Ida Tarbell

**Ida Minerva Tarbell**  (November 5 1857 – January 6 1944) was an American teacher, writer, and investigative journalist. She was one of the first people to expose bad behavior by big companies during the Progressive Era in the late 1800s and early 1900s. She was a leader in investigative journalism.

Ida was born in Pennsylvania during the early oil boom. She became well-known for her book from 1904 called _The History of the Standard Oil Company_. This book was first published as a series of articles in McClure's Magazine from 1902 to 1904. Historian J. North Conway called it “a masterpiece of investigative journalism.” Historian Daniel Yergin said it was “the most important business writing ever published in the United States.” The book helped break up the Standard Oil monopoly. It also helped lead to the Hepburn Act (1906), the Mann–Elkins Act, the Clayton Antitrust Act, and the creation of the Federal Trade Commission.

Ida also wrote many things about people during her 64-year career. She wrote about Napoleon and Madame Roland. Ida believed that the truth about powerful people and their reasons for acting could be discovered. She believed these stories could be told in a way that helped society improve. She wrote many books, including books about Abraham Lincoln, especially about his early life and career. After her work on Standard Oil and her study of John D. Rockefeller, she wrote biographies of businessman Elbert Henry Gary, head of U.S. Steel, and Owen Young, head of General Electric.

Ida was a very active speaker and writer. She was known for taking hard topics—like oil, taxes, labor practices—and explaining them in easy ways that normal people could understand. Her articles helped make _McClure's Magazine_ and _The American Magazine_ very popular. Many of her books were popular with everyday Americans. After her success at _McClure's Magazine_, she left with other editors to buy and run _The American Magazine_. Ida also traveled to all 48 U.S. states at the time to give talks. She spoke about many topics, including the evils of war, world peace, American politics, monopolies, labor practices, and women’s issues.

Ida took part in professional groups and worked on two presidential committees. She helped form the Authors’ League (now the Authors Guild). She was president of the Pen and Brush Club for 30 years. During World War I, she worked on the Women’s Committee for President Woodrow Wilson as part of the Council of National Defense. After the war, she helped with the Unemployment Conference called by President Warren Harding in 1921.

Ida never married. She is often called a feminist because of her work, even though she said bad things about the women’s right to vote movement.

## Early life and education

Ida Minerva Tarbell was born on a farm in Erie County, Pennsylvania on November 5, 1857. Her mother was Esther Ann (née McCullough), who worked as a teacher. Her father was Franklin Summer Tarbell. He was also a teacher before becoming a carpenter and then an oil worker.

She was born in the small wooden cabin that belonged to her mother’s father, Walter Raleigh McCullough, and his wife. Her father’s ancestors had settled in New England in the 17th century. Her grandmother told her they were children of Sir Walter Raleigh, who was part of George Washington’s staff and the first American bishop in the Episcopal Church system.

Ida had three younger siblings: Walter, Franklin Jr., and Sarah. Franklin Jr. died as a child from scarlet fever. Sarah also had the disease and was weak for the rest of her life. Walter became an oil worker like his father. Sarah became an artist.

Ida’s early life in the Pennsylvania oil region had a strong influence on her. Later, she wrote about Standard Oil and labor practices. Her family was badly hurt by the Panic of 1857, when banks failed and they lost their savings. When Ida was born, her father Franklin was far away in Iowa, building a house for the family. He had to leave the house and walk back to Pennsylvania. He had no money, so he walked through Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. He earned food and shelter by teaching at small village schools. When he finally returned after 18 months, he looked worn out. Little Ida saw him and said, “Go away, you bad man!”