Genevieve Marie Grotjan Feinstein (April 30, 1913 – August 10, 2006) was an American mathematician and cryptanalyst. She worked for the Signals Intelligence Service throughout World War II, during which time she played an important role in deciphering the Japanese cryptography machine Purple, and later worked on the Cold War-era Venona project.
Feinstein discovered a passion for mathematics at a young age and aspired to become a math teacher. She graduated from the University at Buffalo summa cum laude in February 1936 with a mathematics degree. Unable to find a teaching job, she took a position as a statistical clerk at the Railroad Retirement Board.[2] Her high score on a civil service mathematics test in 1939 got the attention of William F. Friedman, who hired her to work as a junior cryptanalyst for the Army's Signals Intelligence Service (SIS). For eighteen months, she worked with other SIS codebreakers to analyze the encryption system used in the Japanese Type B Cipher Machine, code named Purple by the SIS[3]: p. 8 She played a key role in cracking the cipher,[4] discovering cyclical behavior in the code on September 20, 1940.[5]: 99 This enabled the construction of an equivalent machine by the SIS which in turn enabled the interception of almost all messages exchanged between the Japanese government and its embassies in foreign countries.[4][6] Purple-encoded reports from Hiroshi Oshima, the Japanese ambassador in Berlin, were a main source of intelligence about Axis plans.[5]: 102
In 1946, she was awarded the Exceptional Civilian Service Award from Brig. Gen. Paul Everton Peabody for her wartime service.[2]
She was later assigned to the Venona project, trying to decode encrypted messages sent by the Soviet KGB and Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU).[4] She made a significant breakthrough in November 1944, which allowed American cryptographers to recognize when an individual one time pad cipher was (improperly) reused. After the conclusion of World War II, Feinstein continued to work at the SIS, as the Cold War began, but resigned in 1947.[6] After resigning from government cryptanalysis, she joined the faculty of George Mason University, where she briefly served as a professor of mathematics.[4][2]
Personal lifeedit
In 1943, Genevieve Grotjan married the Manhattan Project chemist Hyman Feinstein, who worked at the National Bureau of Standards. They had a son named Ellis,[4] who died of a heart condition at age 22.[2] Grotjan died in 2006.[6]
Legacyedit
Her husband established the annual Genevieve Feinstein Award in Cryptography at George Mason University in her honor.[2] Her breakthrough in deciphering the Purple machine has been called, in the Encyclopedia of American Women at War, "one of the greatest achievements in the history of U.S. codebreaking".[4] NSA posthumously inducted her into the NSA Hall of Honor in 2010.[6]
In 2018, the University at Buffalo's alumni magazine featured her as "An American Hero".[2]
^ abcdefGentzke, Ann Whitcher (April 10, 2018). "An American Hero-Genevieve Grotjan applied her dazzling mathematical skills to unraveling enemy codes during World War II". At Buffalo. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
^Friedman, William F. (October 14, 1940). (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2013.
^ abcdefFindling, Megan (2013). "Feinstein, Genevieve Grotjan (1912–2006)". In Tendrich Frank, Lisa (ed.). Encyclopedia of American Women at War: From the Home Front to the Battlefields. ABC-CLIO. pp. 215–217. ISBN978-1-59884-443-6.
^ abMundy, Liza (2017). Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II. New York, Boston: Hachette Books. ISBN978-0-316-35253-6.
