360:
63:. It originally contained few, if any, puzzles, and instead reported on business transacted at puzzlers' conventions, presented verses and skits composed by members, and relayed debates on the controversial puzzling topics of the day, such as obsolete words, esoteric references, and new types of puzzles.
296:
The NPL groups puzzles into four primary categories. The oldest two are the "flat" (which has a one-line answer) and the "form" (which has a multi-line answer). Flats (verse puzzles and anagrams) were a leading type of wordplay before black-squared crosswords were invented. They seem strange to
66:
Early editors rarely served more than a year at a time, and the publication schedule was often irregular. The
January 1900 issue initiated a puzzle department called "Penetralia", which appeared regularly until 1903. "Penetralia" was resumed in the February 1910 issue, when
329:
Examples of convention activities include word games, trivia games, hidden puzzles (which must be found before they can be solved), local field trips to places of NPL interest, library trivia hunts, and an "extravaganza" (a multi-stage
309:
The NPL holds an annual convention, usually in July. The location varies, but has historically been a major North
American city. In keeping with the members' love of word play, the name of the convention varies with the location:
129:
NPL members are known collectively as "the Krewe" and individually as "puzzlers", "Krewe members", or "NPLers". As of 2018 the organization had about 700 members, of whom about 200 attend the group's convention each year.
78:
A puzzle renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s led to a high point in NPL membership, during which it adopted the slogan "The
National Intellectual Pastime of America". In 1935, president Everett M. Smith invented the word
759:"Puzzlers' League Opens 3-Day Test; 'Woman Hitler,' the First Offer, Is Answered by a Woman in Fifteen Seconds. Cross-Words Spurned: They Are Praised, However, by Anagram Solver, as Making Nation 'Word Conscious.'"
334:
that requires team effort to solve). In addition to the puzzles presented as part of the convention, many members bring puzzles of their own invention, which attendees work on in small groups, often late at night.
36:. Founded in 1883, it is the oldest puzzlers' organization in the world. It originally hosted semiannual conventions in February and September of each year, but conventions are now held annually, in July.
137:(whose "nom", WILLz, is a play on his name - Will+"short Z") is a long-standing member and officer of the NPL, serving as its historian and as co-puzzle director (as of 2022) for the annual convention.
727:"Solution of Hard Puzzles Held As Aid To Education; League of Students Who Study Subject Believe That Mental Exercise Is Useful — Large Number of Persons Find Diversion in Seeking Difficult Answers"
1041:
301:. Cryptograms and extras, as well as catchall categories for rule-breaking puzzles, were added later. More information on these puzzle types can be found at the NPL's official website.
56:. Renamed the National Puzzlers' League in 1920, the organization has been in continuous existence ever since that first meeting and is the oldest puzzlers' organization in the world.
297:
modern puzzlers, because they require inferring words from context, which is not now a familiar solving technique. Nonetheless, flats today still make up most of the puzzles in
259:, the NPL's official publication, is distributed monthly to its members. It provides a medium for members to share their original word puzzles for fellow members to enjoy.
293:, invented as late as 1913, is spurned by the journal, which relegates it to the category of "extras". However, all of its puzzles are based on wordplay and linguistics.
1051:
80:
157:
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122:
which serves as a nickname when communicating with fellow members (see below for an example). The use of pseudonyms, also commonly practiced by the
758:
726:
278:, available free to prospective members from the editor; a member directory; and book compilations of hard cryptograms and cryptic crosswords.
110:
said of the league's expertise, "I'm a little nervous talking about wordplay with this group .... it's like talking about religion with God."
943:
126:, originally helped "to break down barriers of occupation or social class". It is also an opportunity for wordplay and self-description.
892:
701:
52:
and founded the
Eastern Puzzlers' League; they then celebrated the event by paying a penny each to walk across the newly dedicated
98:
In the 1960s, membership slumped significantly, but began rebounding in the "modern" puzzling era with the promotional efforts of
71:
began monthly publication, and has continued to appear ever since. On the organization's name change, the magazine was retitled
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at the annual League meeting. The biennial conventions were covered by major newspapers and wire services. During
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106:, and others. Many of the leading puzzle editors and constructors in America are members; author and member
453:
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425:
45:
794:
Spurrier, Robert D. (July 1983). "A Passion for
Puzzling: The National Puzzlers' League Turns 100".
