Alfred Mosher Butts 1899 – 1993

Biography

Alfred Mosher Butts was born on April 13, 1899, in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he began a life marked by creativity and innovation. As a designer and architect, he brought imaginative solutions to the built environment and the world of games, leaving a legacy that would touch millions of lives across generations.

Butts is best remembered as the creator of Scrabble, one of the world’s most beloved word games. His invention transformed leisure time for families and friends everywhere, combining strategy, vocabulary, and friendly competition in a format that has endured for decades. Through this creation, he demonstrated his unique ability to blend entertainment with intellectual engagement.

He spent much of his life in the Hudson Valley region of New York, eventually settling in Rhinebeck, where he passed away on April 4, 1993, at the age of ninety-three. His remains were laid to rest at Stanford Cemetery in Dutchess County, New York. Alfred Mosher Butts left behind not just a game, but a cherished pastime that continues to bring people together and challenge minds worldwide.