^ abcd"Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein: 2010 Hall of Honor Inductee; Women in American Cryptology Honoree". National Security Agency. April 6, 2011. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
January 05, 2024
genevieve, grotjan, feinstein, genevieve, marie, grotjan, feinstein, april, 1913, august, 2006, american, mathematician, cryptanalyst, worked, signals, intelligence, service, throughout, world, during, which, time, played, important, role, deciphering, japanes. Genevieve Marie Grotjan Feinstein April 30 1913 August 10 2006 was an American mathematician and cryptanalyst She worked for the Signals Intelligence Service throughout World War II during which time she played an important role in deciphering the Japanese cryptography machine Purple and later worked on the Cold War era Venona project Genevieve Grotjan FeinsteinBornGenevieve Marie GrotjanApril 30 1913 1 Buffalo New YorkDiedAugust 10 2006 2006 08 10 aged 93 Fairfax VirginiaCitizenshipAmericanKnown forDeciphering the Purple machine and key insights into VenonaSpouseHyman FeinsteinScientific careerFieldsMathematicsCryptanalysisInstitutionsSignals Intelligence ServiceDecoding machine right built based on Grotjan s insight being used to decode Japanese messages in WW II Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Legacy 4 ReferencesCareer editFeinstein discovered a passion for mathematics at a young age and aspired to become a math teacher She graduated from the University at Buffalo summa cum laude in February 1936 with a mathematics degree Unable to find a teaching job she took a position as a statistical clerk at the Railroad Retirement Board 2 Her high score on a civil service mathematics test in 1939 got the attention of William F Friedman who hired her to work as a junior cryptanalyst for the Army s Signals Intelligence Service SIS For eighteen months she worked with other SIS codebreakers to analyze the encryption system used in the Japanese Type B Cipher Machine code named Purple by the SIS 3 p 8 She played a key role in cracking the cipher 4 discovering cyclical behavior in the code on September 20 1940 5 99 This enabled the construction of an equivalent machine by the SIS which in turn enabled the interception of almost all messages exchanged between the Japanese government and its embassies in foreign countries 4 6 Purple encoded reports from Hiroshi Oshima the Japanese ambassador in Berlin were a main source of intelligence about Axis plans 5 102 In 1946 she was awarded the Exceptional Civilian Service Award from Brig Gen Paul Everton Peabody for her wartime service 2 She was later assigned to the Venona project trying to decode encrypted messages sent by the Soviet KGB and Main Intelligence Directorate GRU 4 She made a significant breakthrough in November 1944 which allowed American cryptographers to recognize when an individual one time pad cipher was improperly reused After the conclusion of World War II Feinstein continued to work at the SIS as the Cold War began but resigned in 1947 6 After resigning from government cryptanalysis she joined the faculty of George Mason University where she briefly served as a professor of mathematics 4 2 Personal life editIn 1943 Genevieve Grotjan married the Manhattan Project chemist Hyman Feinstein who worked at the National Bureau of Standards They had a son named Ellis 4 who died of a heart condition at age 22 2 Grotjan died in 2006 6 Legacy editHer husband established the annual Genevieve Feinstein Award in Cryptography at George Mason University in her honor 2 Her breakthrough in deciphering the Purple machine has been called in the Encyclopedia of American Women at War one of the greatest achievements in the history of U S codebreaking 4 NSA posthumously inducted her into the NSA Hall of Honor in 2010 6 In 2018 the University at Buffalo s alumni magazine featured her as An American Hero 2 References edit U S Social Security Death Index 1935 2014 a b c d e f Gentzke Ann Whitcher April 10 2018 An American Hero Genevieve Grotjan applied her dazzling mathematical skills to unraveling enemy codes during World War II At Buffalo Retrieved 2022 11 02 Friedman William F October 14 1940 Preliminary Historical Report on the Solution of the Type B Machine PDF Archived from the original PDF on April 4 2013 a b c d e f Findling Megan 2013 Feinstein Genevieve Grotjan 1912 2006 In Tendrich Frank Lisa ed Encyclopedia of American Women at War From the Home Front to the Battlefields ABC CLIO pp 215 217 ISBN 978 1 59884 443 6 a b Mundy Liza 2017 Code Girls The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II New York Boston Hachette Books ISBN 978 0 316 35253 6 a b c d Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein 2010 Hall of Honor Inductee Women in American Cryptology Honoree National Security Agency April 6 2011 Retrieved 2022 11 02 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein amp oldid 1185190586, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
