Queens of Code

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.