REF ID:A70106 

Mr. w. M. Bowen 

Presldmt 

-

.American Cr;yptogrma Association 

217 Concord street 

Clarksburg. H. VirSlnia 

Dear Mr. Bowers: 

Receipt. of your letter ot 6 september l9S2. vi th its 

enclosures. is acknovledged. 

I 8lll sorry not to be able to usiat. in vays which wuld 

help but I thank you Dlmll'theless tor keeping • intormed. 

Sinceral.7. 

WILLIAM F. FRIEDMAlf 

W .F .Fried-.n/ eb7/10 Sept. S2 

Consultant/60493 

@'pproved for Release by NSA on 03-27-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
- - ----~~~~~------------- ' 

I lllAlll Ill 'l1'IU 

I 

I 

• 
REF I£:A70106 

w. --M. BOWERS 

1117 CDNCDRD ST. 

CLARKBBURIJ, W. VA. 

Se~. 61 1952 

Kr. Willillm F. Friedman 

Washington, D.c. 

Dear :ur. Friedman: 

I am sending you the enclosed 

because it was my thought that ~bu-might 

tind the clipping amusi:!lg. The copy of 

the financial statement of the ACA may 

also be of interest as it supports, to 

some extent, the argument which was the 

basis ot our correspondence of a year or 

more ago. 

Youra very truly, 

W.X.Bowers 

' 
\ 

\ 

I 

r 

I 

{ 

\ 

/-"', REF ID :A70106 I ' c..._/ 

.................. , ..... . 

FINANCES A PUZZLE 

TO CIPHER EXPERTS 

Cryptanalysts, in Convention 

Here, Find Association Is 

Heading Into. the Red 

The members o! the American 

Cryptogram Association took a collective look yesterday at H. .distressing. message. They dectpherc" it instantly. 

One delegate to the gl:oup's 

twentieth · · annual convention 

glanced at the rows o! symbolic 

figures and with characteristic 

speed offered his analysis: "The 

handwriting Is on the wall. What we need is action and less talk." 

Dt!eoded into the bluihest terms, 

the message was that the associa- • tlon was slowly going broke. • 

'.l'he mathematical wizards amo!lg l 

the c~·yl?tanalysts-Y'.hich would mean Just about every one o! the 

sixty members here asscmbledgave the· association two years of 

life in the · black. Bank reserves, 

they satd. would not hold out be- I 

yond 1954; and something would J 

have to be done about' the dwin- • d!ing membership, now down 1 

to 500, ' I 

Optimism prevailed, however, at 

the association .business meeting I 

in the New Yorker Hotel. These \ men and women, wlio had spent 

most of their spare time in solving the allegedly insol','.able, rallied 

1

1 

to the challenge. Surely a budget 

could be no worse than a tri!id, 

bi!id or Baconian cipher. 

Left to Executive . Commfttee j 

Milton Haro.wltz, a .New York · attorney, suggested raising dues j 

from $3 to $5. President Wllllam 1 M. Bowers, an engineer, thought , voluntuy contributions might be j 

forthcoming. The membership em- : powered the executive committee · .• to .unscramble the difficulty. · 

' ' .· 

\ _.) 

'-' 

THE NEW YORK TIMES, 

r I 

\ MO~-D~ ~·~~~~~EMBER 1, ~952. 

i·~- "i) · . ~ 11e 1l!O::S COi 1 The conventfon ran into further at Indianapolii trouble when Frank H. Kreuter of 

DPexel l:"lll, Pa., was chosen presi- One. resolut 

dent for the coming ~ar with no abolition o! P 

one's objection except his own. and t~c elect! . by a direct vo· Mr. Kreuter, pleading the pres- organization 8 sure of prlv~te affairs, had sought the voting a t,:i remove his ~am!! from the one- years. 

slate ~allot. This was ruled uncon- The Taftstitut1onal. The members learnctl urged Congre: 

yesterdry that he had beP.n duly committee to : elected, eltlr.ough h_e had resigned ment relation: 

the week before, prior to the tabu- needed revislor 

latlon or votes: . result or a car The t•m:c1;t1ve committee ~as ings" on the T; charp~:i "."1t~ t~e task of cracking resolution also 

the D-JSoc1ahon s legal code. deny certlficati 

In Defense o! l\llstake!' Labo1· Relatio1 

C';.ie problem was resolved with union i! its o!f re~itive ease. William A. Lee, an known n;ember. 

actor and the new second vice pi·es- Communist par 

ident, answered t.o applause the A!lks Stand 

charge that puz~le~ I~ Th_e Crypto- The convent 

gran:i, t~e assoc10.t1on ~ bi-monthly declaration by p~bhcat1on, contained too many that fu th mistakes r. er ag 

"What: are you cryptanalysts or Ru~si~n sat• 

for?" Mr. Le declared "Why ::is an act o! WE e · · ' force "nccessar· 

every me?sage the profe~sionals terminat th' · 

i:-ct ~ontams d_ozens .of ~1~take~. The ve~era~sa Thats part o! the fun and tl s pa1 t the u 't d c otthejob!" . "h _me~ The vote of con Cid enc for the l e sti ongcst e magazine brought the etwo-hour again~t. the Czc 

business meeting to a happy end. ~- ~Ltts, Asso• 

The· delegates, who will _devote _to- ·p~isone~\t·as < day to New York sight-seeing e . rn t·,ips, adjourned with a tinanlmovs A . special h_( 

resolution calling ·on E. HerrlcK. ~dopted lhnt Cl 

Field, secretary or the association", 111 the loan ~ua to write a letter to E. Herrick the ~· I. Bill 

Field, president. of the New York man~ing tlghte ~ipher Society, thanking the lat- services for veto 

ter for its hospitality to the1 The Harold 

parent l;lody. I named after th1 

LISTS-SfoHT -SAVING RULES 1 ~~~tr~~m~~~ ~ . up of Chinese-, 

fo1· their "contr 

Blindness Prevention Society hood and unden 

Offers Protection Advice The Cqmmun 

went to Lee Ca: 

Marking National Sight-Saving New Iberia, Lu. 

Month, beginning today, Mason H., 1'he America 

Bigelow, president of the Na.tional made to the Re' !':n~; .. t" f,,~ tho PrPvenUon of Roman Catholic ....... ,.,,..,.. . ~ 

·--------·-------·---------·-· -·-·--- ---·-·----- -·---~·-·---

--··-···- ······-- ·-----·-------
REF ID:A70106 

f ·: 'I. 

\ . '. _, . , 

/')' , . ~ 

THE AlimlCAIJ CnYPTOORAll JiSS(x;IA~lOU 

I 

COHPARATIVE FilL\1£IAL STATE?Efl' ~ ·~I 

AtnlET :31, 1952 

Ire REASE Pmel!1JTAGE) 

UJ.W1'Si 1952 1951 (IE.RFASE) 1952 1951 

?Jalanoe Porwnrdtd ~ 

ll2l 21 7W 28 4l3 93 46 25 23 6S ... ~ 'flj/, .....,..._.,........,.. 

lllli>ership ~ I' ll.57 50 l.643 00 55 OJ O~baUObll ( C o P s ) 56 72 B6 lO !Ill 2 33 2 00 

SS80 . 9 00 45· 50 37 1 52 

•' •m.oxw 9 00 2S$ 00 ) 37 9 64 F~ Post&G• Feee ll 75 ll 75 4B 

Special ~ flffC' 6 JS 6 38 26 

Int~ on . G 8erlee U.S. l3oDls 55 00 55 00 - 2 26 l S4 ~ Oop1ee 1 The 01"¥¢.ogl'Qll 25 43 15 ~~~~ ~ 

01 145 

5 06 llS 36 21 3 96 - - !Of.AL RDV.iIP1'8 1310 ~ 2Z/9 ll (968 45) 53 75 76 32 .. ~ -~ <55452> !O'l'AL Oi'DJ.Tml B'tJHOO ~ 

f¥..3l ~ ~ 

2986 39 ~ 

100 

~ 

00 ~ 100 00 

: 

Pldatdac~ ~ °'17PtoSraa 949 7S 816 43 133 35 47 54 43 77 ·•. .. l.i fbe <h7°PtoSX'6lll gs 25 170 84. ( S2 59) 4 42 9 16 

~"° 24 00 24 00 - l 20 1 29 

\ ho & G.enc1'$l Poetoge 39 12 95 65 ~ 56 53) 196 5 l3 

ottto. ~- & ltxpons• lJl 61 216 90 S5 29) 6 59 ll 6.3 

===--~ . 

