National Puzzlers' League facts for kids

The National Puzzlers' League (NPL) is a group that loves puzzles, especially those involving word play and word games. It's a nonprofit organization, meaning it doesn't aim to make money. Started in 1883, it is the oldest puzzle club in the world! They used to have meetings twice a year, but now they meet once a year in July.

History of the NPL

On July 4, 1883, twenty-eight people who loved word puzzles met in New York City. They were mostly young men. They started a group called the Eastern Puzzlers' League. To celebrate, they each paid a penny to walk across the new Brooklyn Bridge.

In 1920, the group changed its name to the National Puzzlers' League. It has been active ever since that first meeting. This makes it the oldest puzzle organization anywhere!

The League's Magazine

The league's official magazine was first called The Eastern Enigma. At first, it didn't have many puzzles. Instead, it shared news from puzzle meetings. It also featured poems and skits by members. Sometimes, it even had debates about puzzle topics. These topics included old words or new types of puzzles.

Early editors of the magazine changed often. The magazine's schedule was not always regular. In January 1900, a puzzle section called "Penetralia" started. It appeared regularly until 1903. "Penetralia" came back in February 1910. That's when The Eastern Enigma began to be published every month. This puzzle section has been in every issue since then.

When the organization changed its name, the magazine became The Enigma. It is still published monthly. It has now released over 1200 issues!

Growing Popularity

Puzzles became very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. This led to many more people joining the NPL. During this time, the league used the slogan "The National Intellectual Pastime of America." In 1935, the president, Everett M. Smith, invented a very long word. It was Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. This word is the longest in the English language. It describes a lung disease.

Big newspapers often covered the league's meetings. During World War II, the government needed help. They hired several NPL members. These members became cryptographers. They used their puzzle skills to decode secret messages.

In the 1960s, fewer people joined the NPL. But then, new efforts helped the group grow again. People like Dmitri Borgmann and Ross Eckler helped promote puzzling. Many top puzzle makers in America are NPL members. Author Willard Espy, who was a member, once said talking about wordplay with the group was like "talking about religion with God." This shows how skilled they are!

Who Are the Members?

When someone joins the NPL, they usually pick a "nom." This is short for "nom de plume," which means "pen name." It's like a secret nickname they use when talking to other members. These names are often clever word puzzles themselves! Using these nicknames helps everyone feel equal. It also gives members a chance to be creative with words.

NPL members are called "the Krewe" as a group. Individually, they are "puzzlers," "Krewe members," or "NPLers." As of 2018, the group had about 700 members. About 200 of them attend the yearly meeting.

Will Shortz, a famous puzzle professional, is a long-time member. His "nom" is WILLz. It's a fun play on his name. He is the league's historian. He also helps direct the puzzles for the yearly meeting.

Types of Puzzles

The Enigma magazine focuses on puzzles popular in the 1800s. The crossword puzzle, invented in 1913, is not usually in the main part of the magazine. It's considered an "extra." However, all the puzzles in The Enigma are based on wordplay and language.

The NPL divides puzzles into four main types. The two oldest types are the "flat" and the "form." A "flat" puzzle has a one-line answer. A "form" puzzle has an answer that takes up several lines.

Flat Puzzles

Flats, like verse puzzles and anagrams, were very popular before crosswords. They might seem a bit strange to puzzlers today. This is because you have to guess words from clues and context. This way of solving is not as common now. Still, "flats" make up most of the puzzles in The Enigma magazine.

Other Puzzle Types

Later, other types were added. These include cryptograms and "extras." There are also categories for puzzles that don't fit the usual rules. You can find more details about these puzzle types on the NPL's official website.

Annual Conventions

The NPL holds a big meeting every year, usually in July. The location changes, but it's often in a major city in North America. The members love wordplay, so the convention's name often changes with the city! For example, it was This con's in Wisconsin when it was in Milwaukee. It was BeaCon for Boston, and ConTex for Austin, Texas.

At these conventions, members play lots of word games and trivia games. They also go on "hidden puzzle" hunts. These puzzles must be found before they can be solved! There are also trips to local places that are important to the NPL. A big event is the "extravaganza." This is a multi-stage puzzlehunt that needs a team to solve. Besides the official puzzles, many members bring their own puzzles. Attendees work on these in small groups, sometimes late into the night!