Ida Tarbell Research Paper

Ida M. Tarbell: A Woman Unafraid
Investigative journalism has helped to shape society for more than 100 years, fulfilling the “watchdog” role, which is arguably, the most important service journalists provide. In its early days, the common term was “muckraking”, coined by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. Muckraking involved dedicated research into a subject, usually to expose corruption, unfair and cruel conditions, and illegal business practices. Ida M. Tarbell helped usher in the Progressive Era with her famous series “The History of the Standard Oil Company”, published in 1904. The impact she and other muckrakers have made has been invaluable in the illumination and eradication of injustices in society.
Born in Erie County, Pennsylvania in
She graduated in 1880 and received an M. A. degree in 1883. Her first endeavor was as an instructor at Poland Union Seminary in Poland, Ohio. “Her main desire was to work as a writer and after two years teaching she began working for Theodore Flood, editor of The Chautauquan. Flood quickly realized her talent and in 1886 she was appointed managing editor. A job she did for the next eight years.” (Simkin) In 1891, Tarbell took her savings and moved to Paris, France to study at Sorbonne University for three years. She intended to write the biography of Madame Marie-Jean Roland, an influential woman of the French Revolution. “Tarbell studied Madame Roland to confirm her view that women brought moderation and compassion to politics. After completing her research, she reluctantly concluded that Madame Roland had behaved during the French Revolution much as men had.” (Lowrie) There she met Samuel McClure, who in June of 1893 created McClure’s Magazine. McClure’s was known as an American literary and political magazine. “Selling at the low price of 15 cents, this illustrated magazine published the work of leading popular writers such as Rudyard Kipling, Robert Louis Stevenson and Arthur Conan Doyle.” (Simkin) McClure commissioned Tarbell to write a historical piece on Napoleon Bonaparte. This was so well received, she was asked to stay on as a staff writer. She went on to write a 20-part series for the
The work is credited with the U.S Supreme Court Ruling that found the company to be in violation of the laws of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. This judgement effectively forced the break-up of Standard Oil. Without people like Ida, there is no one to bring to light injustices against the people. Investigative journalism patrols society, much like a junkyard dog, waiting to pounce on any threat to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that may be lurking within our various social constructs. The freedom of journalists to hunt down and expose corruption is inherent to the survival of any democratic