Yes, love her!!

After reading Cheaper by the Dozen during lockdown I had to know more about her and her family. I immediately recognized their contributions to workplace efficiency and ergonomics because I spent several years working at a fast-paced corporate restaurant chain where we were highly trained to shave seconds off order times. (This really jived with how my brain works and I eventually set a company record.) I still love finding ways to optimize a task and make the shortest work if it.

Last year I found this website put together by a Gilbreth enthusiast. If anyone else is interested in learning more of their history I recommend it. He corrects some of the details in the book that are fudged a little or left out; for example, Lillian actually gave birth 13 times, but one was a late-term miscarriage. She also helped restore her husband Frank's reputation after his death (he had a rival who tried to discredit their work) and she's the reason why today we think of the Gilbreth's when we think about labor efficiency.

http://www.thegilbreths.com/

OMG! Foot pedal trash cans ARE genius! I'm going to use the trash can downstairs and think about her...what an absolute Queen.

Not shocked at all that most women's achievements are shoved to the side for their men...ugh...what did her husband achieve? Or her MANY children? I can't imagine how miserable she must have been shouldering that burden. :[

I never heard of her before, I love to learn about pioneering women. It would be cool to have an "inspiring women" or similarly named sub here. It's so important to hear about the achievements and struggles of women, because unfortunately we often don't learn about them in schools.

I think the second book/film written by the kids (Belles on their Toes) showed how amazing she was, for all that they had to leave out. But I can see that they did leave a lot out. Thank you for giving her a boost.

I knew about her! A fascinating woman and she contributed a lot to management theories.

Is there a good biography of her? I'd love to read it.

Sounds pretty based, helping make everyone's lives easier in the home and elsewhere. I would like to add my two cents, maybe because most everyone loves their mom, that being remembered for having 13 kids is pretty cool too, though.