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Gilbreth, Lillian Moller, 1878-1972

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: May 24, 1878 - January 2, 1972

Biographical Information

Lillian Evelyn Moller Gilbreth, commonly referred to as the “Mother of Modern Management,” was born May 24, 1878 to William Moller and Annie Delger in Oakland, California. Her parents were descendants of German immigrants and she had eight siblings, five sisters and three brothers, of which she was the eldest. Though initially opposed, Lillian convinced her father to let her attend college and received a bachelor’s degree in literature from the University of California (1900) and was selected as the commencement speaker, becoming the first woman to speak at the university’s commencement. She pursued a master’s degree, first attending Columbia University and then the University of California, where she earned the degree, also in literature, in 1902. In 1915, she earned her PhD in Psychology from Brown University.

Lillian met Frank Gilbreth in 1902 and they married on October 19, 1904. In addition to being a couple, they became business partners in Frank’s engineering consulting company and had twelve children together, six boys and six girls, though one daughter died in childhood from diphtheria. Over the next twenty years, Frank and Lillian built their engineering consulting business and conducted pioneering research in the field of time and motion study. Using their combined expertise, they focused on both the human and technical elements to reduce worker fatigue and improve efficiency. They published numerous articles and books together, created new techniques for analyzing worker motions, such as chronocyclographs and therbligs, and consulted with numerous companies across the United States and overseas, applying their motion study theories and methodologies to business and industry, sports, the household, surgery, clerical work, and persons with disabilities. They also taught summer courses on scientific management.

After Frank died in 1924, Lillian Gilbreth continued their consulting business, though most of her contracts tended to focus on women’s spheres, and took over many of Frank’s roles in the engineering community. She lectured at universities across the United States, spoke at many engineering societies including American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Taylor Society, served as a delegate at international conferences, often as the only woman, designed and taught Motion Study Courses, and continued their research. Through her consulting work, she redesigned the kitchen using motion study principles, many of which are still used in modern-day kitchens, and worked for many well-known companies such as Macy’s, Johnson and Johnson, and the Girl Scouts. Her work and research focused on the household, the field of home economics, and people with disabilities.

In 1935, Purdue University hired Lillian Gilbreth as a Professor of Management, making her the first female engineering professor in the United States, and assigned her part-time duties in the School of Home Economics. In 1941, she was promoted to full professor. She lived on campus in the women's residence halls during her lecturing and consulting periods at Purdue and helped improve the motion study labs on campus, making them more accessible to the local agricultural industry. Upon her retirement in 1948, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Industrial Psychology degree.

Throughout her life, she earned numerous honorary degrees and awards. She was the second person granted honorary membership in the Society of Industrial Engineers (1921), second woman member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (1926), and the first woman to receive the Hoover Medal (1966). She also served on numerous committees, including presidential committees for civil defense, war production, rehabilitation of the disabled, and women’s employment.

Lillian Gilbreth died on January 2, 1972.

Citation

Gilbreth, Lillian M. (1998). "As I remember." Engineering and Management Press. Norcross, Georgia.

Citation

MSP 8, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Library of Management Research and Professional papers, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Citation

MSP 7, Frank and Lillian Gilbreth papers, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, Purdue University Libraries.

Found in 23 Collections and/or Records:

Arnold Sweet collection of movie posters

 Unprocessed — Box: Communal Accessions 23
Identifier: 20170627.1

Collection of materials related to Lillian Gilbreth

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 56, Placement: 01
Identifier: MSP 109
Scope and Contents One folder of items relating to the life of Lillian Gilbreth, and her family, collected by her granddaughter, Lillian (Jill) Barley and Nancy Weston. Materials include clippings relating to the Lillian Gilbreth postage stamp (1984); obituaries and memorial programs for Peter Barney, Ernestine Carey, Lillian Gilbreth, Anne Gilbreth Barney, Charles Carey, and Frank Gilbreth Jr.; programs and photographs relating to Lillian Gilbreth's visit to Athens in 1964; and biographical information on...
Dates: 1964-2006; Other: Date acquired: 01/11/2009

Collection of materials related to Lillian Gilbreth, addition 01

 Unprocessed — Box: Communal Accessions 14
Identifier: 20091219

Collection of materials related to Lillian Gilbreth, addition 02

 Unprocessed — Box: Communal Accessions 3
Identifier: 20140425.8

Alice Rice Cook papers

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MSP 287
Scope and Contents The Alice Rice Cook Papers contain clippings regarding Frank and Lillian Gilbreth, correspondence with Lillian Gilbreth, and correspondence and materials regarding the death of Lillian Gilbreth collected by Alice Cook.
Dates: 1943-1972; Other: Majority of material found in 1950s-1960s; Other: Date acquired: 11/30/1971

Edward C. Elliott papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 50
Scope and Contents The Edward C. Elliott Papers (1890-1975; 22.8 Cubic ft.) document the life and career of educator and former Purdue University President Edward Elliott. The majority of the papers date from 1940 to 1960. The papers reflect the original order as they were received from Elliott and his family, and therefore have not been divided into series or subject areas. The Elliott Papers document Elliott's education and career, particularly his tenure as President of Purdue University (1922-1945),...
Dates: 1890-1975; Majority of material found within 1940-1960; Other: Date acquired: 11/30/1959