240 00 210 00 30 00 12 01 11 26 

,· &~ 271 93 65 76 2Cii 17 lJ 61 3 5J (,..,._ 

,...~. 10 00 10 00 50 5.3 , .. ~ r 

~ ~~'' 

~~JJl-1 Z'l 50 v 50 l 38 j ' ' 

._ ~;o Gharg$S 5 S2 5 S2 29 . ' 

~&~ 6 00 6 00 30 L' ~~ 3 00 3 00 15 

:,! ~. 35 00 20 00 15 00 l 75 l (f/ 

,>"itJ. ', ~ 45 70 25~ 19 83 2 29 1 39 

t·;";,1,; ·"' ~~.., 45 00 45 00 2 25 

~·/:'~l. ~ .. >r 6-fWW.c;a·~ 7$ 00 50 00 25 00 3 76 2 6S 

··' ~~e9 159 7'J (159 'TJ) 8 56 - -

fl - IB~&ma ~ 

1997 7l ~ 

11365 18 l32 53 100 00 100 00 

~:~~ 1.• 1"LUM (ff lllND 434 16 lJ2l 21 {6if05) """" ,., ·il'T. . -- llicf'\ ' 
REF ID:A70106 

CASH ON HAND AND Ill BAIM 

Petty Cash 

The Canton Ifntional. Be.nk 

F & G Series, u.s. Bon:ls 

TOTAL CASH Cl'i MIID Al!D Il! Bt\IIK 

ACCO mm RIDEIVADLE 

Membership Dues 

other 

TOTAL ACCOU11l'S REX;EIVADLE 

Less: Reserve for Doubtf'uls 

IlWLlf!OROO 

Office Supplies 

lti j 1 ing S\ippliee 

Text Books, Eto. 

Dack Copies 

TOTAL IIM!1TORIES 

FIXED ASSEI'S 

Fm-niture & F.quipmen:t 

Library 

Ll!SSi Reserve, Depreciation 

NE1' FURNITURE AHD EQUIHE~ 

AIDIBT .31, 1952 

IlJJRFASE 

1952 1951 (Dg;RI!'ASE) 

52 

434 16 22so oo 

~ 

2684 6S 

615 00 

10 00 

625 00 

150 00 

475 00 

3159 68 ~--........""'-. 

40 24 

28 55 

71 00 

231 ¥ 

37? Zl 

~ 

3536 95 

29 37 

4229 01 

ll.21 21 

2250 00 

~ 

52 

(687 05) 

Not Available 

4044 

94 50 

28 SS 

( X7 50) 

.AAl 4t! 

94 50 2J!r;. 77 

65 76 420 56 

200 00 5000 

zz ~ 265 76 J96 93 

. ~ 37 

1 

) 

1 

, I 

,: 

,.j 
-~F ID:A70106 • 

Dear Mr. Br7&n: 

424 t1orth George Ka.eon Drive 

.Arlington 3, Virginia. 

11 Janua17 1951 

I have ;vour letter of 30 December 1950 with ite intormation about a new member or your Association. I regret that I 

am not in a position to give you &I\J' addce with respect t.o 

possible moditicationa or 70ur rules for membership and think 

J'OU should feel tree to exercise your own judgment in connection 

vdth auch matters. 

I also have your letter ot 14 December and note what :rou 

sa;y w1 th respect to a possible mention or the Mendelsohn Paper 

1n a forthcoming issue ot your magazine. 

I know we received a liet ot members of the ACA who are 

thought to be quite competent, and I believe that good use is 

being made or the list furnished. 

With best wishes to you for the New Year1 I am, 

Sincerely 70urs, 

Mr. William G. P17&D 

The .American Cryptogram Association 

Bul"to11, Ohio 
.. OVALS, DISAPPROVALS, 

W19L'RP.ENCES, OR SIMILAR ACTIONS 

I NAME OR TITLE 

2 

4 

FROM NAME OR TllLE 

NM E FORM NO 9 5 Replaces DA .<lOO Farm 8Dr>, t OCT 48 1 A.pr 48, whlel.t may oo u."<.d. 

CIRCULATE 

COORDINATION 

FILE 

INFORMATION 

NECESSARY 

ACTION 

NOTE AND RETURN 

SEE ME 

SIGNATURE 

1e-t848T-8 -It GPO 
• 

·~ 

• ~: TEXTSDDK • REF ID:A70106. 

SDLVIN13 

ELEMENTARY CRYPTANALYSIS SIMPLE SUBSTITUTIDN CIPHERS 

William F. Friedman 

Armed For.oes Security. Agency Washington 25, n.c. 

Dear Mr. Friedman: 

This is to advise that 

Soedarpo Sastrosatomo, Press Attache 

Embassy of Indonesia 

2523 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 

1s now a member of our Association. 

Burton, Ohio 

December 30, 1950 

Do you have any suggestions along similar lines, which will 

affect our acceptances of future memberships, at this crucial 

time? 

Sincerely You~s, 

p;M~O~r8~~ ~William G. Bryan, Publish~r American Cryptogram A~sociat1on 

ASSOCIATION 

MEADQUARTERS • • • • • • BURTON, OMIO 
• REF ID:A70106 

Dear Mr. Friedman: 

• 

Burton, Ohio 

December 14, 1950 

Thank you so much tor giving me the name of the proper governmental 

agency to contact in the case I mentioned; but since your headquarters intend to request a listing ot available personnel on our roster 1n 

the near tuture, the chances are that I shall have no use tor it. 

At pre sent we have as formidable a listing as we had before World War 

II composed ot perhaps a few more youngsters than before, but all of 

the calibre for which you are looking. It Just seemed to me that the 

membership of the assoo1ation is more seriously inclined than 1t was 

before, with more 1nq'dr1ng minds from the analytical sense, more with 

a mathematical background, than we had to work with before. 

I will be in the position to grade them as top notch, mediocre, etc. 

from their solving record, as well as my personal interpretations ot 

their conscientlousness. 

The paper which you mentioned, "Blaise de Vigenere and the 'Chiffre 

carre 1 , by Charles J. Mendelsohn° sounds most interesting; but I won't 

be able to give it any kind of promotion until April 1951; since the 

February magazine is at present in the hands ot our prooessor. But 

when it ls mentioned, and I receive orders for 1t, I'll send you a 

blanket order tor a batoh ot them. and rema11 them from Burton. 

I hope that southern trip was most suocesstul; traveling at this 

time ot year, even from the Capital is always a pleasant innovation; 

but perhaps more to be desired from this part ot the country with 

its 26-38 inch snow talls, as we had over the Thanksgiving weekend. 

Kindest regards .to you and your family, 

Sincerely Yours, ' .. __ ., ' . /"' ' . _A/ i 1 I / o·, J .._;t I C-....-~...v..,.:._ __ _ /~c./ /.;'-/'././ .t:/ _ _,.. ,,. / 

. I 

( 
... T!._. 

. ' t 

Dear Ur• Bryan I 

REF ID:A701~:~ 

~~ 

424 Worth George Ila.ion Drive 

A.rlincton 3, Virginia 

20 November 1950 

Jlr. Rowlett turned over to 1119 ;your letter ot 1 Hoveaber, 

togethor with ita enclosUJ'e, saying that I ahould have tho 

latter &.lllCll)t the curioai tiea ot J1f1 peracmal collection. !hi• 

is all the more intereating beoauae some yean ae;o I bad aome 

direct conta.cts with Kr. Wildon Lloyd., who turned out to be 

quite a oha.raoter. 

I was quite interested in the article in a recent iaaue 

ot Collier1, telling about tho work that AO.A !a doing. You 

should be flooded ·07 applicationa tor meaberahip after that 

nioe publicity. 

Recently I began e;oin~ over my collection a.nd have 

UDOOVBred quite a number of duplicate oopie1 (2 or 3 at mot1t) 

of' some inwreati11g old thing•. I wonder whether some ACJ. 

member• who collect would be interested. I:t I sent you a 

list later on, could you use it? 

With cordial breetings, I am, 

Sincerely your•, 

Jfr. William G. Bryan 

The American Crypt06l"&m Association 

Burto.n, Ohl o 
--- -- - -- -

al 

REF ID :A70106 •. 

