Wells was a journalist and suffragist who helped to end lynchings by researching and publishing data about them. Her work incited the breakup of a major monopoly, and set a new standard in. Her study of rockefellers practices as he built standard oil into one of the worlds largest business monopolies took many years to complete. This book was published as a series of articles in mcclures magazine from 1902 to 1904. Ida tarbell18571944daughter of pennsylvania oil man. The history of the standard oil company is one of the most thorough accounts of the rise of the business monopoly and its corrupt practices. Brief biography and bibliography ida tarbell allegheny. At the age of 14, ida tarbell witnessed the cleveland massacre, in which dozens of small oil producers in. At the end of the 19th century, ida tarbell became one of the most famous. Social welfare history project tarbell, ida minerva. Ida tarbell facts, life, death, summary of achievements. One of the leading muckrakers, she is remembered for her investigations of industry published in mcclures magazine.
In 1910, during the midst of tarbells career, a writer for the national cyclopaedia of american biography complimented both tarbells accomplishments and characteristics, declaring her one of the foremost historical and biographical writers of the day. The research was so indepth that tarbell became known as the leading authority in the u. On the standard oil company national humanities center. It has been with life that we settled our quarrels, won wives, gold and. Ida minerva tarbell books list of books by author ida. Still, tarbells greatest accomplishment lay ahead of her. Wellss book the red record exposed the horrors of lynching in america. Investigative journalist par excellence by arthur l. When her history of the standard oil company was published, first in mcclures magazine and then as a book 1904, it shook the rockefeller interests, caused national outrage, and led the supreme court to fragment the.
Like many others at that time, tarbell was disturbed by the effect of rapid industrialization on workers and independent businessmen, by the growing power and. Success in uncovering misdeeds by the rich and powerful can mean instant fame, tv talk shows, and perhaps a movie. In 1899, ida tarbell accepted an invitation to become desk editor for mcclure. When her biography of madame roland was finished, tarbell returned home and joined the staff of mcclures for a. A short while later, president theodore roosevelt used. Ida tarbells generation called her a muckraker the term was theodore roosevelts, and he didnt intend it as a compliment, but in our time she would have been known as an investigative reporter, with the celebrity of. Ida minerva tarbell was an american writer, investigative journalist. She was one of the leading muckrakers of the progressive era. Ida tarbell, investigative journalist, lecturer, and chronicler of american industry, best known for her classic the history of the standard oil.
See all books authored by ida minerva tarbell, including the history of the standard oil company, and the history of the standard oil company. January 6, 1944 was an american teacher, author and journalist. She was born november 5, 1857 in erie pennsylvania. Brief biography and bibliography ida tarbell allegheny college. Ida minerva tarbell november 5, 1857 january 6, 1944 was an american writer. Through her achievements, she not only helped to expand the role of the newspaper in modern society and stimulate the progressive reform movement, but she also became a role model for women wishing to become professional journalists. Peacemakers blessed and otherwise by tarbell, ida m.
When her history of the standard oil company was published, first in mcclures magazine and then as a book 1904, it shook the rockefeller interests, caused national outrage, and led the supreme court to fragment the giant monopoly. She was also an outstanding biographer of abraham lincoln ida tarbell was born on nov. She wrote many notable magazine series and biographies. In this first definitive biography of ida tarbell, kathleen brady has written a readable and widely acclaimed book about one of americas great journalists. Ida tarbell was an american journalist best known for her pioneering investigative reporting that led to the breakup of the standard oil companys monopoly. Goodwin sketched a brief biography of tarbell and other socalled muckrakers, all in the days work. Ida tarbell became a journalist in the late 1800s at a time when it was believed educating women was a waste of time and money. She also wrote life of abraham lincoln 1900, other books on lincoln, and. Ida tarbell helped transform journalism by introducing what is called today investigative journalism. Ida tarbell was born in 1857 on the erie county, pennsylvania, farm of her maternal grandparents, known to history only as the mcculloughs. November 1857 in hatch hollow in erie county, pennsylvania. He attended the university of california in 189094 and then.
Ida tarbell, investigative journalist, lecturer, and chronicler of american industry, best known for her classic the history of the standard oil company 1904, which helped define the trend to investigation, expose, and crusading in liberal journals of the day that came to be known as muckraking. In 1880, ida tarbell got a headmistress job, at poland union seminary, ohio and started teaching. Her work was a sensation and the installments became a two volume book. Ida tarbell was americas pioneering investigative journalist whose relentless determination and exceptional researching abilities led to the shattering of the monopoly enjoyed by the standard oil company. Tarbell, the history of the standard oil company, mcclures magazine, 19021904. Madame muckraker american experience official site pbs. But in this 1900 work, as charming as it is important, american author ida minerva tarbell 18571944 shows a softer side as she traces, with a laudatory and admiring spirit, the. As the muckraking journalist of mcclures magazine who helped focus national attention on the trust problem in the first decade of the twentieth century, ida m.
