Declining cousin Leora's proposal to disperse the children among various family members, Dr. Gilbreth sends her offspring to Nantucket, accompanied by longtime family cook and handyman Tom Bracken, while she sets out to complete her late husband's lecture tour.

(Later, when Al comes for a visit, the rest of the kids, who do not like him, make it appear the entire family is nutty, so he breaks up with Ernestine.

Anne Gilbreth, the eldest, meets handsome medical doctor Bob Grayson, whom she initially mistakes for a barber.

Dr. Gilbreth offers to train some specifically for his company, as she and her husband worked as a team, but the chauvenistic Harper is uninterested.

Dr. Gilbreth is invited to give a dinner speech at the Engineers' Club of America in New York City, but when she gets there, she is informed there has been a mistake.

When Dr. Gilbreth tells Harper about the Engineers' Club fiasco, he decides to publicize her achievements, but the family are horrified when he makes them the subjects of a funny newsreel.

Meanwhile, Grayson becomes annoyed when Anne is reluctant to leave the family (or even tell her mother about their engagement), as she feels she is needed there.