Lillian Moller Gilbreth

Lillian Moller Gilbreth
Gilbreth in 1921
Born
Lillie Evelyn Moller[1]

(1878-05-24)May 24, 1878
DiedJanuary 2, 1972(1972-01-02) (aged 93)
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley
Brown University
Occupation(s)Industrial psychologist
Ergonomics expert
Management consultant
Professor
Known forSeminal contributions to human factors engineering and ergonomics;
Therblig
Spouse
(m. 1904; died 1924)
Children12, including Ernestine, Frank Jr., and Robert
RelativesFrederick Delger (maternal grandfather)
AwardsNational Academy of Engineering (elected 1965)
Hoover Medal (1966)

Lillian Evelyn Gilbreth (née Moller; May 24, 1878 – January 2, 1972) was an American psychologist, industrial engineer, consultant, and educator who was an early pioneer in applying psychology to time-and-motion studies. She was described in the 1940s as "a genius in the art of living."[2]

Gilbreth, one of the first female engineers to earn a Ph.D., is considered to be the first industrial/organizational psychologist.[1] She and her husband, Frank Bunker Gilbreth, were efficiency experts who contributed to the study of industrial engineering, especially in the areas of motion study and human factors.

Cheaper by the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by two of their children (Ernestine and Frank Jr.) tell the story of their family life and describe how time-and-motion studies were applied to the organization and daily activities of their large family.[3] Both books were later made into feature films.[3]

  1. ^ a b Lancaster (2004), p. 21.
  2. ^ Carol Kennedy (January 1, 2007). Guide to the Management Gurus. Random House Business. ISBN 9781905211029. OCLC 655247876.
  3. ^ a b David Ferguson. "That Most Famous Dozen". The Gilbreth Network. Retrieved September 23, 2015.