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Cryptologic History

Every little bit helps the NCF to influence the cryptologic future by sharing our educational resources, stimulating new knowledge, and commemorating our heritage.

"On This Date in Cryptologic History" Calendar

Learn about a wide variety of historical events related to cryptology, computers, math, cybersecurity, Intelligence, and more.

December 2025

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S M T W T F S
Nov 30 Dec 1 2 3 4 5 6
1887: U.S. Navy began using "The U.S. Navy Secret Code"
1952: Pre-employment Polygraph at NSA.
1932: Polish Cipher Bureau Success!
1950: ATLAS became operational.
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Pearl Harbor Day
1992: Premiere of William Gibson's "Agrippa"
1898: Official End of Spanish-American War
1941: Germany and Italy Declared War on the U.S.
1906: Birth of Grace Hopper - computer pioneer and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral
1815: Birth of Ms. Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmer
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
1977: Filing for RSA Patent
1562: Death of Johannes Trithemius
1972: NSOC Inaugurated
OTD in 1993: National Cryptologic Museum Opened to the Public
2013: Death of Dr. Lowell K. "Jim" Frazer
1801: Patterson's "Perfect Cipher" Letter sent to Thomas Jefferson
1881: First telephone ciphony device invented by James Harris Rodgers.
1958: First NSA Holiday Party.
20 Dec 1969: Anniversary of the Capture of North Vietnamese Notebooks
1946: Meredith Gardner broke into KGB message re: Manhattan Project.
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
1988: Terrorist bombing of Pan Am flight over Scotland.
1961: SP4 James Davis - first American cryptologist killed in Vietnam.
1968: "Pueblo" crew released by North Korea.
1928: Friedman's Coded Holiday Gram
Holiday Season Memories - NSA Building Messages
1948: Stone Board report on centralizing U.S. cryptologic organizations was issued.
2001: Shoe-bomber Richard Reid arrested.
28 29 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 2 3
1951: Brownell Committee established - led to creation of NSA.
1921: William Friedman at Office of the Chief Signal Officer
Monday, December 1, 2025
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Monday, December 15, 2025
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Friday, December 19, 2025
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Monday, December 22, 2025
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Thursday, December 25, 2025
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Sunday, December 28, 2025
Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Learn About the Pioneers

Learn about the various individuals and groups who paved the way in the field of cryptology, cyber, computers, and more.