Figure 1.--Here is the Gilbrith family in the early 1920s. Notice all the youngr boys wear white sailor suits. This portrait was taken shortly before Frank unexpectedly died, leaving Lilian the task of binging up 12 children. They were the true life family that inspired the film "Cheaper by the Dozen"..

The Gilbreths are a husband and wife team that made an important contribution to indutrial management. They spanned the 19th and 20th century. Frank Bunker Gilbreth (1868-1924) was born in Fairfield, Maine. He began as a bricklayer. He then moved up to a building contractor and finally a management engineer. He sought to increase effiency in the industrial workforce. He became a lecturer at Purdue University. Frank and Lillian Evelyn Moller married in 1904. They went on to have 12 children. Frank unexpectedly died in 1924 leving his wife with 12 children including many young children to raise. Lillian Evelyn Moller (1878-1972) was born in Oakland, California. She graduated from the University of California with a B.A. and M.A. and went on to earn a Ph.D. from Brown University. With a large family to support she took over her their management consulting firm of Gilbreth, Inc. after the death of her husband. She also lectured at Perdue. The Gilbreths are best known to the general public as a result of the wonderful Clifton Webb film--"Cheaper by the Dozen" (U.S., 1950).

Created: 5:37 PM 9/17/2007
Last updated: 5:37 PM 9/17/2007