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Each NPL member generally chooses a "nom" (short for "nom de plume") upon joining, an often cryptic
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and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by
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specializes in the types of puzzles that flourished in the 19th century; the
75:; it continues to be published monthly and has now reached over 1200 issues.
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973:"Can you figure this out? At the puzzle convention, that's the whole idea"
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On July 4, 1883, twenty-eight word puzzlers, mostly young men, met at
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also contains articles and announcements of interest to its members.
25:
508:
997:
1025:
944:"Will Shortz: A Profile of a Lifelong Puzzle Master"
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Non-profit organizations based in the United States
893:"National Puzzlers' convention coming to Portland"
845:The National Puzzlers' League, The First 115 Years
867:"National Puzzlers' League Convention: A Preview"
266:The NPL has also published several editions of
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81:Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
8:
91:recruited several NPL members as government
59:The league's official publication began as
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851:: National Puzzlers' League. p. 215.
24:) is a nonprofit organization focused on
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918:"NPL Con Information: Official Program"
816:"Nom de plume Definition & Meaning"
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95:based on their puzzling experience.
942:Hiltner, Stephen (August 1, 2017).
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274:); a mini-sample of the puzzles in
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1057:Organizations established in 1883
1002:National Puzzler's League website
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891:Routhier, Ray (July 15, 2013).
865:Hinman, Tyler (June 12, 2010).
124:compilers of cryptic crosswords
1:
971:Baker, Billy (July 8, 2017).
28:, primarily in the realm of
89:Signal Intelligence Service
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151:
1026:National Puzzlers' League
922:National Puzzlers' League
735:. 1923-09-16. p. XX3
18:National Puzzlers' League
767:. 1936-02-22. p. 17
312:This con's in Wisconsin
326:for Portland, Oregon.
145:Selected list members
158:adding missing items
133:Puzzle professional
841:Eckler, A. Ross Jr.
802:Playboy Enterprises
664:Nikoli puzzle types
346:Part of a series on
322:for Austin, Texas;
268:Guide to The Enigma
948:The New York Times
669:Puzzle video games
654:Impossible puzzles
550:Puzzle video games
180:A. Ross Eckler Jr.
69:The Eastern Enigma
61:The Eastern Enigma
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210:William Lutwiniak
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1028:official website
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608:Optical illusion
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272:Key to Puzzledom
162:reliable sources
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454:Disentanglement
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314:for Milwaukee;
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185:Willard R. Espy
170:Dmitri Borgmann
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100:Dmitri Borgmann
54:Brooklyn Bridge
46:Pythagoras Hall
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1005:. Retrieved
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925:. Retrieved
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900:. Retrieved
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593:Brain teaser
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449:Construction
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318:for Boston;
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252:Publications
195:Tyler Hinman
154:dynamic list
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108:Willard Espy
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85:World War II
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568:Metapuzzles
444:Combination
305:Conventions
240:Will Shortz
135:Will Shortz
104:Ross Eckler
1036:Categories
771:2008-08-24
739:2008-08-24
628:Puzzlehunt
513:Logic maze
435:Mechanical
421:Logic grid
411:Dissection
339:References
332:puzzlehunt
299:The Enigma
287:The Enigma
276:The Enigma
270:(formerly
261:The Enigma
257:The Enigma
220:Trip Payne
205:David Kahn
152:This is a
114:Membership
73:The Enigma
34:word games
633:Syllogism
536:Crossword
416:Induction
393:Situation
291:crossword
225:Jim Propp
175:Emily Cox
30:word play
1007:8 August
982:8 August
953:8 August
902:8 August
876:8 August
849:New York
843:(1998).
467:problems
379:Guessing
120:pen name
26:puzzling
1047:Puzzles
927:17 June
825:17 July
618:Paradox
598:Dilemma
511: (
498:Sliding
472:Folding
352:Puzzles
282:Puzzles
40:History
584:Topics
541:Sudoku
527:Number
482:Tiling
388:Riddle
324:OreCon
320:ConTex
316:BeaCon
87:, the
871:Wired
647:Lists
559:Mazes
503:Chess
477:Stick
402:Logic
370:Types
160:with
1009:2017
984:2017
955:2017
929:2022
904:2017
878:2017
827:2022
603:Joke
525:and
523:Word
509:Maze
493:Tour
459:Lock
32:and
16:The
48:in
22:NPL
1038::
1000:.
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963:^
946:.
920:.
895:.
869:.
857:^
847:.
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718:^
465:Go
102:,
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829:.
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703:e
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164:.
20:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.