Kee ·--- s ~,___G~a·o/--=-e-CQ,..f...S-U_ ---- ·-. --

•--------'s;_~ua L __ ~$ /s 8_ o.s il."«-------

•~--~-'-'-._._~~~~~rLe.s~/4g~ a~L~~~K--~-
REF ID :A70106 e 

-5ee. .#( _a6e;.-ye____ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ __________ _ 

-- -- -- --- -- __________ 2h;_s_ ____ ~_c.t:O. a_ ___ j... __ _ -~,,/ a7'JP-~~~?- _ --~.r ____ _ 

------ - leb? -~ ~1£_/-.e/ _ _cz,:1_r/ ___ k ___ ie~~ _ -f.eaJfe..j_ __ o/- __ _ -_________ Z'J_e._ ---ZA?-,,,,tj~b~ _ Sc.a ~e..~ __ d_ _ _2'k __ ~L ___ _ -~ ~J:£.s f, ~e. _ _ _( &, ___ _ //1c Ken~~~) __ __ _ _ ____ _ 

-- SC> 2E__§Vs -2-- - s 6 wr& ____ _ _ ____ _ __ _ ______________________________________ _ 
-------------------~~~----- REF ID:A70106 
REF ID:A70106 • 

--~--p2-re.re,.,f d-J,,.s ~-~"'/ 1.f. Jk.f ,,/ -~dueL &r,.co~ _ 

,¢4.r /J_Q__/A...:f,~crL «4 L c.t:1u7dd i: 

~ 

C&'ar/e~ t:d ~-rh·c/C 
• 

Kr. W. K. lowere 

ll7 CoDcoJd SW..t 

Cl.ark8burc, W. Y1rg:Lnia 

Dear Hr. B<Mtra 1 

REF ID:A70106 • 

748 

•. ~ At't< 1952 

A couple d.aya abaence f'roa rq dHk baa dela.yed -.q- repqiDg to 

your letter o! 6 .lpril 19)2. 

The only obJectioll there cc:W.d be to the use of yo'IU' tile ot 

corre9P0Ddenoe nlat.iY• to your end•von to obtain troa tbe Depu"t.-

11cmt o! DeteDH tinmacial aid tor tbe .Per.Loc CJ7Ptocnua Assoc1at.1GD 

vould be baaed upon the de.sire ol tbe ~t to &YOid public1'7 

conoeming tDe Rl•\moe ot this APJlC7 ancl the nature of ita •tirtU.a. 

That lllACh pul>l1c1'7 1• Weed umeeirable ia atteated to in an w_._ 

entiU. •nner b7 the fact. that the ConpaH tom:t it necesaary to 

provide spec:Lal legislation (Public Lav No • .$13, vi th which 70u u. no 

doubt !udliar) for th• pft)tection o! all intol'IMlt.ion conceJ'llinC u. s. 

cryptologio acti Y.1. ti••. 

In su.cge.Ung that you ra!'rain tl"Oa uaing your tile, I can th_.... 

fore only appeal te your good jwgment and pat.rioti• since it 1a 

obViou that your artJ.cle would brinl publioit7 that would not be 

particular}¥ eabarrassl.ng but si.napl.¥ undesirable. 

Ml210 FOH. RECORD: 

Sincerely 1 

WILLIAM F. FRIEDMAI 

~i •. t".Friedman/eby/ll Apr 52 

Consultant/Ext. 6o493 

This is a reply to a personal letter, to l"ir. Friedman, from Mr. Bowers 

asking for oermission to use his file of correspondence, regarding his 

request for financial aid for the ACA from the Dept. of Defense, in a 

magazine article. 
qF ID:A70106 

• W. M. BOWERS 

817 CaNcaRD BT. 

CLARKSBURG, W. VA. 

April 6, 1952 

Mr. 'tlillia.til F. Fried.man 

Armed Forces Security Agency Washington, D. c. 

Dear l\.flr. Friedma.."l: 

/Ater to 

'8A-OOT/ef 

Serial: 910 

I find that I have to bother ycu once more. 

A certain matter has arisen with which I hesitate to 

proceed before first advising of the circumstances 

concerning it. In brief they 8.!'e: 

TRUE magazine has expressed the desire to have 

one of their staff writers do an article on The .American 

Cryptogram Association. Is there any objection on your 

part to the use of my file of correspondence, relative 

to my request for financial aid from the Department of 

Defense, in the preparation of this story ? 

You are familiar with all papers in that file with 

the exception of a letter written by me to my son in 

which I gave him an account of what transpired during my 

conference with you of about a year ago. This letter was 

perhaps more complete, with regard to our conversation, 

than the memorandum which I sent you immediately following my return from Washington. 

Mr. William G. Bryan, formerly editor of TEE CRYPTOGRAM, and now an employee of the AFSA, can perhaps give 

you an idea of what form TRUE's article might take, as it 

was prior to his resignation that we were first approached 

relative to this article. 

I realize that you a.re busy with matters of greater 

import than this and am reluctant to make demands upon 

your time which, perhaps, is insufficient for more pressing 

matters. Consequently, if you have no objection to offer, 

there is no necessity for an immediate answer to this letter. I shall delay any action on the matter for a reasonable length of time - about a week - and if then I have 

not heard from you to the contrary, I will assume that you 

have no objection to my including the file mentioned in 

the material being prepared for the story. 

Cordially Yours, 
\

'\ ()"' \ ., ,., '.. -r--__,_ ""r~- °Rft 1i;a.i A 1 o ~.Q.6 • IV'l\1:0199! 

~K":~\ (q.,..:;\· ,,,;._ 

~ ~ r /t·r·~-v .. ~.!v\ ~.x,P,'-~-J:. C-1,,;,..,. -~ s o~-·'- · 

~~ . ) J ..,. "'-"· ""' ._.J..-,._:,_ ~ . 

~~-tr ~ 

(yv.k M 

,.-k 

·"-""r. 

p ~ ~-~ . ~.,...".._,J._;,,,. . ~...;t..,..Jt-:,vv"' I) ~ c:i.>-' l ... (.,,,... ;.J- ~ J-,. μ___ °""'i -

r~-~~~~ ~ ~ ~ -t; ~...,.... N'> fv ~ 1.J.N...rA~l fJ- c l'J. · · 

~ 

HfR£0 R. MARCY . rotor:e1, Signal CorPS 

Chiet ot stall ' 
1 NAME OR TITLE INITIALS 

DATE 

2 

3 

4 

REMARKS 

FROM NAME OR TITLE 

ORGANIZATION AND LOCATION 

DD FORM 9 5 Replaces DA AGO l'orm 800, I Apr 411, and AFHQ I FEB 50 Form 12. 10 Nov 47, which may be used. 

CIRCULATE 

COORDINATION 

FILE 

INFORMATION 

NECESSARY 

ACTION 

NOTE AND 

RETURN 

SEE ME 

SIGNATURE 

.0-18-411487-t GPO "fl 
IJ1 

Mr. w. M. Bowers 

REF ID:A70106 

• DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE e 

ARMED FORCES SECURITY AGENCY 

WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 

217 Concord Street 

Clarksburg, W. Virginia 

Dear Hr. Bowers: 

IN REPLY REFER TO 

A couple days absax:e trom my desk has del.qed. my replJing to 

your letter of 6 April 19S2. 

The only objection there could be to the use or your file o£ 

correspondence relati.Ye to your emeavors to obtain fl'l:ml the Depart.. 

mmt. or Detense financial aid ior tile .American Cryptogram Association 

vould te based upon the desire o1' the Department _to avoid publicit7 

concerning tb.e existence ot this Agenc7 and the nature of ita actiTitiee. 

That such publicity is indeed wxlesirable is attested to in an inf'erential anner by the fact that the Congress tau.nd it necessary to 

pro'Vide special leg;Lslat.ion (Ptlblic Lav ?lo. 513, w:i th which you are no 

doubt fam:iJiar) for the protection of all int'ormation concerning u. s. 

crypto1ogic actiVi~s. 

In su.ggesting that you refrain from using ;your :file, I can there-

! ore onl,y appeal to 70ur good jlld.pent and patriotism since it is 

obnous that your artiele wuld uring p-11blicity that would not be 

particularly embarrassing but simp.1.1' undesirable. 

Sincerely, 

WILLIAM F. FRIEDMAN 
d --'!'Q RF ii" -r..m ~ n 7 o 1 n 6 ·- I NEYER u,Z R APPR<W ALS, DISAPPROY ALS. MEMO ROUTING SLIP CONCURRENCES. OR S/111/LAR ACTIONS 

1 NAME OR TITLE AF SA - IS- I INITIALS CIRCULATE 

- ORGANIZATION AND LOCATION DATE COORDINATION 

2 ArS--A- - - FILE -i+ c~ / --

r v INFORMATION 

3 'jcESSARY CTION 

-

'Y NOTE AND RETURN 

4 SEE ME 

- SIGNATURE 

REMARKS 

$11- ~~~ 

~. ~~a.--& 

~~ ~ ~ 

~ ~ /\VO ~ 

J 

FROM NAME OR TITLE 

ORGANIZATION AND LOCATION 

DD 1~~~50 95 

\Y(' 

:-J;;;, 

Repl11C1•• DA AG 0 Form 89'>, I A pr ~x. a111l A~- BQ 

Form 12, 10 Nov 47, wh1cb may be used. 

7~L.O~,s-1 *LEPHONE I 

~ CPO 19Sl • 6 92Sa&4 

-
.. . , REF ID:A70106 

Kr. William F. Friedman 

Armed Forces Security .Agency Washington 25, D.c. 

