Herbert O. Yardley
Yardley’s career documents the formative institutional period of U.S. cryptanalysis and the lasting tension between secrecy, disclosure, and communications security.
Herbert O. Yardley was an American cryptanalyst who served with the U.S. Army’s cryptologic effort in the First World War and led the postwar Cipher Bureau, commonly called the Black Chamber. The organization analyzed foreign diplomatic ciphers during the 1920s.
Disclosure and legacy
After the Bureau closed, Yardley published The American Black Chamber in 1931. NSA historical material treats the book and its repercussions as an important episode in the history of American cryptology and communications security.
In memoriam
Yardley died in 1958. His work remains central to the institutional history of U.S. cryptanalysis.
Timeline
- 1889Born in Indiana, United States.
- 1917Serves as a cryptologic officer with the American Expeditionary Forces.
- 1920sLeads MI-8, the U.S. Cipher Bureau.
- 1929The Cipher Bureau closes.
- 1931Publishes <em>The American Black Chamber</em>.
- 1958Dies in Washington, D.C.
Herbert O. Yardley
- Type
- Person
- Era
- 1910s-1958
- Born
- 1889
- Died
- 1958
- Known for
- MI-8 and the Cipher Bureau; The American Black Chamber; Diplomatic cryptanalysis
- Tags
- cryptanalysis, signals-intelligence, black-chamber, codebreaking, history
Created by Joas A Santos · Something wrong or want it removed? Open an issue.