Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein
American mathematician and cryptanalyst
About Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein
Lived 1913 – 2006 (aged 93). Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein was an American mathematician, cryptanalyst and cryptographer, known for Purple (cipher machine) and Venona project.
Personal life 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, who died of a heart condition at age 22. Widowed in 1995, Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein died in 2006, aged 93.
Legacy Genevieve Feinstein Award in Cryptography (George Mason University)
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". NSA posthumously inducted her into the NSA Hall of Honor in 2010. In 2018, the university at Buffalo's alumni magazine featured her as "An American Hero".
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein?
American mathematician and cryptanalyst
When was Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein born?
Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein was born on 30 April 1913 in Buffalo.
When did Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein die?
Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein died on 10 August 2006 in Fairfax.
What was Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein's occupation?
Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein was a mathematician, cryptanalyst and cryptographer.
What was Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein known for?
Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein was known for Purple (cipher machine) and Venona project.
What nationality was Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein?
Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein
· DBpedia: Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein. https://biography.guide/genevieve-grotjan-feinstein/
MLA: "Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/genevieve-grotjan-feinstein/.
Chicago: "Genevieve Grotjan Feinstein." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/genevieve-grotjan-feinstein/.
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