Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

Purdue University Archives and Special Collections announces digitization of Gilbreth film and audio recordings

February 23rd, 2026

Purdue University Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is pleased to announce the digitization of 147 film and audio recordings related to the pioneering work of famed industrial engineers Frank and Dr. Lillian Gilbreth, made possible by a $26,142.44 grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Recordings at Risk” program.

Newly accessible recordings

The recordings are now described and publicly available through ASC’s collections database. They include previously unheard lectures, interviews, and instruction by Dr. Lillian Gilbreth; personal recollections of the Gilbreths; and films showing practical applications of their motion study research in industrial engineering, home economics, agriculture, and more. The recordings span five collections within ASC’s holdings and range from audiocassettes and vinyl records to films and videocassettes, dating back to 1918.

Due to the Gilbreths’ early adoption of photography and film in motion study research and the wide range of fields they examined, the extensive collection of photographs, papers, films, and recordings they donated continues to attract significant national and international research interest. Their previously digitized films receive an average of 2,688 views annually through ASC’s online digital collections database, and their papers are the third-most-used collection. Over the last five years, research using the Gilbreth materials has focused on women’s work, ergonomics, organizational psychology, home economics, and architecture.

Digitizing the recordings

The unique formats, volume, and deteriorated condition of these recordings made digitization cost-prohibitive for ASC. Concerned about the potential loss of these recordings and their significant research value, archivists submitted a proposal to the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Recordings at Risk” program in 2024 and began work on the project in September of that year. Since then, a team of archivists, digitization specialists, and student employees has worked to make these materials accessible by coordinating with specialized vendors, analyzing recording content, conducting quality checks, and creating online descriptions for each item. These efforts ensure both the long-term preservation of the recordings and public access to the materials.

The team responsible for this project includes:

• Katey Watson, clinical assistant professor, France A. Córdova Archivist (PI)
• Ben Parnin, archivist for digital preservation (Co-PI)
• Neal Harmeyer, assistant dean, Archives and Special Collections and head, Virginia Kelly Karnes Research Center, and clinical associate professor (Co-PI)
• Cliff Harrison, senior manager for digital programs
• M Lewis, digital collections photography assistant
• Roma Koroneos and Mallory Wells, student employees 

About the Gilbreths

Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Dr. Lillian Moller Gilbreth were early 20th-century industrial engineers and leaders in time and motion study research. Combining engineering and psychology, they developed innovative methods to reduce worker fatigue and improve efficiency, including the development of chronocyclographs to photograph motion and “therbligs” to document basic work elements. Their internationally recognized work was contracted by organizations such as Remingtons, the Red Cross, Macy’s, Johnson & Johnson, and the Girl Scouts, and revolutionized procedures at factories, offices, hospitals, and department stores, contributing to early developments in ergonomics, workplace accommodations, and modern home and kitchen design.

In 1935, Dr. Lillian Gilbreth joined Purdue University as a professor of management with part-time duties in the School of Home Economics, where she taught motion study courses and improved the motion and time study laboratory. She donated the Gilbreths’ research and professional papers to Purdue in 1939, and after her death, her daughter, Ernestine Carey, donated the remaining materials, including dozens of film and audio recordings. This grant supported the digitization of the remaining 65 Gilbreth recordings, along with 82 related items from adjacent Purdue collections.

About Purdue University Archives and Special Collections

Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, housed within Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, aims to support the discovery, learning, and engagement goals of Purdue University by identifying, collecting, preserving, and making available research records and papers of enduring value created or received by the university and its employees.

To learn more, visit lib.purdue.edu/spcol.