Background
Work, Milton Cooper, , Pennsylvania 1864 1934 Male Bridge Player (Contract) Lawyer auction, contract bridge expert, and lawyer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa. , the son of Robert D. and Anna K. (Whiteman) Work.
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Milton Cooper Work
Edit ProfileEducation
His parents were both enthusiastic players of whist, the popular card game of that day, and he himself was quite skilful before he became a student at the University of Pennsylvania.
While still in college, he arranged what was probably the first duplicate contest held in the United States.
Upon his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania (B. A. , 1884; LL. B. , 1887), he set out upon a career which brought him note as a lawyer in Philadelphia.
When the United States entered the World War, he abandoned his law practice and spent his time giving lectures and bridge demonstrations throughout the country in behalf of the Red Cross.
Career
After an injury at golf he gave more and more attention to the study of cards as an avocation.
After that his popularity as a bridge expert was assured.
His advice was so clear that his books and articles, of which he published many, won a larger number of readers during the ensuing years than those of any other expert.
Soon bridge teachers in every part of the country looked to him for tutelage.
His activity in the famous radio bridge games of 1925 to 1930, during most of the time in conjunction with Wilbur C. Whitehead [q. v. ], and his work with Whitehead as an editor of the Auction Bridge Magazine had a tremendous influence in increasing the number of bridge players.
His own system underwent many changes until he became a participant in the movement of 1931-32 to bring about a universal system of bidding.
Always a member of many bridge clubs, he did not sponsor one of his own until after the advent of contract, when he built the Barclay Club of Philadelphia to a position of prominence both socially and in the world of bridge.
[Who's Who in America, 1932-33; Univ. of Pa. , Biog.
Cat.
of Matriculates (1894); N. Y. Times, June 27, 1934 (obituary), June 28, July 13 (will); obituary in Evening Bull.
(Phila. )
, June 27, 1934; long personal acquaintance. ]
Connections
- divorced:
- Dreka
- married:
- Dreka
Work was married twice: first to Millicent Dreka, from whom he was divorced; second, to Margaret (Hazelhurst) Patton, who survived him.
Work was married twice: first to Millicent Dreka, from whom he was divorced; second, to Margaret (Hazelhurst) Patton, who survived him.
