She was featured on the american masters pbs special on lucille ball and she narrated the first installment of the pbs series the prize. Ida tarbell was an american journalist born on november 5, 1857, in erie county, pennsylvania. Portrait of a muckraker kindle edition by brady, kathleen. Famous for her exposes of corporate america and for biographies of abraham lincoln, tarbell was added to the national womens hall of fame in 2000. This is, as stated, the first fulllength biography of muckraking journalistauthor ida tarbell 18571944. For over 30 years, he had applied his uncanny shrewdness, thorough.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading ida tarbell. 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 tarbell, investigative journalist, lecturer, and chronicler of american. She rejected being labeled a muckraker despite its popularity, because i was. Ida tarbells generation called her a muckraker the term was theodore roosevelt s, 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 woodward and bernstein. Interested in the sciences, tarbell brought the rigor of scientific inquiry and a. Born in november 5th 1857, ida was the first child of franklin summer and ann mcculloch tarbell. During her time, many women did not have many social or political rights. 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 woodward and bernstein. The woman that wrote an article and a book exposing the evils of the standard oil company is ida tarbell. In this first definitive biography of ida tarbell, kathleen brady has wr. Frances g conn a biography of the woman who pioneered a new style of journalism in exposing the malpractices of the oil industry at the turn of the century.
In recognition of this work she was named a fellow of the society of american historians. Ida minerva tarbell has 124 books on goodreads with 1889 ratings. Madame muckraker american experience official site pbs. The panic of 1857 hit the tarbell family hard as banks collapsed and the tarbells lost their savings. She became one of the most influential muckrakers of the gilded age, helping. 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.
Tarbell the history of standard oil, lincoln steffens the shame of the cities and ray stannard baker the right to work, simultaneously published famous works in that single issue. Her work incited the breakup of a major monopoly, and set a new standard in. Tarbell is named after the pioneering investigative journalist and lecturer ida minerva tarbell. Which of the following best describes upton sinclair, ida tarbell, and frank norriss impact on journalism. Ida minerva, 18571944, journalists, women publisher. The rise of the standard oil company mcclures magazinedecember, 1902. Her work was a sensation and the installments became a twovolume book. Peacemakers blessed and otherwise by tarbell, ida m. Comic illustration shows a large group of politicians and journalists as knights on a crusade against graft and corruption, including ida tarbell library of congress, prints and photographs division. Written in 1904 by ida mae tarbell, a wellknown muckraker journalist of the early 20th century thats a good thing, by the way, this book describes the. The muckrakers provided detailed, accurate journalistic accounts of the political and economic corruption and social hardships caused by the power of big business in a rapidly industrializing united states. Tarbells book is significant beyond its contribution to investigative. Born in 1857 in a log cabin in hatch hollow, pennsylvania, tarbell s first dream was to be a scientist.
Rockefellers standard oil trust company in her book the history of the standard oil company. Lowrie, allegheny college class of 1955 investigative journalism is the contemporary journalists path to fame and fortune and the competition is fierce. 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. The crusading american journalist ida minerva tarbell 18571944 is known as the muckraker who cracked the oil trust. Some of them were collected in her history of the standard oil company 1904.
Twentiethcentury investigative journalism finds its roots in the work of ida m. The muckrakers would become known for their investigative journalism, evolving from the eras of personal journalisma term historians emery and emery used in the press and america 6th ed. Louis in mcclures october 1902 issue was called the first muckraking. My reaction to this book was similar to how i felt after i watched the wolf of wall street. Ida tarbell november 5, 1857january 6, 1944 was a critic of corporate power and muckraking journalist. Given her contemporary renown, on a par with jane addams and lincoln steffens, and the lasting importance of her history of standard oil, thats an odd oversightexplainable partly perhaps by tarbells having written her autobiography all in the days work, 1939, but also perhaps. She played a pivotal role in the early roots of investigative journalism, breaking up monopolistic trusts, and. Tarbells exhaustive study not only gave rise to a new style of investigative journalism sometimes referred to as muckraking but also was.
Ida tarbell was a muckraker, which was a person who searched for and exposed scandals and corruption. According to this book she was one of the original muckrakers, digging up dirt as they say. In this first definitive biography of ida tarbell, kathleen brady has written a readable and widely acclaimed book about one of america s great journalists. The encounter between ida tarbell, a historian and journalist, and the standard oil company, controlled by j.
