CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN - The Gilbreth Family - Dr. Lillian Moller Gilbreth, not merely a mother

The Gilbreth Family, Hollywood style - 1950

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, a 1948 memoir, written by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr., Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.  Their story recounts life in a large family with twelve children as raised by well known parents who are efficiency experts. 

The title comes from one of Gilbreth's favorite jokes: "Hey Mister! How come you got so many kids?"

To which Gilbreth would ponder and reply, "Well, they come cheaper by the dozen, you know!" 

The cast featured Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy as Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. Out of the twelve young actors/actresses for the children, only two were given screen credit: Jeanne Crain as Anne Gilbreth and Barbara Bates as Ernestine Gilbreth. The rest of the children were portrayed as follows: Mary - Betty Barker, Martha - Patti Brady, Frank Jr. - Norman Ollestad, Lillie - Carol Nugent, William - Jimmy Hunt, Fred - Anthony Sydes, Dan - Teddy Driver, Jack - Roddy McCaskill, Jane - Tina Thompson, (Robert - no listing.) 

The Gilbreth Family in 1924, shortly before Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr.'s death, 

with all eleven children who survived to adulthood.

Standing are Fred, Dan and Jack. 

Seated are Frank Jr., Martha, Dr. Lillian Moller Gilbreth, Frank Sr., Lillian and Anne.

On laps are Jane and Bob.

Seated in front are Bill and Lillian Jr.

(Original image from Purdue University archives.)

Dr. Lillian Moller Gilbreth (May 24, 1878 - January 2, 1972) was immeasurably more of a woman than 20th Century Fox's portrayal of her in CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN. 

Lillian Moller Gilbreth, referred to as The Mother of Industrial Engineering, was an American psychologist, industrial engineer, author, consultant and educator who applied psychology to time motion studies. Lillian had worked alongside her husband Frank, in developing industrial engineering and management principles until his sudden death in 1924. She carried on their work, while raising their large family and managing to put them all through college. Dr. Lillian Gilbert became the first woman faculty member at Purdue University's Engineering Department (1935-1948) and was a consultant for the government during WWII. Her industrial engineering studies made numerous improvements to the quality of life for veterans, homemakers [invented the refrigerator door shelves and foot pedal trash can], the handicapped and the aging.  Lillian was an active volunteer, two of the agencies being the Girl Scouts and the President's Emergency Committee for Unemployment Relief in 1930. She continued lecturing until the age of ninety.

 Numerous achievements and awards were bestowed to Dr. Lillian Moller Gilbreth, including:

·         Gilbreth is the recipient of twenty-three honorary degrees from such schools as Rutgers University, Princeton University, Brown University, Smith College, and the University of Michigan.

·         The Gilbreth Engineering Library at Purdue University is named in honor of Lillian and Frank Gilbreth.

·         In 1921 Lillian Gilbreth was the first woman to be named an honorary member of the American Society of Industrial Engineers.

·         She joined the British Women's Engineering Society in 1924.

·         Gilbreth was accepted to the membership of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1926, becoming its second female member.

·         In 1931 she received the first Gilbreth Medal, which was initiated in honor of her late husband.

·          In 1941 the Purdue University chapter of Mortar Board, a national honor society, named Gilbreth an honorary member.

·         In 1944 the American Society of Mechanical Engineers awarded Gilbreth and her husband (posthumously) the Henry Laurence Gantt Medal for their contributions to industrial engineering.

·         In 1950 Gilbreth became the first honorary member of the newly created Society of Women Engineers.

·         In 1951 she was awarded the Wallace Clark Award.

·         The University of California's alumni association named Gilbreth the 1954 Alumna of the Year.

·         In 1965 Gilbreth became the first woman elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

·         In 1966 Gilbreth became the first woman to receive the Hoover Medal.

·         She was made an honorary Member of the British Women's Engineering Society in 1967

·         Gilbreth was a recipient of Gold Medal award from the National Institute of Social Sciences.

·         In 1984 the U.S. Postal Service issued a 40-cent Great Americans series postage stamp in Gilbreth's honor.

·         In 1995, Gilbreth was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. 

Courtesy of Purdue University of Engineering  Lillian Gilbreth: First Lady of Engineering

The children of Lillian and Frank Gilbreth

Anne Moller Gilbreth (1905-1987)

Mary Elizabeth Gilbreth (1906-1912) died at five years old to Diphtheria 

Ernestine Moller Gilbreth (1908-2006)

Martha Bunker Gilbreth (1909-1968)

Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. (1911-2001)

William Moller Gilbreth (1912-1990)

Lillian Moller Gilbreth Jr. (1914-2001)

Infant Gilbreth (1915)

Frederick Moller Gilbreth (1916-2015)

Daniel Bunker Gilbreth (1917-2006)

John Moller Gilbreth (1919-2002)

Robert Moller Gilbreth (1920-2007)

Jane Moller Gilbreth (1922-2006)

For more information on the Gilbreth Family, visit James Giffords site.

 The Gilbreths:An Extraordinary American Family

 

Apparently large families were common during the early 1900's. Below is a photo of my father's family, (circa 1938?) with his parents and eleven siblings.  My dad is the youngest, bottom row on the right, still in short pants. Father had two additional children that died as infants. His father passed away away while he was still young. This may have been the last picture that was taken with the entire family. The remaining member passed away in the summer of 2019.