Dear Kr. Friedman: 

• 

21? Concord st; ' 

Clarksburg, w.va • 

July 2, 1:951 

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter ot June 20th as · well a.a that ot April ~0th which I realized had crossed mine of about 

the same date. 

Your answer to my question about the Extension Courses has been 

noted. Ky only reason for asking it was that I wanted your books on 

cryptanalysis tor my own use, and was willing to take the courses, it 

necessary, in order to get them. 

In regard to my other question your report is indeed most interesting. When I asked if the A.C.A. could be of a:ay assistance to 

the Agency I was not aware that you were, at that time, conducting a 

drive for recruits from our membership. The result of this drive was 

probably less than you hoped for, but I do not consider it as having 

any bearing on my que·stion. The tabulation shown in yo\lr letter ad~· 

dressed to Yr. William G. Bryan, a copy of· which you sent me, does not 

represent any activity on the pat of the .American Cryptogram Association. 

As I interpret it, it seems to be the result of a deal cooked up by the 

Agency in conjunction with :Kr. :Bryan, personally. ~e governing body of the A.C.A. was, most certainly, not consulted in this transaction, 

had no knowledge of it nor any part in the promotion of itf and so, for 

that reason, hesitates to accept any of the credit for its 3.4% success • . . 

I have no data, other than the bare figures given in your let·ter, 

on which to base an analysis of the miserable result of this recril'itment 

campaign. However, it strikea me that the result speaks for itself and 

the inference is that the Security Agency has little or nothing.- of an· 

attractive nature, to offer to the vast maJority of the present membership ot the·A.C.A. As presently comprised, this membership includes · many men holding responsible positions in the civilian world; and many 

women who could not easily abandon their obligations, relative to home 

and family, tor the purpose ot taking service with the Agency. It you will pardon an unsolicited expression of opinion, it occurs to me that· 

the field wherein the Agency might better expect to find many recruits, 

is that of students and other young people who have not yet achieved 

positions of responsibility or assumed obligations which they cannot 

discard. 

Within recent months, the A.C.A. has been approached by two such 

groups, one from Texas A.&K. and the other from Albany, li.Y. Both re~ 

quested special consideration in regard to purchase of textbooks and a 

discount, for group membership, on the dues and subscription price of 

the magazine. With 1 ta financial status at its present low ebb, the· 

A.C.A. is not now in a position to favor these groups by giving them 

this material and special membership at reduced prices. With sufficient 

funds from other sources to defray operating expenses, the .American · Cryptogram Association could encourage and develop interest among these· · young civilians, could recruit and train such groups. On the other hand, 
"\ ·•. \ . 

. ~ ~~F ID:~7.nl06 

according to the st~ent'"'rn ycur '.!et~er ef 

well tounded' policy of the Agency restricts 

this tield. 

Friedman - 2 

Ju~20th, the 'no doubt it-~om doing anything in 

As aJ.l items of our agenda now seem to have been disposed of, I 

expect that this is the final installment of a very interesting exchange of letters which started last November. :Bu.tbefore signing off, I feel 

that you will be glad to learn that, in spite of my prophecy that such 

might be the case, the A.C.A. is not going to 'fold' in the immediate 

future. To avert that sad end, it is undergoing a transition from its 

former status as a glorified 'pen pals club' into a self supporting organ- ization. You can readily realize that this can be successfally accomplished only by a campaign of widespread publicity through newspaper and 

magazine articles, publication of additional textbooks, and various other 

activities, fashioned to create interest in cryptography. 

In recent months I have learned something of how seriously the Secu~ity Agency takes itself and of its aversion toward any and aJ.l 

activity which might call public attention to the fact th.at codes and 

ciphers exist. Also, I feel reasonably sure that in considering my 

request for financial. assistance for the A.C.A., the representitivee of the Agency must have foreseen that if they rendered no aid, the A.C.A. 

would have no alternative other than to close up shop, or to take energetic steps on its own initiative, in order to earn the funds necessary for operating e:x})enses. Weighing these facts, I must confess that I 

was, to some extent, amazed, when my recent suggestion relative to a 

small measure of Departmental support carrying with it supervision of 

the activities of these civilian cryptanalytic enthusiasts, was so 

casually vetoed. During past years, with one of their own men in the 

driTer 1 s seat, the Security Agency could easily laugh-off the activities 

r .. ; ,,. of the A.C.A. as child's play. To-day, as far as I know, the A.C.A. · / · has been liberated from the guiding and restraining hand of all outside 

influence. 

The above are merely random thoughts that have occured to me since 

my visit to your office. They require no answer on your part. Consequently, as this may well be the last time that I will have occasion 

to write to you, I wish to close by eXJ":ressing my appreciation for the 

consideration you have given to my requests and inquiries, as well as 

the time that you have devoted to investigating and answering them. 

Yours Tery truly, 
·,_ ~. 

1,'. 

'• 

•· ••• 

. . b dele.Y. ia l'ffPC)OOing to 10Ur l•tt.el- of 1fl ~ 1951,. 1rbieh 

tv the wq CS'Ouecl rq 19tter of 30 April to ;rou~ baa bMn occadODld 

. ' b.r llV de-1.re to ~"-~ pouibilitlu inrol.1*1 in the two 

qu~ 10\J nUe in J'CUl" ~·ttn •. 

- · '~ to .bather the ~c&n ~ ~tion can-·i. of ars;r 

-~ to t.be /..gfnlq in conneotion with NC1'Ui1armt of panolll'9lt · I l'tlgl'9'tt to 881' that~,~ to date 1t1th circu:lar1SUJg AOA 

m rare ~ ~· f.M. amount _ct 'llOl"k tmel.ftd- aa aalllNd in 

i.... ot product..iw Na\llt•.. lo. tbia cormet.ion, I encl.He ·a oow 

ot a .reoen~ 19tter to !lr". Br"JU,; which I thin1t will be ot inteNtltr .. 

A• to whether pQ't.icipation bl ~ ~on Coureea in . ~~ 1• ~aible toJ> re.fl)Onllible cit.isens not in th• .QWJIJ 

Forces, et-., herie again it is with regnt. that. I must. gift 10\l a 

negati:" ...... · ,,. .. course• are ~ by the Depart.ment · 

or .. the Alwr~ aid ·tbft reguJ.aU.ona gowern1J!g pal"tio:1pation t:MN1n an . II(). l'if.1d \M.\ ori1J indi'ridi1als '1lbo are oonnactad -1th the Aftlld . F'o~ ml 1'ba ba'I$ .-td the-retar IN .utibl.• :ro:r enrou.nt.. '!be 

reuont · rw thia poUcy 81'e no doubt· wU founded. but I am not JA a · poaiti.on te outllne tha... 

- " ~ . ">1th 1*rt. roa~, I a, 

.,. ~ ... ,· 1 I\ 

. , '. , 

~ ..... 

~ - ·, 

.. ~ . 

. . . 

-

William F. Friedman/ef/19 Jun 51 

AFSA-OOT, Ext 60240 
REF ID:A70106 • 

Dear lit". Bryans 

I retv to J'OUI" letter ot )!) l\Pl'il 1951, in wh.ich yao. IMlllt.1on 

U. iwa ot "'lftl. ~CA~ td1IO had -.le appllcatia te 

-i>loJDNJt rith u 8lld wbo ._.. awal.t • .t.ng 1fOl'd. u to tbe N.W.t. 

I haw d.i.,y.t ~to YtNr latter paaUsse receipt. ot detaUed 

Woiwat1on tl'9 CUI' perlOmll ott1oe. Utbough it. la not poalbla 

to giw ,_ tall d9taila1 I aan N1 t.bat. our l'Mftit.Malst. effort• 

-. ACA ...... baTe not been. Tfll7 prodllotift, ae )'OU will alAo 

oonalude, no d•bt., tr. eoamtng the tollowii.g tabulation ot 

Nalt.a thua ta1 

Con\aoted 

~ t&iled to rttJ>l.7 

to corruponltnee __. deoltQld 

!taber :rejectecl 

fhnbar aooepted 

TOTAL 

88 

-

2S 

S8 

2 

l 88 

"Sit.h re.raft \o apeeitic indirldual.e aumd 1n 7our letter, ~. 

Robert. f!. Vekea &1111 ''°· l'Nderiok Flta.tt did not. tile a.pplicat.ieu, 

or it t.be7 did, tb9 letten"" bapropwq add.rened; 1-T. ~al.lace c. 

Sh9r ia tlO!:leduled to enter on dut.T on 25 June 19S1J .-. d-• A. 

ot.tenoa and Ms-. Jaok l.aureDM ban been accepted but. no tinal cm-

-.itMnt. u \o their da~ of entry on du\7 ba• beell Mde ae ,.t.J calr 

om -wlioant., Ur. I.ni.9 J. J.W>n, WU tt.a'Md d"*ll. The three wh9 

haw been UMpted. are t.M OMtJ liatC lut. in the tabulatian ahoYe. 

l \hide 1flf1 will a&ree t.hat the reapoMe to ov ettorta uoag ACA 

.-bore hard.J¥ •al'IUta the UIOWlt ot w.-tc that Blat be pert.....t ill 

cmt.aet.e e.ta"'l''*-' via t.hat oh1--l. I r91nt MT inah1J1t.J' te lift 

a ...,.. l&TONblA report, whiob. u in~ ..i..q tor raur oa intoa-

.. ucm. At the - U.. I wish to thank you !Of'~ cooperation. 

Copy to: 

AFSA-14 

AFSA-15 

st.noer.17 1Wl'9 J 

rJ n.LUM F. f Rl~M.A~ 
iD.:A70106 • AFSJ.~/~ 

Serial: 658. 

Jiit. W. It. Bowers 

217 Concord Street -.' 

Clarksburg, West Virginia . ·' 

. - Dear .l!P-.·· Bowers: 

ln ·reply to ·.70ur letter of 11 A,pril, please. aceept. .,- assurance . 

that we s~all be glad to have ME-~ ~return to this Agency if he 

wishes. and it all- other neces-saey conditions. can be met. Rothi.Dg 

you haYe said or written in. coimection with ;,our desire to place the 

American Crn>togram Assoeiation on a .firm financial basis will in 

any wq intluene.e the halJdl.1.ng of lfr. Br7an' s appll.caticm f.or reemployment with this Agenc7. ·· · 

Ple~e accept- also m:r t~a tor the notes which 7011 inclosed . - _with Joor letter. I teel that they surmnarize the situation YeJ:7. •ell•. 

and they have been placed in the tile with the . reporl. which J'OU. left . 

with llJI)• in order that the7 mq be available in the future. ahould· 

need arise •. I regret that f"ail.ure to indie~t.e, earlier in our 

correspondence,. our reluctance to give aw publicit7 to our activit.ie~_, should han-led to arq- mi~enaion in that regard. . . 

.. In _c;losing,. please let me apologize tor unavoidable delq in 

answering · 7fJUr 1e~ter ~ and assure 70ll that I enjoyed talking wit.h ;you. 

I certainly regret rq personal. inabiμ."7' to· be ot •terial assistance 

in tu.rthering ;your desires. · - · · - .. - . 

. ~ -F 

''·-

.. 

... . . Sincer~ 70fJ,ra, . 

·. 

> 

. WDJ.J1M P. FRIEDJWI 

William F. FriedJMJn/ef/27 Apr 51 

AFSA-OOT, Ext 60240 

. ·. 
REF ID:A70106 

W. M. BOWERS 

1117 caNCDllD ST. 

CLARKBBURlll, W, VA. 

A:pr. 29, 1951 

Bear Mr. Friedman: 

As I have not heard from you since the 

occasion of my visit to your office, I fear that you me.y consider this 1etter as an attem.pt on my part to force upon 

you an unwelcome corresponder.ce in which you have no desixe 

to become engaged. Please let ma assure you that such is 

not the case. 

The reason for this letter is simply this. When I wss 

in your ofYica 1ast March I asked you two questions and you told ms taat you would take them under consideration a.nd 

give me en answer to both. Col. Kreps• letter of 5 Apxil 

daal t only with the ba.eic topic discussed at that meeting, · · e..~d I have hed no word from anyone relative to· these other 

matters. Consequently, : am ta.king the liberty of ~riting 

directly to you converning them. The questio~s to which I 

ref ex are these: 

1 - Can the im:lerica.n Cryptogram Association be of a."1.Y 

service to the Security Agency? If' a qu·eationnaire was 

sent to each of the app~oximately 600 members of that orga.ni zation, covering name, address, age, sex, m.a.ri·tai status, 

pilysica.l condition, willingness to enter government service, 

and other pertin~t data; would the info=.metion thus collected be of any use to the Security i~ency? 

2 - Is it possible fer a loyal., responsible, .American 

citizen who is not e member of the A..."""med Forces on active 

duty, nor of the Reserve or National Guard, to amplify his 

or her knowledge of' cryp·tography a...'rld cryptanalysis through 

participaticn in extension courses s~onsored by the Security 

.Agency? 

The above are the two questions wh!oh were left una.~­

swered at the close of our conf erance of March 20th. If 

you feel that you can now give me the ~3werz, I would 

greatly appreciate hea.Ling from you relative to t~em. 

Yours very truly, 

9' r *• = ::1 a r T 
~~ PORM NO. 84 9 9 Office Memorandum • uNITEn sTATEs GOVERNMENT 

• 

TO DATB: 18 April 1951 

PB.OM 

SUBJECT: Propcsed letter to Jlr. Bowers 

1. Attached hereto ia a letter with notea tram l!r. W. M. Bowers or the .American 

Cryptogram Association, with a proposed reply' trom lfr'. Friedaan. 

2. Jlr. Friedman directed. that the correspondence with the propcsed repq be 

forwarded. to you for 701Jr COJI1J1enta or concurrence, and aaka whether, 1n 70lJr opinion, copies or the correspondence should be sent to Colonel Kreps rar hia inf'o:rm.tion. 

:V.ARY C. LANE 

Captain, WAC 
··ir • REF ID:A70106 • 

Vr. w, 11. Bower• 

217 Concord Street 

Clarksburg, West. Virginia 

Dear lfr. Bower•: 

424 North George Jluon Drift 

Arlington 3, Virginia 

18 April 1951 

In rep}7 to :rour letter ot 11 April, please accept rq as1uranae 

that. we ehall be glacl. to ban Ml". BrJan return to thie Agency it h• 

de1ire1, and that nothing TOU haft uid or Wl"itten in cormeotion with 

your deaire to place the Alllrioan Cr;n>togrua Aeaooiation on a tira 

financial basis would in &lJ7 way 1ntluenae th• hand.ling ot Mr. Br7U'• 

application for re-empl0Jlll8Dt wlth thie Agena7. 

Please accept. also rq thanks for the no\ee which JOU 1noloe811. 

with your letter, I feel that tbq nnaarhe the situation Yer'7 well, 

and they haYe been placed in the tile with the report which 1011 lett. 

with me, in order that thq 11JAT be a'ftil.able in the future, ahoald. 

need ariee. I regret that failure to indicate 1 earlier in our correapondence, our reluctance to giw 8.1>1" publioitT to our actirlt.iea, 

should haYe led to &n1' aisappreheneion in that regard. 

In closing, please let me aleo uaure :rou that I enj078d talking 

with :rou aJJd regret 1117 per1onal inabilitT to be of •terial aeaietano• 

in furthering your de11re1. 

Sinoerel.7 70\ll'I, 

WILLIAll F. FRtrn?~N 
~· 

/ 

.Bear Mr. Friedman: 

.F ID:A70106 

W. M. BOWERS 

1117 CCNCCRD BT. 

CLARKSBURG, W. VA. 

Apr. 119 1951 

• 

I have word, via Col. Kreps, o~ the 

decision na.nded down on the matter which was the subject of our ta~k several. weeks ago. Receipt of Col. 

Kreps' letter has been acknowledged and, officially, the file is closed. 

This letter is, more or less, purely personal.; 

and my main reason for writing it is to res.t"firm my req~est that you do not allow ar..y~hing that I have written or said to in anyway influerace your handling of the 

application by Mr. William G. Bryan for work with the 

Security .~gency. Mr. Brya..~ is entirely Ul'l&ware that there 

has been any further correspondence on this subject following Col. Kreps' letter of January 15, 1951. 

Since cur Executive Committee was informed by M::-. 

Bryan that he might return to duty with the Se~~rity 

Agency, steps have been taken to delegate to others the 

multiple servicae that he has performed for the-America..~ 

Cryptogram Association. He has already been relieved of 

some of these duties. And, as the decision by the Department of Defense was not entirely unanticipated, plans are 

being developed to cope with the financial. problem confronting the A.C.~. If these plans are successful, it is 

hoped that we will be able, thereby, to ~a;n sufficient 

:funds to pay personnel and defray other 01,erating expensee. 

It ic rny belief that Ur. Brya..~ sincerely desires tc return 

to service with the Security Agency, a..~d I trust that hie 

applicatior- will be favorably received. 

Relative to my sugge6~ion that the Department of 

Defense render financial aid to the American Cry:ptogram Associeticn, it was based on the m!otaken impression that 

the Department migh~ actually desire to keep this organi- zation sl!ve and active. Rad I been better informed,last 

Ncve!?l.ver, concerning your policy in regard to these matters, 

I would not have made the suggestion. I wish tc thank you a..~d the others involved, for the consideration given to 

my 'ProposaJ.s. 

