James Lovell was a teacher, British prisoner, Congressman, and early signer of the Articles of Confederation during the Revolutionary War. His ability to create codes and ciphers made him a valuable member of the Committee of Secret Correspondence during the war; he has been called the father of American cryptanalysis.



Author Jean O’Connor uncovered his story, and will be discussing her book, Congress’s Cryptographer: A Novel of James Lovell and the American Revolution, which based on extensive research weaves together his life during his five years in Congress.



About the author: Jean O'Connor is a retired teacher of English from Helena High School who has received the NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award; her interest in James Lovell, her five-times great-grandfather, was fueled by passages in her grandmother’s journal. Jean visited archival institutions to locate primary sources and attended James Lovell’s induction into the Cryptologic Center of the NSA, traveling to the NSA in January of 2024 to attend the ceremony, where she received a medal on behalf of James Lovell.