Alfred Mosher Butts (1899

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Biography

Alfred Mosher Butts was an American architect, famous for inventing the board game Scrabble in 1931.

Timeline

The story of Alfred Mosher Butts, told in moments.

1931 Event

Invented a word game called "Lexiko" after losing his architecture job in the Depression. He analyzed the front page of The New York Times to calculate letter frequency and assign point values.

Was analyzing the New York Times for letter frequency the work of a game designer or an architect? Did the Depression give you Scrabble?

1948 Event

James Brunot bought the rights to Butts's game, renamed it "Scrabble," and manufactured it in an abandoned schoolhouse. Butts received a royalty of about 3 cents per set sold.

Does three cents per set sold feel fair for inventing one of America's most beloved games? Did James Brunot renaming it 'Scrabble' improve on your vision?

1993 Death

Died nine days before his 94th birthday. Scrabble was in one out of three American homes. Six of his drawings had been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Is being in one out of three American homes enough immortality? What matters more -- the six drawings at the Met or the game?

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