Apr 14, 2020 muckraker, any of a group of american writers identified with preworld war i reform and expose literature. Ida minerva tarbells most popular book is history of standard oil company. She was the daughter of franklin sumner tarbell and esther ann mccullough. The woman who took on the tycoon history smithsonian. She was americas first journalist who was a woman, and in the popular magazine, mcclures, tarbell published many articles in which she criticized the standard oil company. Muckraking journalism emerged at the end of the 19th century largely in response to the excesses of the gilded age, and ida tarbell was one of the most famous of the muckrakers. Ida minerva tarbell s most popular book is history of standard oil company. Brief biography and bibliography ida tarbell allegheny college. 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.
What was the impact of muckraker journalist ida tarbells. A famous book from those times, was written by ida tarbell, a muckraker and journalist. Ida tarbell s commitment to understanding and exposing the truth to the public could be seen from the earliest of ages. She was also an outstanding biographer of abraham lincoln ida tarbell was born on nov. Ida tarbell was one of the few willing to hold him accountable. Ida tarbell was a muckraking journalist whose book on the standard oil company helped bring about its breakup.
Books by ida minerva tarbell author of history of standard. Ida tarbells early life in the oil fields of pennsylvania would have an impact when she later wrote on the standard oil company and on labor practices. As a younger woman, in 1904, tarbell made her reputation by publishing the history of the standard oil company, the mother of trusts. She was one of the leading muckrakers of the progressive era of the late 19th.
She also wrote life of abraham lincoln 1900, other books on lincoln, and. Jan 06, 2020 the centerfold of puck magazine, february 21, 1906, the crusaders by c. The book was the history of the standard oil company, and it changed the way large companies were viewed. Tarbells schedule for the book was tightthe first installment came out only six weeks after she initially started.
They were among the first to publicize immoral, corrupt. Muckrakers ida tarbell, upton sinclair, lincoln steffens. Nov 10, 2019 ida tarbell november 5, 1857january 6, 1944 was a critic of corporate power and muckraking journalist. Rockefeller and his associates did not build the standard oil co. Ida minerva tarbell was born on november 5, 1857, in a log cabin in hatch hollow, pennsylvania. Ida tarbell was born on november 5, 1857 in pennsylvania. In a 12part series, journalist ida tarbell took on one of the most powerful men in the country, john d.
Tarbell 18571944 about the edition a biography of the woman who pioneered a new style of journalism in exposing the malpractices of the oil industry at the turn of the century. The discovery of oil in 1859 near titusville, pennsylvania, launched the tarbell family into the oil age. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons. Success in uncovering misdeeds by the rich and powerful can mean instant fame, tv talk shows, and perhaps a movie. Ida tarbell facts, life, death, summary of achievements. Rockefeller, set a precedent for using journalism to challenge popular beliefs and becoming the voice of the public. 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.
He published these pictures in his book, how the other half lives significance. Tarbell was a teacher and journalist who was born in erie county, pennsylvania on november. Wetmore and lincoln steffens previous article tweed days in st. Ida tarbell was an accomplished and prominent woman in america between 1870 and 1912. Ida tarbell was a muckraker who wrote in the magazine mcclures 1921. In the early 20th century, when investigative journalism was just getting started, ida tarbell exposed the standard oil monopoly, upton sinclair portrayed the unseemly realities of highvolume meatpacking, and lincoln steffens blew the lid off civic corruption.
Rockefellers standard oil trust company in her book the history of the standard oil company upton sinclair. Ida tarbell s generation called her a muckraker the term was theodore roosevelt s, and he didn t intend it as a. Frances g conn a biography of the woman who pioneered a new style of journalism in exposing the malpractices. Brief biography and bibliography ida tarbell allegheny. His book will lead to reform all throughout the city. At the age of eightytwo, one of the original muckrakers writes with her characteristic. In this first definitive biography of ida tarbell, kathleen brady has written a readable and widely acclaimed book about one of americas great journalists. By any description, ida tarbell was one of the most powerful women of her time in the united states. Jacob riis, upton sinclair, lincoln steffens, and ida tarbell were the bestknown of the socalled muckrakers, crusading journalists active from about 1890 to 1910 and in some cases, many years longer who helped to bring about a number of governmental reforms. She was also an outstanding biographer of abraham lincoln. Investigative journalist par excellence by arthur l. By any description, ida tarbell was one of the most powerful women of her time in. Awardwinning author ann bausums sweeping narrative of these muckrakers so named by theodore roosevelt paints a vivid picture. Ida minerva tarbell november 5, 1857 january 6, 1944 was an american writer, investigative journalist, biographer and lecturer.
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