It was an expose of the standard oil company, run at that time by oil tycoon john d. The history of the standard oil company vol 2 classic. Tarbell, the history of the standard oil company, 1904. History of standard oil company quotes by ida minerva tarbell. During the 1900s, muckrakers were born and raised in this time period. The question i had before i started reading ida tarbells 1904 the history of standard oil was whether john d. Ida tarbell wrote a book about rockefellers monopoly over the oil business. Ida tarbells serialized articles on standard oil and john d rockefellers domination of the oil business led to great public awareness and cleared the way for trs trust busting efforts. Tarbell, the history of the standard oil company, mcclures magazine, 19021904, excerpts john d. This excerpt is taken from pages 168178 of the original work, which was originally published in mcclures magazine and has been edited. Significance of the history of the standard oil company.
Search the history of over 432 billion web pages on the internet. In it she revealed the many unfair business practices of standard oil and owner john rockefeller. The house she lived in in easton became a national historic landmark in 1993. The history of the standard oil company grew to be a nineteenpart series, published between november 1902 and october 1904. One of mcclures muckrakers, ida tarbell changed the oil business in america. The history of the standard oil company published by mcclure, phillips and co.
Tarbell and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Ida minerva tarbell is recalled as the writer who blew the whistle on the first and most powerful trust in america. The history of the standard oil company remains a classic of investigative reporting, and tarbell s legacy as a someone who took seriously the credo that journalists should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted lives on. This is an abbreviated version of tarbells original history of the standard oil company, written in 1903 and later edited by david chambers in 1968. The history of the standard oil company work by tarbell. Brief biography and bibliography ida tarbell allegheny. The history of the standard oil company is an expose of the standard oil company, run at that time by oil tycoon john d. Tarbell, the history of the standard oil company, mcclures magazine, 19021904. Tarbells devastating work provides a vivid account of the roughand. Ida tarbell was an american journalist whose investigative reporting led to the breakup of the standard oil companys monopoly. Published in 1904, ida tarbells the history of the standard oil company exposed rockefellers monopolistic tactics to the public, eventually resulting in the companys dismantling in 1911.
In her most famous work, the history of the standard oil company which oil historian daniel yergin called the most important business book ever written, miss tarbell revealed, after years of painstaking research, the illegal means used by john d. The history of the standard oil company is listed number five among the top 100 works of twentiethcentury american journalism by the new york times in 1999. His business practices led to a successful antitrust suit filed by the ohio attorney general in 1892. A female journalist was not common at the turn of the twentieth century, especially not one who muckraked or scandalized industry. Excerpts from the nineteen installments published by mcclures magazine. In standard oil ida tarbell wrote in her history of the standard oil company 1904, you could argue its existence from its effects, but you could not prove it.
For over 30 years, he had applied his uncanny shrewdness, thorough. Written by journalist ida tarbell in 1904, the history of the standard oil company was an expose of the standard oil company, run at that time by oil tycoon john d. Rockefeller joined forces with some partners, bringing standard oil together with other businesses to form a trust called the south improvement company. Ida minerva tarbells most popular book is history of standard oil company. I knew i never should be one in the high sense which i then and still more now give to that. In the chapter the rise of the standard oil company, tarbell. Selected ida tarbell quotations sacredness of human life. The history of the standard oil company muckraker farm.
Tarbell is remembered for her muckraking journalism and her expose of the standard oil company. Tarbell s the history of the standard oil company was first serialized in mcclures magazine starting in 1902 and then published as a bestselling book in 1904. It is an expose about the standard oil company, run at the time by oil tycoon john d. Jan 06, 2020 her work was a sensation and the installments became a twovolume book entitled, the history of the standard oil company, published in 1904. Tarbell 18571944 the history of the standard oil company is a book written by journalist ida tarbell in 1904. Ida tarbell history of the standard oil company very often people who admit the facts, are willing to see that mr. Ida minerva tarbell has 124 books on goodreads with 1857 ratings. In 1892 the ohio supreme court ordered the trust dissolved, but it effectively continued to operate from headquarters in new york city. See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The history of the standard oil company is a book written by journalist ida tarbell in 1904.
It also sparked investigations in the railroad industry, the poor treatment of railroad workers. A short while later, president theodore roosevelt used. Ida tarbell was a groundbreaking journalist, one of the best known of the socalled muckrakers, who exposed deep problems in american society. Ida tarbell was a muckraking journalist whose book on the standard oil company helped bring about its breakup. Tarbell demonized rockefeller, and included inaccuracies in her account. The history of the standard oil company full text ida tarbell.
Ida tarbell, excerpts from the articles on standard oil that appeared in. Rockefeller and his oil interests, titled the history of the standard oil company and published in 1904. Tarbells book relates to the theme of turning points in history because it caused significant changes and improvements to american history. How the courts help companies keep sexual misconduct under cover. Winkle is an associate professor of history at the. Tarbell in the chapter the rise of the standard oil company, tarbell describes how john d. Excerpts from the history of the standard oil company by ida m. One publication spearheading these exposes was mcclures magazine, and ida tarbell was the writer whose dramatic revelations eventually lead to effective regulation of the standard oil company. In 1902 and 1903, muckraking journalist ida tarbell published a series of articles in. The history of the standard oil company progressiveeradotcom. The question i had before i started reading ida tarbell s 1904 the history of standard oil was whether john d. Ida tarbell november 5, 1857january 6, 1944 was a critic of corporate power and muckraking journalist.
