years of the 1920s. He is credited with defining the ci ...
, who used the nom ISKANDER, member since June 1934.
* David Kahn, who used the noms DAKON, ISHCABIBEL and more recently Kahn D.
* Will Shortz
William F. Shortz (born August 26, 1952) is an American puzzle creator and editor and crossword puzzle editor for ''The New York Times''.
Early life and education
Will Shortz was born and raised on an Arabian horse farm in Crawfordsville, Indi ...
, ''New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' Puzzle Editor, who uses the nom WILLz.
* David Shulman
David Shulman (November 12, 1912 – October 30, 2004) was an American lexicographer and cryptographer.
He contributed many early usages to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' and is listed amon"Readers and contributors from collections" for the se ...
, lexicographer
Lexicography is the study of lexicons, and is divided into two separate academic disciplines. It is the art of compiling dictionaries.
* Practical lexicography is the art or craft of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries.
* Theoreti ...
and cryptographer
Cryptography, or cryptology (from grc, , translit=kryptós "hidden, secret"; and ''graphein'', "to write", or ''-logia'', "study", respectively), is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of adver ...
, member since 1933, who used the nom Ab Struse.
* James Gillogly, who uses the nom SCRYER.
* Gelett Burgess
Frank Gelett Burgess (January 30, 1866 – September 18, 1951) was an American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist. An important figure in the San Francisco Bay Area literary renaissance of the 1890s, particularly through his iconoclast ...
, American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist, used the nom TWO O'CLOCK.
* William A. Lee, (1890-1959), radio, film and TV actor, who used the nom TONTO.
References
sci.crypt FAQ
part 10
Official ACA website
Nova Online, PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcasting, public broadcaster and Non-commercial activity, non-commercial, Terrestrial television, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly fu ...
External links
*
sci.crypt FAQ, part 9
ACA Computer Supplements
ACA list of cipher types
{{Authority control
Nonprofit hobbyist organizations based in the United States
Cryptography organizations
Puzzles
Organizations established in 1930