Ida Tarbell Dates:
Occupation:
Known for:
Also known as:
About Ida Tarbell:
Originally from Pennsylvania, Ida Tarbell was an editor for the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, then decided to go to Paris where she supported herself by writing for American magazines. In 1894, Ida Tarbell was hired by McClure's Magazine. She published some of her articles as books: biographies of Napoleon, Madame Roland and Abraham Lincoln.
Ida Tarbell is best known for the two volume work, originally articles for McClure's, on John D. Rockefeller and his oil interests: The History of the Standard Oil Company, published 1904. The exposé resulted in federal action and eventually in the breakup of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey under the 1911 Sherman Anti-Trust Act.
From 1906-1915 Ida Tarbell joined other writers at the American magazine, where she was a writer, an editor and co-owner. After the magazine was sold, she hit the lecture circuit.
Ida Tarbell wrote other books, including several more on Lincoln, an autobiography in 1939, and two books on women: The Business of Being a Woman in 1912 and The Ways of Women in 1915. In these she argued that women's best contribution was with home and family. She repeatedly turned down requests to become involved in causes like birth control and woman suffrage.
