{"id":13467,"date":"2026-02-23T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.lib.purdue.edu\/news\/?p=13467"},"modified":"2026-02-25T16:53:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T20:53:00","slug":"purdue-university-archives-and-special-collections-announces-digitization-of-gilbreth-film-and-audio-recordings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.lib.purdue.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/23\/purdue-university-archives-and-special-collections-announces-digitization-of-gilbreth-film-and-audio-recordings\/","title":{"rendered":"Purdue University Archives and Special Collections announces digitization of Gilbreth film and audio recordings"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Frank and Lillian Gilbreth performing motion study analysis of a typist, undated. MSP 8, Box 163, Folder 1. Courtesy of Purdue University Archives and Special Collections.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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 grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources’ \u201cRecordings at Risk\u201d program.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newly accessible recordings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recordings are now described and publicly available through ASC\u2019s collections database<\/a>. 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\u2019s holdings and range from audiocassettes and vinyl records to films and videocassettes, dating back to 1918.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the Gilbreths\u2019 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\u2019s 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\u2019s work, ergonomics, organizational psychology, home economics, and architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digitizing the recordings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Frank and Lillian Gilbreth performing motion study analysis of a typist, undated. MSP 8, Box 163, Folder 1. Courtesy of Purdue University Archives and Special Collections.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

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\u2019 \u201cRecordings at Risk\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team responsible for this project includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n