School of Industrial Engineering records on Lillian Gilbreth

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: UA 177

Staff Only

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 Gilbreth for the World Engineering Congress in Tokyo, Japan on October 1929.

Dates

1914 - 2013

Creator

Gilbreth, Lillian Moller, 1878-1972 (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection material is in English.

Access Information

The collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Copyright held by Purdue University. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Historical Information

The Industrial Engineering program emerged from the School of Practical Mechanics, Mechanical Egineering, and the Department of General Engineering in the 1930’s. Lillian Gilbreth joined the program in 1935 and became the first female engineering professor at Purdue’s College of Engineering. During her tenure at Purdue she established a time and motion study laboratory. She retired from Purdue in 1948. After Gilbreth’s tenure at Purdue, the Industrial Engineering program reestablished as the School of Industrial Engineering in 1961. The School continues to honor Lillian Gilbreth for her contributions to Industrial Engineering, specifically in motion study and human factors, by offering The Gilbreth Postdoctoral Fellowship in memory of her.

Extent

0.9 Cubic Feet (2 manuscript boxes)

Additional Description

Acquisition Information

Collection donated by the School of Industrial Engineering, February 16, 2018.

Condition Description

Good

Processing Information

The original order of the materials has been retained whenever possible. All materials have been housed in acid-free folders and acid-free boxes. Rusted staples have been removed from the materials and plastic paper clips or file folder inserts have been used in their place. All photographs have been rehoused in polyester sleeves.