Mascaro tonique for the hair martha matilda harper rochester. Plitt spent six years crisscrossing countries to uncover the story. Not exactly the best circumstances to be born into if you were a woman. Harper s birth date has been recorded as being either in 1857 or 1868. Martha matilda harper embodied what it means to be a g. Anthony and her christian science faith, harpers new business model became her revolutionary tool to transform poor women into business owners. The definitive book about martha matilda harper, inventor of franchising. Martha matilda harper and the invention of the franchise. My interest was piqued, since the building at 1233 east main street currently houses tire trax sales and service. Anthony got women officially admitted to the university of rochester in 1900, the equally determined martha matilda harper was unofficially already attending classes on campus. She designed the first reclining chair so they could have their hair washed without getting shampoo in their eyes, and had a half circle cut out of her sink with running. Martha matilda harper, entrepreneur and beauty expert, was born in oakville ontario, canada.
Prior to becoming a visiting scholar at the university of rochester, plitt led a 12person business. How one woman changed the face of american business. The new home of the martha matilda haper laboratories, rochester, n. New books martha matilda harper and the american dream discover the true story of how martha matilda harper, a servant girl from the time she was seven years old, became a successful entrepreneur and created modern franchising in 1891 with her harper method, a healthy hair and skincare salons. The roots of franchising took hold in a hair salon chain.
Discover marthas magic will be held between 10am3pm, saturday, june 23, 2018 harper was a canadian businesswoman who came from humble beginnings. Martha s innovation, leadership, natural marketing savvy, and new business model created an army of women entrepreneurs in a time when few would have thought it possible. Jane plitt is the biographer of martha matilda harper and has authored three books about harper for all ages. In fact, in jane plitts well researched book martha matilda harper and american dream. The martha matilda harper building postcard the top of the postcards reads. Matilda harper historical records and family trees.
Martha matilda harpers life is a story of immigration, a story of empowerment, and a story of an american dream come true through women supporting women. The new paperback and ebook editions of martha matilda harper and the. Martha matilda harper, the greatest businesswoman youve. Under the legal doctrine of coverture, men assumed control over womens property when they married, including their. Now plitts three books introduce all ages to martha. How one woman changed the face of modern business is the fascinating, meticulously researched, superbly presented biography of the woman who invented the business franchise. Plitts biography recovers the story of martha matilda harper, who became an important leader in the early beauty industry. Matilda isabelle martha anderson born harper was born on month day 1860, at birth place, wisconsin, to robert harper and matilda permelia harper born oleson evanson harper gilbertson.
Martha matilda harper, a canadian immigrant and domestic servant, opened rochesters first beauty parlor in 1888. This is a clear mascaro tonique for the hair trade mark martha matilda harper rochester, n. She immigrated to rochester, new york at age thirtyfive and continued in service for three more years. The story of how entrepreneur martha matilda harper created americas first retail franchise network, a radical new business model that encouraged other women to own businesses, to enrich themselves spiritually and financially, and even to marry all on their own terms. How one woman changed the face of modern business writing american women, plitt recounts that daniel powers, the rich, respected, and powerful owner of the now iconic building where harper tried to rent space, at first refused her. To learn more about plitt and harper, visit marthamatildaharper. She developed a line of hair products, invented the reclining shampoo chair, and pioneered the concept of franchising, providing workingclass women economic independence as harper method shop owners. Born in canada, she was sent at age 7 to be a domestic servant for relatives. To get your copy of martha matilda harper and the american dream go online at, or wherever you buy books. Rmsc to celebrate 19th century rochester entrepreneur martha. Inspire young children with the new childrens book, marthas magical hair, which is.
