American Women Journalist Ida M. Tarbell

The "Joan of Arc" of the Oil Regions Who Exposed Standard Oil

Jan 7, 2009

Ida Tarbell was an investigative reporter who was labeled a "muckracker" as she established an expose model in the 19th century that is still followed today.

Ida Minerva Tarbell is known for the series of investigative articles she wrote in the 19th and 20th century that are still considered journalism at its best.

Early Life of Ida M. Tarbell

Ida Minerva Tarbell was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania on November 5, 1857. Both of her parents, Esther and Franklin Tarbell were school teachers but after her father developed a wood storage tank for oil, became prosperous and moved to Titusville in order to be closer to the industry. Soon afterwards profits for the Titusville small oil producers dried up when the railroad doubled the rates for shipments. The only person that benefited was John D. Rockefeller because his large company shipped so much oil and was rewarded by the railroads. These events were to have a lasting impression on the young Tarbell.

Influence of Women's Rights Activists

As Ida was growing up, her mother Esther often hosted meetings for women's right activitists. It was then that she became aware of the importance of financial independence and decided that she would acquire an education. In 1876, she enrolled in Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania were she edited the school paper, participated in a literary society that discussed current events, philosophy, and history; and became a formidable public speaker. After graduating in 1880, she taught classes in four languages--German, French, Latin and Greek as well as science and math.

Journalism as a Career

Because of insufficient pay, Ida gave up teaching and returned to her parents home. Through her parents. During this time, she met Theodore L. Flood, founder and editor of the Chautauquan, a monthly magazine. She worked at the magazine for the next seven years. After Chicago's Haymarket riots in May 1886, which had begun as march for an 8-hour workday, and in which 11 activists died and 100 were wounded, she convinced Flood to start publishing more articles about social and economic reform. It was during this time that she established the three characteristics that would guide her as a journalist:

Tarbell Becomes Freelance Journalist

After leaving the Chautauguan, she met with editors in Pittsburg, Cincinnati and other regional newspapers. She convinced them to buy her articles even though they were being written in Paris. In addition to the papers, she also sold articles to Harper's Bazaar, Scribner's Magazine and McClure's Magazine. After gaining popularity with her feature writing, her talents would be used in the muckraking movement dealing with the unchecked and business corruption in the United States.

Tarbell, Rockefeller and Standard Oil

The United States has seen enormous growth after the end of the Civil War in 1865. Giants like Standard Oil swallowed whole industries while federal and local government turned a blind eye to the privileges and power that the huge corporations demanded. Although Rockefellers operation had been scrutinized by congressional committees, nothing had been done. Tarbell examined the probes and unearthed one document that proved Rockefeller had used illegal and monopolistic methods. She began writing, "The History of the Standard Oil Company."

For the next two years, she hammered away at Rockefeller and Standard Oil. After the original publication of the articles, it became a book under the same title. In November 1906, the federal government took Standard Oil to court, charging it with obstructing interstate trade, a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. The result was the break up of Standard Oil and the end of its power to destroy its competition and control of the American oil market.

Ida Tarbell died at the age of 86 on January 6, 1944. Today she is still honored as one of the first women muckrakers and as the journalist who challenged Standard Oil and won.

Satter, John. Journalists Who Made History. Minneapolis, MN: The Oliver Press, 1998

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