Helen Fouché Gaines (October 12, 1888 – April 2, 1940) was a member of the

American Cryptogram Association The American Cryptogram Association (ACA) 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 ...

and editor of the book ''Cryptanalysis'' (originally ''Elementary Cryptanalysis'') first published in 1939. The book described the principal cryptographic systems of the 19th century and cracking methods including elementary contact analysis (cryptanalysis). Her

pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...

was PICCOLA. Shortly after the publication of the book, she died.

Publications

References

External links

ACA history of the book from ''The ACA and you''Official ACA siteArkansas Women’s History Institute
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaines, Helen Fouche Recreational cryptographers 1888 births 1940 deaths People from Hot Springs, Arkansas People from Lake Village, Arkansas 20th-century cryptographers