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Games Across the Board: An
Exhibit of Board Games
(June 2nd, 2008 - August 22nd, 2008)
The history of board games dates back to c. 3500 BC to the Jiroft and
Predynastic Egyptian civilizations where a game called Senet was created.
Throughout the rest of the BC era, such games as Mehen, Backgammon, Ur, Go, and
Pachisi (Parcheesi) were invented. Around the 6th century AD the forerunner of
Chess was created, and in 12th century Europe Draughts (Checkers) was first
played. It wasn't until the 19th century when board games started to flourish.
The two most important figures in modern board game history started their
companies in the 19th century: Milton Bradley and George S. Parker.
The Milton Bradley Company was established in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1860
when founder Milton Bradley released The Checkered Game of Life. In 1920 the
company absorbed the game production side of McLoughlin Brothers and in 1987
purchased Selchow & Righter (makers of Scrabble and Parcheesi). In 1984 Hasbro
bought the company.
Parker Brothers was started in Salem, Massachusetts in 1883 by 16 year old
George S. Parker with his game, Banking. In 1963 Parker Brothers was purchased
by General Mills. After a short merger with Kenner in the 1980s, Parker Brothers
was acquired by Tonka in 1987 and finally bought by Hasbro.
Many of the games shown in this exhibit are MB and PB games.
Leading into the 20th century, the popularity of board games rose as more people
had leisure time and disposable income to partake in such games. Like many of
today's games early board games published by Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers
were meant to promote other forms of entertainment. With the invention of TV and
the growing popularity of movies, more and more board games were made to cash in
on TV shows and movies. As board games became more popular, a myriad of other
companies sprang up to get a piece of the pie. Today there are still a number of
small companies creating board games along with the giant, Hasbro (having
acquired Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley, Avalon Hill, and Wizards of the Coast
among many others).
I hope you'll have fun looking at all the games shown here, learn some
interesting facts, see something interesting, and relive some fond childhood
memories. Maybe you'll play your favorite game at your next family function!
Board games can be educational, thought provoking and competitive, and are
usually a good way to bring people together for some fun and laughter. When else
can you say, "You sank my battleship!" and not be in real danger?
The board games in this exhibit all come from my personal collection and only
represent a tiny fraction of all the board games ever made.
-John Milazzo
