Gilbreath Family

The Real Cheaper By The Dozen Family:

(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, Ernestine and Anne. On laps are Jane and Bob. Seated in front are Bill and Lillian Jr.)

Frank Bunker Gilbreth (July 7, 1868 – June 14, 1924) was an American Engineer, Consultant, and Author known as an early advocate of Scientific Management and a Pioneer of Time and Motion Study.

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. Lillian was one of the first Female Engineers to earn a Ph.D., and is considered to be the first Industrial/Organizational Psychologist.

Gilbreth married Lillian Evelyn Moller on October 19, 1904, in Oakland, California.

They had 12 Children. Their names were Anne Moller Gilbreth Barney (1905–1987), Mary Elizabeth Gilbreth (1906–1912), Ernestine Moller Gilbreth Carey (1908–2006), Martha Bunker Gilbreth Tallman (1909–1968), Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. (1911–2001), William Moller Gilbreth (1912–1990), Lillian Gilbreth Johnson (1914–2001), Frederick Moller Gilbreth (1916–2015), Daniel Bunker Gilbreth (1917–2006), John Moller Gilbreth (1919–2002), Robert Moller Gilbreth (1920–2007), and Jane Moller Gilbreth Heppes (1922–2006); there was also a stillborn Daughter (1915) who was not named.

All of the Gilbreth’s Children lived past 78 years, with the exceptions of Mary, who died at 6 years old, and Martha, who died at 59 years old. Frederick was the longest-living Gilbreth child and died in 2015 at age 99.

Their story was told in “Cheaper by the Dozen” a Semi-Autobiographical Novel written by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, published in 1948 with a sequel Novel “Belles on Their Toes” in 1950.

The Family was portrayed in the 1950 film “Cheaper by the Dozen” starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy and loosely in the 2003 “Cheaper by the Dozen” and the 2005 “Cheaper by the Dozen 2”, starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt.