Date of Award
Spring 5-2020
Document Type
Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Program
History
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Thesis Advisor
Dr. Eddie Lee
Committee Member
Dr. Virginia Williams
Committee Member
Dr. Catherine Chang
Keywords
Winthrop University, Women, World War II, Cryptology, Cryptanalysis
Abstract
During World War II, college-aged women from across the nation filled United States Army and Navy secretive cryptanalysis facilities to help win the war. For many women, colleges facilitated involvement in codebreaking. Through information gathered in oral histories, this thesis primarily explores war related programs at American colleges and the young women that became cryptanalysts. Academic institutions, like Winthrop College, became the nuclei for colligate codebreakers. They acted as early crypt education centers, through the offering of cryptology classes, functioned as recruitment centers, and operated as essential training hubs. While in school, young women were saturated by a climate of war and secrecy as campuses became militarized during this period. Their careers in academia and moral character came into account when cryptanalysis sectors began searching for loyal workers. While working as codebreakers for the United States government, women experienced a degree of freedom and witnessed a change in their position. In the name of the war effort and patriotic ideologies, female cryptanalysts broke codes and tested the strength of American ciphers. From college campuses to Army and Navy facilities, young women played essential roles in the war effort.
Recommended Citation
Mayton, Marlana, "Collegiate Codebreakers: Winthrop, Women, and War" (2020). Graduate Theses. 117.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/graduatetheses/117