Rockefeller the richest figure in americas history. Ida tarbell, the history of the standard oil company. Rockefeller was able to transform standard oil into the behemoth monopoly it became just because he had the sharpest elbows in the room or because he truly committed illegal activities. Nov 30, 2011 ida tarbell s the history of the standard oil company helped fuel the fire for oil strikes, instigated a 93footlong petition for a free pipeline bill and inspiration of the public to educate themselves about how the standard oil company worked and its scandalsconspiracies. Ida tarbells the history of the standard oil company helped fuel the fire for oil strikes, instigated a 93footlong petition for a free pipeline bill and inspiration of the public to educate themselves about how the standard oil company worked and its scandalsconspiracies. The woman who took on the tycoon history smithsonian magazine. Tarbell summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for.
The history of the standard oil company by tarbell, ida m. From mcclures excerpts, tarbell published the two volume history of standard oil in 1904. Rockefeller, the richest figure in american history. Her story, serialized by mcclures in 1902 and 1903, tells the history of john d. Publication date 1904 topics standard oil company publisher new york. The book was a seminal example of muckraking, and inspired many other journalists to write about trusts, large businesses that in the absence of strong antitrust law in. Rockefeller, random reminiscences of men and events, 1909.
A journalistic masterpiece american experience official. Book by ida tarbell originally serialized in nineteen parts in mcclures magazine, 1904. Born in pennsylvania at the onset of the oil boom, tarbell is best known for her 1904 book, the history of the standard. Tarbells devastating work provides a vivid account of the roughandtumble nature of business around the turn of the century. Yet tarbells work is more than simply a monumental piece of reporting. The history of the standard oil company full text ida. The expose resulted in federal action and, eventually, the breakup of the standard oil company of new jersey under the 1911 sherman.
The history of the standard oil company, originally a serial that ran in mcclures, is one of the most thorough accounts of the rise of a business monopoly and its use of unfair practices. Rockefeller, the richest figure in americas history. Standard oil tarbell rockefeller u s supreme court. Rockefeller, random reminiscences of men and events, 1909 pub. Rockefeller has employed force and fraud to secure his ends, justify him by declaring, its business. I was not a writer, and i knew it, ida tarbell declared once, recalling her beginnings in journalism. That is, its business has come to be a legitimate excuse. Originally serialized in 19 parts in mcclures magazine, the book was a seminal example of muckraking, and. Ida tarbell s serialized articles on standard oil and john d rockefellers domination of the oil business led to great public awareness and cleared the way for trs trust busting efforts. In 1870 he established the standard oil company of ohio and embarked upon a strategy of buying up rivals and consolidating all oil refining under one company. Nov 22, 2015 the history of the standard oil company. Excerpted, and images added, by the national humanities center, research.
Tarbell grew up around the pennsylvania oil industry, where her father suffered from, and protested, john d. Tarbell meticulously documented the aggressive techniques standard oil employed to outmaneuver and, where necessary, roll over whoever got in its way. Muckrakers such as ida tarbell started writing articles for newspapers as a way to express how corrupt business, health, and government was to suggest change in their society. Her story, serialized by mcclures in 1902 and 1903, tells. Nov 10, 2019 ida tarbell is best known for the twovolume work, originally nineteen articles for mcclures, on john d. This excerpt is taken from pages 168178 of the original work, which was originally published in mcclures magazine. Below is a portion of her work, which was eventually adapted from the mcclures articles into a fulllength book. The series, which later became a book, is considered one of the great. Originally serialized in nineteen parts in mcclures magazine, the book is a seminal example of muckraking, and inspired many other journalists to write about trusts, large. Originally serialized in 19 parts in mcclures magazine, the book was a seminal example of muckraking, and inspired many other journalists to write about trusts. The history of the standard oil company is a 1904 book by journalist ida tarbell. The history of the standard oil company remains a classic of investigative reporting, and tarbells legacy as a someone who took seriously the credo that journalists should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted lives on. Too bad todays media with all its resources cant serve a positive function for nation.
While thoroughly researched, the book is so full of tedious details and repetitions that it is difficult to keep track of who did what to whom. It exposed the corrupt standard oil company, monopoly, and trust. She was right, however, about rockefellers power and ruthlessness, and his willingness to bribe legislators and drive competitors out of business. The articles also helped to define a growing trend to investigation, read more. In 1999, when nyus department of journalism ranked important works of journalism from the 20th century, ida tarbells. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the history of the standard oil company. The result, ida tarbell s magazine series the history of the standard oil company, would not only change the history of journalism, but also the fate of rockefellers empire, shaken by the.
History of standard oil company by ida minerva tarbell. Ida minerva tarbell november 5, 1857 january 6, 1944 was an american writer, investigative journalist, biographer and lecturer. In this excerpt from tarbells book, how does she argue against the idea that standard oils monopolistic practices were inevitable and necessary for the. The woman who took on the tycoon history smithsonian. She was one of the leading muckrakers of the progressive era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and pioneered investigative journalism. On the standard oil company national humanities center. An excerpt from ida tarbells series, the history of the standard oil. Books by ida minerva tarbell author of history of standard. Excerpt from the history of the standard oil company.
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