Milton Bradley and the Game That Started It All

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Apr 10, 2024

Milton Bradley, an influential figure in board games, shaped how people play and how kids were educated. The podcast delves into Bradley's journey, from creating 'The Checkered Game of Life' to educational innovations. It explores his struggles, triumphs, and legacy, highlighting the intersection of games, patriotism, and educational tools.

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ANECDOTE

Bradley's Bold Hire

Milton Bradley, despite lacking train-drawing experience, confidently claimed he could do the job and was hired.
His optimism and willingness to learn paid off, showcasing his adaptability.

ANECDOTE

Shift to Lithography

Bradley's first lithograph printing commission was for a monument maker's design showcase book.
This success led him to shift his business focus from drafting to lithography and publishing.

ANECDOTE

Birth of a Game

Facing financial hardship during the Civil War, Bradley invented "The Checkered Game of Life".
Its success saved him from bankruptcy and established him as a game maker.

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Milton Bradley shaped not only the way people in the U.S. and around the globe play, but also how many kids in the U.S. were educated in their youngest years.

Research:

Adams, David Wallace, and Victor Edmonds. “Making Your Move: The Educational Significance of the American Board Game, 1832 to 1904.” History of Education Quarterly, vol. 17, no. 4, 1977, pp. 359–83. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/367865
Bradley, M. “Game Board. U.S. Patent Office. April 3, 1866. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/21/56/40/6993536471b841/US53561.pdf
“Bradley’s Mechanical and Mathematical Institute … “ The Berkshire County Eagle. July 23, 1858. https://www.newspapers.com/image/532891626/?terms=%22milton%20bradley%22%20&match=1
“The Cars for Egypt.” Vermont Press. March 13, 1858. https://www.newspapers.com/image/547100306/?terms=%22milton%20bradley%22%20&match=1
“The Checkered Game of Life.” Hasbro. https://www.hasbro.com/common/documents/5b96f7161d3711ddbd0b0800200c9a66/858C69C319B9F3691003C63AB0E8078A.pdf
“The Game of Life: A 2010 National Toy Hall of Fame Inductee.” The Strong National Museum of Play. https://www.museumofplay.org/blog/the-game-of-life-a-2010-national-toy-hall-of-fame-inductee/
Hastings, C.C. “Paper Cutter.” U.S. Patent Office. https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/07/48/11/e31cbdcbdc7c2c/US1123190.pdf
Lepore, Jill. “The Meaning of Life.” The New Yorker. May 14, 2007. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2007/05/21/the-meaning-of-life
“Milton Bradley.” National Inventors Hall of Fame. https://www.invent.org/inductees/milton-bradley
Shea, James J. and Charles E. Mercer. “It’s All in the Game.” New York. Putnam. 1960.
Shea, James J., Jr. “The Milton Bradley Story.” New York, Newcomen Society in North America. 1973. Accessed online: https://archive.org/details/miltonbradleysto0000shea/page/n31/mode/2up
“WHISKERS FOR VOTES, OR WHY ABRAHAM LINCOLN GREW A BEARD.” Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. August 31, 2021. https://www.indianamuseum.org/blog-post/whiskers-for-votes-or-why-abraham-lincoln-grew-a-beard/#:~:text=Silly%20affection%20or%20not%2C%20later,trip%20prior%20to%20his%20inauguration

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