Westerville in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Agnes Meyer Driscoll
The house at this address, 110 South State Street, was the childhood home of Agnes Meyer Driscoll (1889- 1971). Known as “the first lady of naval cryptology,” her career spanned from World War I to the Cold War. Driscoll attended Otterbein University before graduating from the Ohio State University, with majors in physics, math, music and foreign languages. During World War I, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a civilian yeoman, the highest rank possible for a woman at the time. After the war, Driscoll rose to become the chief civilian cryptanalyst for the U.S. Navy, breaking major Imperial Japanese Navy codes prior to World War II.
Before and during World War II, Driscoll’s code breaking efforts compelled the redesign of the North Carolina class of American battleships, gained advantages that would help win the Battle of Midway, and, overall, compromised Imperial Japan’s naval operations. She was also recruited to help break the German Enigma code system. After the war, Driscoll worked on projects involving the Soviet Union for the Armed Forces Security Agency, later the National Security Agency, until she retired in 1959. Known as “Miss Aggie” or “Madame X,” she is interred at Arlington National Cemetery and was inducted into the National Security Hall of Fame in 2000.
Erected 2017. (Marker Number 123- 25.)
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Communications • War, Cold • War, World I • War, World II • Women. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list.
Location. 40° 7.38′ N, 82° 55.824′ W. Marker is in Westerville, Ohio, in Franklin County. Memorial is at the intersection of Westerville Rd (Ohio Route 3) and West Plum Street, on the right when traveling north on Westerville Rd. Marker is in front of the Westerville Public Library and the Anti-Saloon League Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 S State St, Westerville OH 43081, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Westerville (a few steps from this marker); Stoner House (within shouting distance of this marker); Heritage Green Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Temperance Row Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); In Memory of Benjamin R. Hanby (approx. 0.3 miles away); Benjamin Russell Hanby (approx. 0.4 miles away); Otterbein College (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westerville.
Additional keywords. Code Breaking
Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2017, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,171 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 25, 2017, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.