"Cryptanalyst-in-Chief"
Elizebeth Smith Friedman was a pioneer in code-breaking. Growing up in small-town Indiana, she eventually became one of the nation’s foremost cryptanalysts. She took down smuggling syndicates during Prohibition, broke enigma codes in WWII, and caught Nazi spies in South America. She and her husband, William Friedman, practically invented their field overnight. Learn about her start at the fabulous Geneva estate of Colonel George Fabyan, the eccentric millionaire, and how her research lead to the start of the NSA.
Our presenter is Vivien Lasken of Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. Vivien serves as the director of the Fabyan Villa and Japanese Garden in Geneva, and is the leading expert on Colonel Fabyan and the Riverbank estate. She has a degree in Anthropology with a focus in Archaeology and Museum Studies from UIUC. Vivien has worked at the Spurlock Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry prior to Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley.
"Wednesdays @ One" programs are presented free of charge, thanks to the generous support of Colonial Cafe.