Yours very truly, 

m:toAccm ~lfB~,;AJQ..~~ - . UR. wr.....L~- F. FRIEDMAN .. LURCH 20, 1951 

I arrived at the Uaval Security Station, 3801 Nebraaka Ave., N.-ur. 

Waahingtoc, n.c., at about 8.55 A.M. At about 9.10 A.~. was ~et at the 

gate houae by Capt. J.rary c. Lane who stated that la. 2rledman had. been 

delayed and waa not yet at the Station. Was oonclucted to ~. :o'riedtnan'a 

office bf Capt. Lane and waited there until hie arrival at about 10.00~. 

~. hie4me.n opened the 41ecusa1on by •tc.ting that I had aaked for financial aaeiatanoe tor the A.C.A. from the Dep&l'tmeat ot Defense. I stated 

that euch waa the oaae, and told him tha' ~ requeat had been promi>ted 'bJ' 

the thought that the financial condition •f the A.CA wu ba4 and that the 

organ1aation waa in danger of collapse. 

I told him that the aaecc1at1on had no source of revenue other \hen the 

dues and that these barely ~eid the coat of publishing our magazine. That 

we had recently been faced with the problem of renting naw quartera. That 

we had raised the dues to oover this added elC}lenee. That a:J ot Feb.1,1951 

we had 619 m•bere. ?hat as of U&rch 20th, 13'1 ot theee were delinquent in 

dues. }f.r. Friedman made a note of both ot these laat mentioned f1suree. 

He tol4 me that my original ausgeat1cns had reeelTed serious cona14erat1on 

and had been turned down 'becauee, in hi• opinion, the Security Agency could not Juat1f'y, 1f oalled upon to do so. an outr1Sht subsidy to a o1•11• 

1an organisation or the expenditure of money tor aubaorlptlon to the ACA'• 

ms.aazine in large quantltiea. 

He said that the security Agency looked with 41stavor on anything that 

gave any publicity to c17Ptogra~~ or that would in ~ W8'J oal.l attention 

tc their activities. ~entloned the damage that had been done by Yarclley•e book (The American Black Chamber) and al.so stated that they clid. not even 

like the recent article in Colliers by Kobler. 

I stated that one thing that had &J,urred. my request tor al4 was the tact 

that ELCY wae e:xhausted an4 aa :re"t'eme from the sale cf that book hacl been 

the greatest source ot income,othar t.han dues. that the aaaoc1at1on had 

ever bed, we were attemptin1 to promote a replacement of 1t. He allowed. 

interest in t..~1s e.zu'lOunoement an4 aaked it I waa going to write the new 

bock. I told him that I regretted t!lat ! had neither the ability nor the 

time to undertake auch a proJeci. BDt that we were trying to :round up various authors to handle the individual top1oa. ~entioned that I ha4 aals:ed 

Candela to do a eha~ter on the Delaetelle Tr1f 1d. Than followed a dlacusalon of Cau4ela tor tlve or ten minutes. ~r. Friedman told me in the course 

ef thia 41aeuaaion that he had read C&Ddela'a ~ook on the eolu\1on ot the 

Basertea Cipher an4 eaaually mentioned that he, himaelt, had solved the 

::Sazeriee cipher• some t..'tJ.irty yea:ra ago, Juet tor pra.ctloe, 1md bad not 

thought it worthwhile to publ.1clze the tact that he had. ct.one it. lT7 !Qrea- aion wee that r:r. Friedman does not hold :r.rr. Carulela in very high regud 

as a crYJ>t~jat. 

~ • .?riedme.n said that I had suggested in my lut letter that the Securit:v 

Agenc:;.. had struck a ctme.ging blow to the ACA and he we.ntetl to know what I 

referred to. I told him that it waa the move on their part to :recall to 

4uty in ':laah1ngton, lUr. w.G.:Br)'an, the Editor an4 Publisher ot '.l'HE CR'l?'i'"C• 

GIW.r and the man who had virtually managed the A.CA since l9S with the 

exceptioa of a few years spent in gove:rment service during the last war. 
• REF ID : A 7010 6 .iedmul l!eo • Sheet li 

I told him that theae senices had alwaya been rendered tree to the ACA 

ud that we had. no ~!ule to emplo7 paid Jersonnel. Tele! hi.a that clues 

cover only the cost ct publishing the magazine and showed him the con• 

densed financial statements for the last eight years. Told him that I 

had not realized tbat the ACA operated on such a fJb.oeatring until I was 

elected President e.nd began to make a study of the situation. '7hen I 

realized how unstable the tiaanclal an4 orsanlzational etruwture aotual.ly 

wae, I thoug'ht that the Defense Department might be autflc!ently interested 

in keeping the organisation active to render aome financial &14. He aa14 

that they had wondered hott I had hap:pened. to appl)' for tbie &id and men• 

ttoned that it ha4 been suggested that perhaps I was t:ryins to get some 

thing tor myself out of tt. I assured him that my applloa.tion tor t1nan• 

oial aasietance was solel7 in the interest of keeping the ACA alive. 

At various times throughout the diacuaa1on, Er. l'riedman tnw:reased UJOD 

mo the fact that information relative to cryptography and OrJ»t&nal.ya!a, 

if uncontro1led, would be harmfu,l to the Secur1'y Agenc~•s aot1T1t1ea. 

I interpoaed mention of the fact \hat this did not ••em to 'bother other 

onuntr1es, aa m&ny works on these subjects were available in Italian and 

7rench ~41tton•• He did not deny thi• but still m£1nte.1ned that the u.s. 

policy vae to look with 41stavor on any 41asem1net1on of OrJ'J)tosrs:phlo knowledge beyond eontrolled pereoruael. 

r.r. hiedman '!'inal.17 oa14 that I had mentioned in my laat letter that I 

had a ple:n wherebJ' I thought that the De:partment of Detenae •ipt aid t:·10 

ACA within regulations. I told him that I had. I briefl7 outlined the 

plcn which waa that a coordinator of civilian cryptography might be appol~ted by the De:pt. of Detenee and that an employee of the Security Agency 

??Jight be assigned to duty aa Editor of the masu1ne. I suggested that 

When ~r. Bryan \T88 re•empl°'ed by the Security Aaency that he be aaaigned 

to thia duty. I gave Yr. Friedman a t:Ylfe! cow of a paper tellins of 

the .Develop:ent of the ACAi the Organisational Weakness of the ACAi my opinion ef how the ACA might be of assistanee to the Dept. of Defenae1 

and the suggested method tor aid te the ACA trom the De~t. ot Defense. 

r.r. ~rtedman sa14 thet this sugg•stion would recieve eonsiderat1on. 

The conference ended at about 12:15 P.Ll. 

w. N. :Bowers. 
• REF ID :A70106 

Dear .:.ir. llowers: 

DEPARr:MElfl' OF DEFE1~SE 

Washinzton 25, D.C. 

AFSJ. .. 14/meg 

Serial: 551 

Tl1e mernor1:1.,1dU111 which you kindly left wit'li. i'\·r. Friedman. 

at the close of yaur conference with him. on 20 tl4rcl1 1951 has 

~een carefuliy reviewed and I reJret to have to inform you 

i:.1ut tha D~1:artme!1t of !:•af enee is not able t.o ~ive favorable 

considera.tion to the method suggested in the last section 

thereof :r:or aidin~ the American Cryptogram Associa".::ion. 

l t.hi:1k it unnecessary- to indicate specii'ic :reasons for 

tha unfavl1rable recer-ition ;rrour pro9osa.l :ias met, as no doubt 

they are quite clear to you a1'ter your oonfere:!lce wit'h Ml-. 

Friedman. 

Please let me assure you that th.e Iiepurtn1e.ri.t ot Defense 

has studied the situation sympathotically and regrets its 

inability to be or assistance. 

Sincere~ 70ura, 

Mr. w. ~. Bowers, President 

The A.lllerican Cryptogram Association 

217 Concord Street 

Clarksburg, West Virginia 

It< Ii. /(',f EP .S 

co/ vsAF 

kl-j F K~c.. Sec_ 

() s ~ ,. ' J ·--

~ _ ..A.E.SA-ll (.3) - .~•sA-001' 

·- AlSA-14 (Comeback Copy) 

i.~r. Friedman/meg/AFSA-14 

30 Mar 51/Ext 60455 
~~ /. STANDARDFORMN0.64 • r.F rn :A10106 e In:\ f ./ 

Office Memorandum • UNITED s:A,l£S Gov'ER:&ME?),~ 

TO 

FROM 

APSA-14 / . "7J/f~9Sl /7'. 