Ida tarbell was one of the most important muckrakers. Tarbell biography, birth date, birth place and pictures. Ida tarbell november 5, 1857january 6, 1944 was a critic of corporate power and muckraking journalist. Ida tarbell was an american journalist born on november 5, 1857, in erie county, pennsylvania. Her work was a sensation and the installments became a twovolume book. Rockefeller, random reminiscences of men and events, 1909 pub. Ida tarbell was born on november 5, 1857 in pennsylvania. For over 30 years, he had applied his uncanny shrewdness, thorough. Some of them were collected in her history of the standard oil company 1904. Tarbell meticulously documented the aggressive techniques standard oil employed to outmaneuver and, where necessary, roll over whoever got in its way. The crusading american journalist ida minerva tarbell 18571944 is known as the muckraker who cracked the oil trust. Ida minerva tarbell was an american journalist and lecturer best known for her work, the history of the standard oil company 1904. Selected ida tarbell quotations sacredness of human life.
In a 12part series, journalist ida tarbell took on one of the most powerful men in the country, john d. All of this work, along with a tutorship, helped tarbell as she worked on her first biography, a book on madame roland. Tarbell became known as the joan of arc of the oil regions, a historian who not only recorded history but also helped powerfully to shape it. In this first definitive biography of ida tarbell, kathleen brady has wr. Ida tarbells commitment to understanding and exposing the truth to the public could be seen from the earliest of ages. Ida tarbell biography facts, childhood, family life. Ida tarbell interesting stories about famous people. Through her achievements, she not only helped to expand. Before becoming involved in journalism, tarbell taught for two years at poland union seminary. Born in pennsylvania at the onset of the oil boom, tarbell is best known for her 1904 book, the history of the standard oil company. Tarbell never wrote the biography of roland but she did write biographies of napoleon.
Tarbell is forever linked with the reforming spirit of the progressive era. After graduating college, the only woman in her class, tarbell became a teacher, and an author before becoming a journalist to inform the american public on the problems in america. Ida tarbell was an american journalist best known for her pioneering investigative reporting that led to the breakup of the standard oil. Tarbell already wanted to rescue women from the obscurity of history. Lowrie, allegheny college class of 1955 investigative journalism is the contemporary journalists path to fame and fortune and the competition is fierce. Rockefeller, set a precedent for using journalism to challenge popular beliefs and becoming the voice of the public. Ida tarbell was a muckraking journalist whose book on the standard oil company helped bring about its breakup. By any description, ida tarbell was one of the most powerful women of her time in the united states. In 1999, when nyus department of journalism ranked important works of journalism from the 20th century, ida tarbells. She is remembered today as a muckraking journalist, author of such blockbuster exposes as 1904s the history of the standard oil company, which actually contributed to the corporations breakup in 1911.
Join facebook to connect with ida tarbell and others you may know. Twentiethcentury investigative journalism finds its roots in the work of ida m. The encounter between ida tarbell, a historian and journalist, and the standard oil company, controlled by j. The articles that had been published on lincoln were put together and released as a book. Works in biographical and historical context born of pioneers. Photograph shows author and journalist ida minerva tarbell 18571944. She was the only woman in her graduating class at allegheny college in 1880. Ida minerva tarbells most popular book is history of standard oil company. Her work challenged the business practices of standard oil, one of the largest businesses in american. Ida minerva tarbell has 124 books on goodreads with 1882 ratings. Her work was a sensation and the installments became a twovolume book entitled, the history of the standard oil company, published in 1904. She is best known for her 1904 book the history of the standard oil company, which was listed as no. Born in november 5th 1857, ida was the first child of franklin summer and ann mcculloch tarbell.
Ida minerva tarbell november 5, 1857 january 6, 1944 was an american teacher, author and journalist. Frank norris, byname of benjamin franklin norris, born march 5, 1870, chicago, illinois, u. Tarbells schedule for the book was tightthe first installment came out only six weeks after she initially started her work. The woman who took on the tycoon history smithsonian. But she came back to pennsylvania in 1882 and took up writing for the chautauquan, which was a teaching aid for correspondence courses. Interested in the sciences, tarbell brought the rigor of scientific inquiry and a. Ida tarbell was one of the few willing to hold him accountable. She was known as one of the leading muckrakers of the progressive era, work known in modern times as investigative journalism.
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