The NWHP Blog is a place for YOU to find out about and promote events about Women in History and Woman MAKING History.Go to our Frequently Asked Questions to find out how you can post an event or article to this blog. Software

Ida B. Tarbell: Muckracker, Journalist and Revolutionary

Ida B. Tarbell is well known in American history as a pioneering investigative journalist, exceptional teacher and as a leading muckraker during the progressive era.

 Besides writing for many notable magazines and books, she’s most well known for her acclaimed 1904 book called The History of Standard Oil Company which brought down the Standard Oil Company and  is also number 5 in the New York Times  top 100 works of 20th century American Journalism.

 It’s amazing to note how Tarbell, single-handidly, brought down big oil’s unsavory business tactics by digging into public documents,  performing extensive research and  by using  her keen interviewing skills on difficult sources.  It’s not every day that one female journalist brought down  John D. Rockefeller, the world’s biggest oil tycoon with determination, bravery and confidence.

 If it wasn’t for her, would we even have  journalists today like Barbara Walters, Anne Curry, and Katie Couric?

November 5 is Ida M. Tarbell’s birthday and what other way to celebrate it is by cracking open a newspaper and by keeping up with all female journalists.

“Imagination is the only key to the future. Without it none exists — with it all things are possible.”

Ida M. Tarbell

By Sherryn Daniel

Share

Comments are closed.