SUBJECT: Visit to il'SA ot llr. W. ll, Bowers, .President ACA 

Reterencee: (a) Ltr, Kr. w. M. Bowers to Col. Krepa, USAF, dated 19 Feb 51 

(b) Ltr, Col. Kreps to 141:-. Bowers, dated 9 Mar 51 

lncloaures: (A) llano lett by llr. Bower1 on completion of visit 

(B) Dratt ot propoaed letter to Kr. Bowers 

1. Aa a:rransed br reference (b), Kr, Bonra came to Waehingt.on on 20 Jfarch 

1951 end spent two hours with me. 

2. '!be purpoae o£ ur. Bowers• visit, as indicated in reference (a), waa to 

present background. information in connection w.l.th a nn proposal he wished to 

make tor preventing the collapae ot the .Maerlcan Cr,vptogram Association • 

.3. It beCBlle clear earq in t.he conterence that Mr. Bowers had tailed to 

realize that the Department ot Detenae not onl.7 desires no publicity in connection 

'l"ith cryptographic activitiea and does not deeire to haTe the journal ot the ACA 

continued tor the eake of such publicity, but also maintains the view that such 

publicity is harmtUL to U.S. securit7. I did the best I could, under the cirownetances required by aecurit7, to clarif7 these points am believe that Jlr. Bowers 

nowr haa a much better understanding ot the position ot the Depa.rt.ment or Detenae 

in the matter and~ it cannot aaeiet him as he deairee. 

4. At the end ot the conterence Jfr. Bowers, with considerable dittidence 

resulting tram 1q talk with h:la_. lett Enclosure (A) tor turther studJ', but I feel 

aure he now realise• the tat.111t.,. ot the proposal embodied in the last section 

thereof. The propoaal clearl.7 retlecta the nature of the misconceptions umer 

which llr. Bowers bas hitherto been laboring. 

5. I intimated to llr. Bowers rq belief that bi11 laat propoaal would ha.rdl7 

meet with favorable conaideration bJ' the Department of Defense and I feel sure he 

is well prepared to recein a letter ott1ciall7 indicating the Department•• 

attitude toward the proposal. Enclo811r9 (B) ie a draft ot a letter t.o Mr. Bowere, 

which I 111ggest be prepared. tor the signature ot Colonel Kreps. 

6. I think we have now disposed of this matter in a manner which, while 

cl1scou.raging to Jlr, Bolrera, will leave no resentment and I am glad we handled it 

1n auch a wq .. 

WILLIAll F. FRIEDIWI 

Al"SA-oo'l' 
• rJ ~ REF ID:A70106 

DR APT 

Mr. w. M. Bowers, Pre11dent. 

The American C17Ptogram. Aaaocia.tion 

217 Concord Street 

alarkaburg, West Virginia 

Dear J.l'l'. DOW"erat 

1be memorandum which y011 Jd.ndl1' lett with Ur. :Jl'riedman at 

the cloae ot 7our conference with him on 20 Karch l 951 baa been 

caref'ull.1' reviewed and I regret to have to intorm J"OU that the 

Dept.rtment. ot Detenee is not; able t.o give taYOrable consideration 

to the method suggested in the last eeotion thereof tor aiding 

the American Cryptogram Association. 

I th.1n1c it. unneceaea17 t.o i.J1dicate apecU'ic reasons ror the 

unfavorable reception yao.r' proposal ha• met, a.e no doubt t.he7 are 

quit.a clear to ;you art.er your cont"erenae nth I.fr. Friedman. 

Pl.ease let me a89Ur8 you that the Department or iJef'ense hu 

a\udied the situation a7J11Pathetically and regrets ita inabilit.7 

to be or a~sistance. 

Bnel. (B) to .r:iemo from 

AFSA-OOT to AFSA-14 

dtd 23 ~:ar 51 

S1ncorel7 70\U"•, 
1 "'.'Y .. . .,. REF ID:A70106 

COPI 

'l'BI A:rtERICAlf CRYPTOGlWI ASSN. 

A Summar;r ot its tevelopment, ita Organizational Structure, 

and ita Future Prospects 

together with 

St1:::.":ested Reasons whJ' it should be 

kept Alive and !-ctive. 

DEVEJ,,OP:1~E.l'l' OF 'i'HZ A.C.A. . 

The American Cryptogram Association waa born Sept. l, 1929. The 

founci.er 1i'&.B :Ur. C. B. Warner of .i31lo:xi, ~4iss. ~'li.is gentleman had little 

or no talent for, or interest in, cryptography. ~e is a professional 

organizer anc:. it :ippears th:tt he organized the A. C. A. s1mpl1' for practice 

and perhaps to provile a vehicle for a alo5an 1'!1 ich. he ilacl coined, nameq; 

'11le G1'Y.,Jtogram is the Aristocrat ot fuzzles'. 

The infant A.C.A. l'iae nursed along by t•1e .tationa.l Puzzlers .L.eague 

a?ld eve11tual.q Qeorl• C. i.a'llb, of Burto1, ')1iio, came into tbe picture as 

eaitor of a :nagazine to be spon&ored by the association and to be devoted 

entirely to cryptograp117. 

J!". La:lb was an invalid. ~Ie oevoteCi all of his time and en.orgy to 

the develo.-:ment of the Jl.C.A. Je established ~1eo.dqua.rters in his own home 

and acted as mana1er or t~e American Cry~togram ~ssociation and as ecitor 

and pub.iif!her ot its ma;azine. ;Ia served in these capacitiea without pq 

and provided ofi'ice a.'ld stora;ie space in his mother's 11.ome free of charge. ~e built the A.C.A. from a small 31"0UP of hobbiets into a nationwide 

orga'liza.tlon wit~ a mea~ers~ip of more than 500. He encouraged a tallow 

member, :Ielen r. ·leia.ed, to w..:·ite a text.book on cryptography. In A<arch 1939 

ii.Ir. i.amb Q.ied. 

After Ll!Jlb1s C:eath, ~is duties aa ;.~aD&lor, -·c.1tor, and P:.ib.&.ie~er 

were assu::ied b;y iiilllam a. Bryan of Eochestgr, a. I. La.-:b' s ramiq continued to allow their home to be uaed as Headquarters and Bryan :noved to 

Burton and devoted his entire time to running the A..C.A. ~~·ith tho exception of ~ wo or three years c11ri.'l~ the ra:r, he has continued to act aa 

l1 anager oi t'-e association and as Edi tor and !'ilb..i.i:::-ter or its ma.gaiine. 

Just as Lamb did, .. r. Bl"'Jrln has al-.a7a servea. in these capacities without 

sa.lary a11a !lO :.reut has ever been charged by the .JUDb fa:r:il.y for th.a use ot 

t!-1eir home aa fiaadquarter.s. 

In the .1J1St ten years the early influence of the ·•ational Puzzler• 

Le&s'\18 has aubstantiaiq diaa;l eared, ami ~::ractical .y all new ::!lembara who 

Joi.ave joined duri113 that time have been attracted to t'!le Association aoleq 

through. their interest in cr,rptography. 

'l'~ff .P.RLSElll' STATUS 

The A.v.A. exists tod&T as an organized group ot civilia~ cryptographic ent..,usiastE, •\ith members in 45 of the 43 f:t!Jtes as well as in 

M&l'J1' foreign countries. 

This organization is t'ireatened ·dth collapse s.nci, within the next 

few years, mlV' cease to exist. 
I • .., ,. 

. . • -· 

REF ID:A70106 --~ 

r..EASO~lS WHY THE A.C.A. MAY COLL.APSE • 

.L - The 113.!'WJement of the l.C.A. h:ia always been a •one man attair 1 • 

2 - This service has always been furnished tree. . 

3 - Ottice anci storage space have alwa,a been furnished tree. 

4 - The ro7alties fro~ the textbook, tle:"lentar.v Cr,yptanalysia, were 

donated to the o.saociation a.mi were the mai."1 source of inqome 

other than ciuea. 

5 - The dues charged have alnys been just about auf'f iclent to cover 

the cost of c>·:.!:>liahini. a.110 msi.lin·; t~e naaad!le. 

o - 'l'he textbook is nov. out oi' print a.."lc. t~ .. e i:·tock of unsold copies is 

al·aoat exhausted. 6:0 riore rever1ue oa.:i be a~1ticipated from that source. 

7 - The Association ; a.a not sufficient inco111e to pq for manaaement and 

editorial service, or for ottico rent. 

a - It ia illo~ical to expect that these se!'V'icea will forever be rendered 

tree of charge. 

9 - Jt the present time the Larrb far.iily is ~erely toleraii:ng the co:tinued 

use of the borne as headquarters tor the .A..C.A. Ia addition to that, 

these laC.ies, ~oori;e C. Lamb's mother and aunt, are now over SO J'•&r• 

of age a...'1d on the event of' their death, the association will aawradq 

have to seek other ~uartera. 