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth papers, addition 02

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20120615

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth papers, addition 03

 Unprocessed — Box: 1
Identifier: 2024-090

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth papers, addition 04

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20210625.1

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Library of Management Research and Professional papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 8
Scope and Contents The Gilbreth Library of Management documents the pioneering research of Frank Gilbreth and Lillian Gilbreth in the fields of time and motion study. Commonly referred to as the N-file, the collection covers the Gilbreths quest to find The One Best Way in job performance, worker satisfaction, efficient office management, and home economics.Types of material in the N-file include photographs, manuscripts, correspondence, notes, blueprints, newspaper clippings, reports, and research...
Dates: 1845 - 1959; Majority of material found within 1906 - 1924; Other: Date acquired: 11/30/1938

Frank and Lillian Gilbreth papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 7
Scope and Contents The Gilbreth Papers documents the professional and personal lives of Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. The collection consists of personal papers, letters, correspondence, photographs, and other memorabilia that Lillian Gilbreth collected during her life regarding her youth, marriage, family, and career. Types of materials in the collection include: personal correspondence between Frank and Lillian Gilbreth regarding their courtship, marriage, family, and work; correspondence between the Gilbreths...
Dates: 1869 - 2000; Majority of material found within 1949 - 1968; Other: Date acquired: 11/30/1971

Gilbreth Library collection

 Unprocessed — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 20140529

Jewel C. Hardkopf papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 309
Scope and Contents Papers of Jewel Hardkopf, including manuscripts, correspondence, teaching notes, printed material and related documents. Materials primarily relate to teaching; some materials relate to Lillian Gilbreth. Please see PDF Finding Aid for collection inventory.
Dates: Other: Dummy Date

Frederick L. Hovde papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 51
Scope and Contents The Frederick L. Hovde Papers (1908-1983; 63.5 Cubic ft.) document the life and career of engineer and educator Frederick Hovde. The vast majority of the papers document Hovde's business career, particularly his tenure as President of Purdue University (1946-1971), but also his work for the U.S. government and other agencies on nuclear and atomic energy, weapons research, national defense, and rocket ordnance research. A group of personal papers is included, documenting Hovde's academic...
Dates: 1908 - 1983; Majority of material found within 1946 - 1971; Other: Date acquired: 11/30/1982

School of Industrial Engineering records on Lillian Gilbreth

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 177
Scope and Contents The School of Industrial Engineering records on Lillian Gilbreth documents the Gilbreth Library restoration project, and communication between Purdue and the Gilbreth family, especially communication with Gilbreth’s daughter, Ernestine Gilbreth Carey in the 1990s. The collection includes correspondence, memoranda, reports, documents and newspaper clippings regarding Frank and Lillian Gilbreth’s research. Series 1 includes a speech, “Talking ‘Motion Study’ in Japan”, that was presented by...
Dates: 1914 - 2013

Lillian Gilbreth in India photographs

 Unprocessed — Box: Communal Accessions 32
Identifier: 20170728

Ernest McCormick papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 508
Scope and Contents The Ernest J. McCormick papers document the life and career of Professor Emeritus and President of PAQ Services Ernest J. McCormick. The majority of the papers date from 1945 to the late 1980s. The McCormick papers document McCormick’s private life and professional career, particularly his professional activities during his tenure at Purdue University. Some personal papers are included, which document McCormick’s academic background, books from his personal library as a child, and materials...
Dates: 1870 - 1994; Majority of material found within 1945 - 1988

Other Purdue Material, 1940 - 1985

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 334, Series 6
Scope and Contents This series contains miscellaneous materials related to Schleman's tenure at Purdue, including her advocacy for equal rights for women students and faculty. Of particular note are materials that document Schleman's nomination of ten women for President of Purdue in 1970, the Schleman Gold Medallion Award and the 1979 TIAA pension lawsuit.
Dates: 1940 - 1985

Purdue Student Section of the Society of Women Engineers records

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSP 182
Abstract This collection contains papers, photographs, programs, correspondence, and reports documenting the activities of Pi Omicron and its successor the Purdue Student Section of the Society of Women Engineers.  The records also document the difficulties that women in science have faced over the years.
Dates: 1945-2004; Other: Majority of material found in 1950-1990; Other: Date acquired: 11/06/2012

Purdue University Public Records Administrator records

 Collection — Box: Box 1
Identifier: UA 33
Scope and Contents The Purdue University Public Records Administrator records (1898-1988; .5 cf) includes four personnel files of notable Purdue University faculty or staff: Herbert C. Brown, Amelia Earhart, Lillian Gilbreth, and Andrey Potter. There is also a ledger concerning hours worked by Purdue University staff from 1898-1904, and a record of the state Field Examination of Purdue financial records from 1942-1943. Personnel files contain personnel cards concerning a faculty member’s work history and...
Dates: 1898 - 1988; Other: Date acquired: 02/02/2010

Significant People, 1950 - 1989

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSF 334, Series 4
Scope and Contents Series 4 contains records pertaining to individuals who were important to Helen Schleman. These files contain clippings, manuscripts, correspondence, and epehemera that Schleman collected and that document the lives and careers of several important women in her life.
Dates: 1950 - 1989

The Frank and Lillian Gilbreth films collection

 Collection — Box: vhs, dvd
Identifier: MSP 214
Scope and Contents The Frank and Lillian Gilbreth films collection includes a VHS cassette and duplicate DVD of two short films. The Quest of the One Best Way: The Original Films of Frank B. Gilbreth, by James Perkins and Ralph Barnes, features film footage taken by Frank Gilbreth, particularly those used in his Motion Studies and Fatigue Studies research. The film includes commentary by James Perkins and Lillian Gilbreth, who narrate various aspects of Frank and Lillian...
Dates: 1968; Other: Date acquired: 03/02/2011