Ida Tarbel (1854-1944)

Ida Tarbel was born and raised in, wildcat country, rural Pennsylvania by teacher/farmer parents; that came to shape her studious and resilient character. To maintain finical ends Tarbel's father opened a wildcat oil well, oil wells operated by individual people and families; however the Standard Oil Company owned by Rockefeller gained rights for all wildcat operations in western Pennsylvania. This shocked and applaud Turbel; however she focused on her studies. After getting a degree in Allegheny College, earning a degree in chemistry and teaching at Ohio High School Ida soon discovered that her true calling: writing. She became an investigative journalist writing magazines and newspaper and gained a strong reputation.

Tarbel first gained her momentum writing a bibliography on Madame Roland, hornie of the French Revolution. Tarbel moved to Paris and learned french, where she wrote on life in France, the history of the revolution and tidbits of the life of Madame Roland. The articles caught the eye of the editor far a upcoming magnetize, called the McClure's. Where she became head writer and editor of the McClure's and headed back to American soil. Where Tarbel's first piece on Abraham Lincoln was a big success and was turned into a best selling book. After discussing her families experience with Rockefeller and the standard Oil Company with the owner of McClure ,he encouraged Tarbel to right a story on the issue; however was discouraged by her father, who warned her of the negative repercussions. Yet Ida Tarbell continued her research regardless of the power Rockefeller had to end her career and magazine.

After working two years of digging reports, business deals and contracts associated with the Oil Company and the life of Rockefeller. Ida set the standard of investigative journalism and earned the title of muckraker; writers who looked for the dirt and "negative" side as quoted by Theodore Roosevelt. "The History of the Standard Oil Company" was the product of the two year period (1902-1904), a 19 part series and was later published in 1904. That discussed the evil Standard Oil Company; however spoke respectfully on JD Rockefeller; it inevitably became a bestseller. The publishing caused hatred on part of Rockefeller on comments made by Ida of him being "mad for money" and referred to her as a "poisonous women" and told his associates to not speak a word to the "misguided woman"; however Turbell's book positive impact far outweighed the negative. Forcing Congress to launch an investigation on Rockefeller and his company; that lead to the ordered to break up into 6 separate companies after being deemed a monopoly to which Turbel considered her great success. Later confirmed in 1999 when Standard Oil was named the top 5 works of journalism in the century; however Ida Tarbell did not life to received such prestigious honor dying in 1944.