10- Mr. Bry&l'l, t1le long time Maaa.ger-:::ditor ot the A.C.A., feels that 

within a vary a.~ort time, he will fine it necessar,y to terminate 

his activities in this particul3.r f'isld. 

11- I.avesti~ation has proved t~t it is very ciit'f'icult to •1et other 

pctrsone to give their full time service without PB7 or t.o donate 

office space free of c~arga. 

12- Indications arc t~at t~e A.C • .A.. wi~l !1.9.ve to begin to pay for t~aae 

services in the near future. · 

i3- Such services no~~lci coat flpproxima.tr:l;r :~:.000.00 per ye:ir. 

14- To r:dse t:11s amount from dues 3.lone r.oulc. req.uire an inorease in 

nuea of ')10.00 per member 7ear~ • 

.i.5- A raise in dues fr .m the pr ~sent ":3.ac per year to ~~13.00 per 

year wim.J.d probabq result in the immediate dissolution of the A.C.A.. 

2 
..... .. · :..,':.. 

• • 

e. REF ID:A70106 - • 

REASOt~ WHY IT MIGif.r BE ADVA.'.fl'A'.lEOUS TO THE 

DEPARTMENJ.' OF DF.FL':SE TO IEIP T9:E A.C.A. ALIVE AND ACTIVE 

1 - The A.C.A. is the onlJ' large organized group ot civilian Cl""1Ptographer1. 

2 - It ia the onq ralqi.Dg point for civ1llana who •1ah to learn some 

thing about c17ptographJ'. 

3 - It is assumed that in times or emergeaoy, the Se011rity ~enc7 

experiences a shortage ot trained peraon.."'lel in this field. 

4 - Civilians with some knowledge ot the eleme•ite ot cr~otograpbJ' could 

he_p to relieve this a~ortaga. 

5 - There would al"'B.7" be, -~ead7 ~t hand in t?ie A. C.A., a list of :181Dea 

.and addresses of some boo civilians each ~ving some k..'1.owledge of I t }i oryp o~aP··LY'• 

S - The o.bove conciltion would relieve the Security Agency oi' the task 

ot aearcr.L"lJ t°!"'.roughout the entire nation for paraOAlB having talent 

in this hiJhl7 s&;ecialized activity. 

7 - .ibowl.edge ot· fundamentals 11"Uuld shorten the trainin3 period for 

civilians entering service with the Securit7 Agency or th~ Armed Forces. 

8 - There ia alwa7a the chance that a real expert in cryptamil,yaia might 

be devc~ope' from the ranks of the J.C.A. 

su:ut:STED ..'.:!-~"!JD .BY .;a1c:1 'l'HE DErAR'I~.!Z:,1' OF D~i;SE 

:~IG.-T AID ~H,.. A. C. iL. 

l - Tb.a Department of :Ca.f'ense mig'llt appoint a coordinator of civi.dan cry-~to~l"B.phic effort. 

2 - Sala.riF-s peraon."lel of the Departrlent of Defense might take over the 

autiea or eaitine and publish.ins the mag:izi::ie, T.f'P. CRYiTOGPJJI, which 

ia the link that holds the tar flug membership of the A.~.A. to~ether. 

3 - Suffic\ent funds :ni_!ht be al.Lotted for publicit7 in OJ"t er to attract 

more civilians into the existin~I organization. 

4 - Th.a pre&e!lt Editar ot THF CRt.el'OGfu\ i' 111.:i.-bm G. Br,:ran, is a former 

81!'1ployee of the Security .Agency. At t~e present time he ~as o~ file 

an applicatioa to return to nut7 in that department. If reemployed, 

he mig~t be assi30.ed to the nuty of euitin~ this ·· 1a:!i11e mlch 

encoure,:ea civilian interest in the field of ceypto;iraphy. 

sgd ~·. ;A. BOWERS 

:,:arch 20, 1951 
REF ID:A70106 

DRAFT 

1lr. w. Jl. Bowers, President 

'?he .American CrJPtogram Association 

217 Concord Street 

Clarksburg, West Virginia 

Dear Ur. BOW"era: 

• 

1'1.e memorandum which you kindly' lef't with llr:". Friedman at 

the close of 7our conference with him on 20 March 19Sl has been 

caretull.7 reviewed and. I regret to have to inrorm. 70U that the 

Department ot Defense is not able to give favorable consideration 

to the method suggested in the last aection thereof tor aiding the American Cr,yptogram Association. 

I think it unnece&&&l'J" to indicate apecif'ic reasons tor the 

unfaTOrable reception raur proposal has met, as no doubt t.he7 are 

1Uite clear to you after 1TJV conference nth Ur. FriedJr.an. 

Please let me assure 7ou that the Department or Defense hae 

studied the situation s1J11pathetically and regrets its inab1l1t7 

to be or assistance. 

Encl. (B) to memo trom 

AFSA-COT to AFSA-J.4 

dtd 23 Mar Sl 

Sincerel7 1ours, 
... 

/ 

,_. 

• REF ID:A70106 

DEPAR'l'WNT OF DEFENSE 

Washington 2;, D.c. 

Dear Mr. Bowera: 

• 

AFSA-14/me~ 

Serial: 3:>5 

,. 

Thia ie in acknowledgment of your letter of 19 

Februar,r 1951, in which you state that you wish to diacuas 

one more method by which the Department of Daf ense might 

aasiet the .American Cryptogram Association, in keeping 

with current doctrine and regulations. 

Arrangements have been made for 7ou to discuss the 

matter with Mr. William F. Friedman at the Naval Securit7 

Station, )801 ;lebraaka Avenue, .N.W., Waehington, D.c., on 

either 20 or 21 March at 0900. Upon arrival at the Naval 

Securit7 station, please phone Mr. Friedman on Extension 

240 and an escort will be provided to conduct 1ou to hie 

office. 

Sincere]¥ your•, 

(signed) 

K.R. KREPS 

Mr. W. M. Bowers, President Colonel! USAF 

The American Cryptogram Association ct1ng Executive Secaetal"f 

217 Concord Street 

Clarksburg, West Virginia 

iY.ll". Callimahoa/Mr. E.'hoads/meg/6 kr jl AFSA-14/Ext 60455 I ' .. '\. 

·.· 
F .·ID.:A70106 

•:.~~ •• ' . 

1 'J\ ... ~ _:. 

• J 

,.(!. 

l S JAN 1951' 

. 1-d•l'e!\ce JA -- t.ci tMf' 1''-t..• .C JO ..... ,...,. l.~, M\4 ..-

-~ tMnto ti&W4 ' ~Qr.~ l )SQ • 

. ,.. p.t-'l'.tdl.io ~~!'et\ ~ ·~I'll lddob ~· ,.. '° ... -.Lt.~"" ttrof'Obl *" P9•tl7 ~. •41' bu bite.a t).wa 

hfth1toNW....~ 

I ....,.,., ~ ~*-"'• \o l..nlvta ~ \.iM,.\ S.\, ,,._ na tc.u1~. !or 

fer 

\he 

y~ur 

!?$pd'~•r.t 

~1·J1c~ib.~on.. 

ol r.el'111iff 

UQlfG\'itJ', 

~ l'!Jftder 

~ 

U. 

1" 

*""*"'...,. ~ \G rt.U. ,_ 'Usll ~ 

l)Oft .,. 

Pf'""""'\ftt. ~ 4l.•~• ~- pl"Q~ S:W"\M~• M ,,.. ·~'- 1A.,.. -.. ~ l'4'41r -~ ) .. J~ l.'i}l, l .wl ._ aJ,.M tie pa\,,._ IA , ~--1\k •· authff!tA.•··~1 ~. 

~"11 ,..,.. .. 

~··~··· ........... l .. 0.. ·AOaftMA ~fttltlftJl t.M-.1..U- :i.:···· 1!.,.._ .. -.. •.• u.- •"'1-W• 

copy fw;;nish•d,1 . . ' . 

· APSA-00 • . ·: . .. . 'AFSA-OOB / 

AFSA-OOT . , 

-' :,;~ ·. AP'SA-l4 

.-•. ~~~~-<~sA-lll (3)_ 

·,, 

-. 

. ... ' - ,"":,~; ....... ~ -

. CAPT J .N. We11ger, U&i/ Jow,ll2 Jan 51 . 

-.'.!FSA, R.'n 1'9-130, ~;,Ext. b02l0 -· ~V Earl E. $too.,. ~/12 Jan 51 

APSJ., Rm 19-llS, wss, .. ~~ "60528 

CAJIT J .N. Wenger, USK/jow/1/12/51 

AJIS!, Rm 19-130, NSS, g~. 60210 

Rel!'ri tG: KRKreps/vm.b/OSD/l/15i51 't74032/3E943 ·., .