News & Events

Women Cryptologists USPS Stamp Release at the Museum

Tuesday, October 18, 2022
11:00 am12:00 pm
National Cryptologic Museum - 8290 Colony Seven Rd, Annapolis Junction, MD

With this stamp, the United States Postal Service honors all of the women cryptologists of World War II whose service played an invaluable role in the Allied victory. The Postal Service is pleased to partner with the National Cryptologic Museum for the reveal of this new fascinating stamp and you are invited! PLEASE REGISTER using the link provided below. All dedication attendees must register.

The first-day-of-issue event for the stamps is free and open to the public. Jakki Krage Strako, chief commerce and business solutions officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service, will be present for this event at the National Cryptologic Museum - 8290 Colony Seven Rd, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.

**** The NCF & the INSA Foundation will continue this celebration on 27 October 2022 with Cocktails & Codebreakers. To learn more about this special event, click on the link provided below.

ABOUT THE STAMP

During World War II, some 11,000 women help to process and decipher an endless stream of enemy military messages. Both frustrating and exhilarating, their work was one of the conflict’s best-kept secrets. Today, they are widely considered STEM pioneers, whose contributions opened the door for women in the military and have helped shape information security efforts for future generations.

The stamp art features an image from a World War II-era Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, or WAVES, recruitment poster with an overlay of characters from the “Purple” code. In the pane selvage, seemingly random letters can be deciphered to reveal some key words. The reverse side of the pane discloses the cipher needed to read the words.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #WomenCryptologistStamp

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

INFORMATIVE PROGRAMS

Our cryptologic programs highlight relevant topics and feature exciting guest speakers.