White House Historical Association

Milton E. Bickley

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"Milton E. Bickley," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/939.
Positions
Gardener
Florist
Years in President's House
circa 1940
Legal Status
Free Person
Gender
Male
Race/Ethnicity
White
Presidency
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Biography
Milton Edward Bickley was born on June 29, 1910, in Louisa County, Virginia. (1) In 1940, several documents including his World War II draft card, the 1940 Census, and annual White House Christmas lists state that he worked as a gardener and florist at the White House under Head Gardener William Saunders Reeves. In this role, he labored on the White House Grounds and created floral arrangements for events and daily decoration. Bickley's uncle, Willie J. Wright, also worked on the gardening staff at this time. (2) Bickley may have worked on staff prior to or after 1940, but documentation is scarce; by 1950, he worked as a shipping clerk for wholesale plumbing– a career he continued for many years. He died on January 11, 1993. Milton Bickley was buried at National Memorial Park in Idylwood, Virginia. (3)
(1) Milton Edward Bickley in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards For Virginia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 56, Ancestry.com; Edward Milton Bickley in the Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014, Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014, Ancestry.com.
(2) "White Regular Employees of the White House Christmas, 1940," Folder: Christmas Subject File, Grace Tully Papers, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York; Milton Edward Bickley in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards For Virginia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 56, Ancestry.com; Milton Bickley in the 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Arlington, Virginia; Roll: m-t0627-04245; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 7-8A, Ancestry.com.
(3) Edward Milton Bickley in the Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014, Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, VA, USA; Virginia, Deaths, 1912-2014, Ancestry.com; Milton B Bickley in the 1950 United States Federal Census, National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 2528; Page: 20; Enumeration District: 1-1290; “E. Milton Bickley,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176391219/e.-milton-bickley?_gl=1*5bjtfm*_gcl_au*MTYzMzc4ODIwNC4xNzcyNDc5Mjc3.
Birthplace
Louisa County, Virginia, USA
Related Workers
William S. Reeves
Gardens, Grounds, and Flower Shop, circa 1905 – 1945
Willie J. Wright
Gardens, Grounds, and Flower Shop, circa 1940 – 1951