Lillian Evelyn Gilbreth

Lillian Evelyn Gilbreth (May 24, 1878 – January 2, 1972) was a pioneering American psychologist and industrial engineer, notable for applying psychology to time-and-motion studies. As one of the first female engineers to earn a Ph.D., she is regarded as the first industrial/organizational psychologist. She made significant contributions to industrial engineering, particularly in motion study and human factors. Her family life and the application of their efficiency principles to daily activities were depicted in the books Cheaper by the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by their children, which were later adapted into films.

Biography

Lillian Evelyn Moller was born on May 24, 1878, in Oakland, California, to Annie and William Moller. She was the second child and the oldest of nine surviving siblings. Her maternal grandfather, Frederick Delger, was a wealthy German immigrant.

Lillian was educated at home until age nine, then attended public school where she excelled and became vice president of her senior class. She graduated from Oakland High School in 1896 with high marks.

Despite her father’s opposition to higher education for women, Lillian persuaded him to let her attend college. She enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1896. The university was small and underfunded, but Lillian performed well enough that her father allowed her to continue her studies. She earned a degree in English, with additional studies in philosophy and psychology. In 1900, she became the first woman to speak at a University of California commencement.

Lillian then moved to New York City to study at Columbia University. Although she was not allowed to take classes with the professor she had hoped for, she studied with George Edward Woodberry and was influenced by psychologist Edward Thorndike.

She returned to California, completed a master’s degree at the University of California, and wrote a thesis on Ben Jonson’s play Bartholomew Fair. After traveling in Europe and marrying Frank Bunker Gilbreth in 1904, she completed a dissertation at Berkeley that was published in 1914 as The Psychology of Management.

After moving to Providence, Rhode Island, with her family, Lillian earned a Ph.D. in applied psychology from Brown University in 1915, becoming one of the first pioneers in industrial management to hold a doctorate. Her dissertation focused on efficient teaching methods.

Lillian met Frank Bunker Gilbreth in 1903 in Boston. They married in 1904 and had twelve children, though one died young and another was stillborn. The family lived in New York, Providence, and later Montclair, New Jersey.

Frank Gilbreth passed away from a heart attack in 1924, and Lillian never remarried. The National Society of Professional Engineers, with support from the American Psychological Association, succeeded in getting a 1984 U.S. postage stamp issued in her honor. Gilbreth is the only psychologist to appear on a stamp. In 1995, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame at Seneca Falls, NY.

Career

For over forty years, Lillian Gilbreth merged psychology with scientific management and engineering, making significant contributions to industrial and organizational psychology. She was a trailblazer in integrating psychological insights into work and management. Gilbreth introduced the idea of applying psychology to management at the 1911 Dartmouth College Conference on Scientific Management.

Alongside her husband, Frank Gilbreth, she co-managed their consulting firm, Gilbreth, Incorporated. They authored numerous publications and co-wrote many books and papers. Despite her substantial contributions, Lillian's name was often not included in joint publications, likely due to gender biases.

The Gilbreths critically assessed Frederick Winslow Taylor's scientific management, believing it needed more emphasis on the human element to be effective. After Frank’s death in 1924, Lillian faced challenges as some major clients did not renew contracts. Despite job offers from associates, she chose to keep Frank’s business running.

Contributions

Time, Motion, and Fatigue Studies:
- Gilbreth System: Lillian and her husband, Frank, developed the Gilbreth System for time-and-motion studies, which aimed to find the most efficient way to perform tasks. Their methodology included using motion-picture cameras to record work processes, which helped in redesigning machinery and work environments to reduce fatigue and increase efficiency.
- Fatigue Study: Their research on fatigue was a precursor to ergonomics, focusing on how to optimize work conditions to minimize unnecessary exertion and improve worker comfort.
Domestic Management and Home Economics:
- Scientific Management at Home: Gilbreth applied principles of scientific management to domestic tasks to simplify and improve home efficiency. She aimed to make household chores easier and more efficient, allowing women to balance home responsibilities with paid employment.
- Modern Kitchen Design: She developed the "work triangle" concept and linear-kitchen layouts, which are widely used in modern kitchen design. Her Kitchen Practical, designed in collaboration with Mary E. Dillon, introduced principles like uniform working surface heights and circular routing to enhance kitchen efficiency.
- Innovative Household Items: Gilbreth invented several household improvements, such as the foot-pedal trash can, refrigerator door shelves, and wall-light switches. She also filed patents for various kitchen and household items.
Consulting and Industrial Applications:
- Rehabilitation of War Veterans: Post-World War I, the Gilbreths worked on rehabilitating amputee veterans, applying their expertise to improve the design of prosthetics and work environments.
- Corporate Consulting: Gilbreth continued consulting for businesses after Frank's death, including companies like Johnson & Johnson and Macy's. She used her psychological and engineering expertise to address issues like product design, marketing, and workplace efficiency.

Awards and Honors

Received 23 honorary degrees from institutions such as Rutgers, Princeton, Brown, Smith, and the University of Michigan.
Her portrait is displayed in the National Portrait Gallery.
The Gilbreth Engineering Library at Purdue University is named in her and her husband’s honor.
Named an honorary member of the American Society of Industrial Engineers in 1921 and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1926.
Joined the British Women's Engineering Society in 1924.
Awarded the first Gilbreth Medal in 1931 and the Henry Laurence Gantt Medal in 1944 (posthumously for Frank).
Became an honorary member of the Society of Women Engineers in 1950.
Received the Wallace Clark Award in 1951.
Named 1954 Alumna of the Year by the University of California's alumni association.
First woman elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1965 and the first woman to receive the Hoover Medal in 1966.
Made an honorary member of the British Women's Engineering Society in 1967.
Awarded the Gold Medal by the US National Institute of Social Sciences.
Honored with a 40-cent Great Americans series postage stamp in 1984.
Inducted into the US National Women's Hall of Fame in 1995.

Publications

A Primer of Scientific Management (1912, with Frank B. Gilbreth)
The Psychology of Management (1914)
Motion Models (1915, with Frank B. Gilbreth)
Fatigue Study (1916, with Frank B. Gilbreth)
Applied Motion Study (1917, with Frank B. Gilbreth)
Motion Study for the Handicapped (1920, with Frank B. Gilbreth)
The Quest of the One Best Way (1925)
The Home-maker and Her Job (1927)
Living With Our Children (1928)
The Foreman in Manpower Management (1947, with Alice Rice Cook)
Normal Lives for the Disabled (1948, with Edna Yost)
Management in the Home (1954, with Orpha Mae Thomas and Eleanor Clymer)
As I Remember: An Autobiography (1998, posthumously)

Learn More

Did you like it? Help us spread the word!