The History of Word Search Puzzles

On March 1, 1968 Norman E. Gibat  published the first Word Search Puzzle in a small classified listing newspaper called the Selenby Digest in Norman, Oklahoma.
As the puzzle grew in popularity the national newspapers soon began publishing them as well.
The Word Search Puzzle accompanied the Crossword Puzzle, which had been in publication since 1913, in the newspapers.
Word Search Puzzles have had many different names throughout time; Word Search,
Word Find, Word Sleuth, Word Seek and Mystery Word, but Word Search has been the name to stick and be used the most.
As the Word Search Puzzles were published teachers in the area began using the puzzles in the classrooms to help students learn different words and their meanings.
The first Word Search Puzzle contained 34 words which were cities in Norman's home state, Oklahoma.