Queens of Code
Inspiring True Stories from NSA’s Computing Women
Mar Hicks author Eileen Buckholtz author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:MIT Press Ltd
Publishing:17th Nov '26
£30.00
This title is due to be published on 17th November, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
The stories of America’s unsung computing women, brought out of the shadows and into their rightful place in the history of technology.
The dearth of women in our histories of technology cannot be overstated. In Queens of Code, author and one of the female pioneers of computer science Eileen Buckholtz aims to set the record straight. Much as Margot Lee Shetterly’s Hidden Figures revealed the role of women professionals at NASA and Liz Mundy’s Code Girls illustrated the critical accomplishments of the female code breakers of World War II, Queens of Code illuminates the women who innovated in technology, contributed to national security, and expanded career opportunities for generations of women. Buckholtz presents firsthand accounts from 25 of the National Security Agency (NSA)’s computing women, revealing what it was like to work at the super-secret NSA.
The women who worked for NSA had to keep their employment a secret for over 50 years. Now, Buckholtz provides a never-before-seen look into the working lives of the women who contributed significantly to developing more powerful mainframe and super computers, big data processing, and innovative software. Queens of Code is a beacon and a road map for the women who will usher in the future of computing and technology.
ENDORSEMENTS
“An utterly absorbing tribute to the remarkable women of the National Security Agency, fittingly told by one of their own and a fellow trailblazer. A must-read for future generations.”
—Claire Hubbard-Hall, author of Her Secret Service: The Forgotten Women of British Intelligence
“Rich in detail, Queens of Code offers a fascinating window on the National Security Agency , restoring its hidden women to their well-deserved place in computing and intelligence history.”
—Amy Butler Greenfield, author of The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life
“Queens of Code is an essential book, in multiple historical disciplines. And it’s such a pleasure to hear these extraordinary stories in the voices of these trailblazing women. What an accomplishment!”
—Vince Houghton, intelligence historian; coauthor of Covert City: The Cold Ware and the Making of Miami
“This examination of the vital work of female computer pioneers at NSA is a must-read for those interested in cryptologic history.”
—Betsy Rohaly Smoot, author of Parker Hitt: The Father of American Military Cryptology
“Hidden in secrecy, marginalized by history—until now. This book uncovers the women whose brilliance broke unbreakable codes and shaped the digital age. Their story isn’t just history—it’s a must-read for anyone who values courage, genius, and truth.”
—Wendy Noble, national security, intelligence, and cybersecurity leader
“Shrouded by decades of secrecy, the work of these NSA pioneers rivals the accomplishments of better-known men. Hearing these firsthand stories is fascinating and invaluable, like talking to the mentor you wish you had.”
—Janet Abbate, Professor of Science, Technology, and Society, Virginia Tech; author of Recoding Gender: Women’s Changing Participation in Computing
ISBN: 9780262049474
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
344 pages