Mar 23, 2019 martha matilda harper embodied what it means to be a g. Mascaro tonique for the hair martha matilda harper. Martha matilda harper, entrepreneur and beauty expert, was born in oakville ontario, canada on september 10, 185768. Martha the hairpreneur, a new young adult book, has just been released and is available for purchase on amazon. She reportedly used the 1868 date to make herself seem younger, but. She was sent away by her father at age 7 to work as a domestic servant. Anthony and her christian science faith, harper s new business model became her revolutionary tool to transform poor women into business owners. Martha matilda harper and the american dream, 2000 founder of. Martha matilda harper national womens hall of fame. Harpers birth date has been recorded as being either in 1857 or 1868. Martha matilda harper september 10, 1857, oakville, ontario august 3, 1950, rochester, new york was a canadianamerican businesswoman, entrepreneur, and inventor who built an international network of franchised hair salons that emphasized healthy hair care. Plitt has been an advocate for small business, women, and social justice and was named the 1987 small businessperson of the year by the rochester. Rotary and martha matilda harper both want to make the world a better place, said october 17 rotary speaker jane plitt plitt highlighted how harper, a poor canadian servant for 25 years, became the american pioneer of modern retail franchising with 500 harper method hair shops around the world catering to world royalty, us presidents, along with suffragettes.
Inspire young children with the new childrens book, marthas magical hair. Plitt, martha matilda harper and the american dream. The women just adored it, says jane plitt, a researcher and author of martha matilda harper and the american dream. Beyond the vote, the suffragists helped launch modern. Jane plitt is the author of three books about martha matilda harper, including martha the hairpreneur. Marthas magical hair for the very young, martha the hairpreneur for young adults, and martha matilda harper and the american dream for serious biography readers. Jane plitt is the author of the adult biography of martha matilda harper, martha matilda harper and the american dream, which propelled harper back into business history, the national womens hall of fame, and the american business hall of fame. Rmsc to host book launch with martha matilda harper. Plitts biography of martha shows a woman of intelligence, strength of character, and vision. Without their warm welcome and storage of harper records and memorabilia, the harper story could not have been written.
Martha matilda harper was born to a working class family in oakville, ontario in 1857. Jane plitt ran a thriving business consulting practice until she became enthralled with the story of martha matilda harper. She has been credited for her instrumental role in the 20 reauthorization. Matilda harper historical records and family trees myheritage. Skemp, department of history, university of mississippi. It turns out that the facility is the former laboratories for martha matilda. Martha matilda harper, the greatest businesswoman youve never heard of atlas obscura click link now you know where franchising of american hair salons came from. Martha matilda harper was both an entrepreneur and a beauty expert. Martha matilda harper and the american dream, 2000 founder of harper hairdressing parlor. The new paperback and ebook editions of martha matilda harper and the american dream are now available for purchase on amazon inspire young children with the new childrens book, martha s magical hair, which is now available for purchase on amazon. She advocates on behalf of survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence in native american communities. To see our entire conversation with jane plitt, click the link below. Martha matilda harper womens economic dependence on men was one of the primary concerns among the leaders of the 19thcentury womens rights movement. After 22 years, she moved to rochester where she worked as a servant for a minister and a physician, with the latter forever altering the course of her life.
At the age of seven, her father bound her out in servitude to an uncle, and she was sent 60 miles from home. Discover marthas magic will be held between 10am3pm, saturday, june 23, 2018. How one woman changed the face of american business by jane plitt 2000, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. She was a part the movement started by susan b antony started, our i should. Rmsc to celebrate 19th century rochester entrepreneur. Rear view of woman, possibly martha matilda harper, with.
Martha matilda harper was born in 1857 into a working class family in ontario, canada. She worked for 25 years before she saved enough money to produce a hair tonic she invented, then the creation of special hair salons that utilized it. Apr 25, 2019 martha matilda harper s life is a story of immigration, a story of empowerment, and a story of an american dream come true through women supporting women. A biography of entrepreneur martha harper, who created americas first retail franchise network, a radical new business model in the beauty shop industry that encouraged women to own businesses, to enrich themselves spiritually and. Martha matilda harper, the greatest businesswoman youve never heard of atlas obscura she pioneered retail franchising and created the american hair salon industry. In 1920, at age 63, harper married robert macbain, a man more than 20 years her junior who liked to be called the captain. Harper had brought a formula for hair tonic shampoo with her to the united states and began. Now three books about martha exist for the very young marthas magical hair, the young adults martha the hairpreneur and the serious biography readers martha matilda harper and the american dream. The world has not given her credit for her great accomplishments, except in small books such as the biography by ms. Anthony and her activist circle, harper struck out on her own, opening. Martha matilda harper label from public data source wikidata sources found. Under the legal doctrine of coverture, men assumed control over womens property when they married, including their children and any income they might earn.
She pioneered retail franchising and created the american hair salon industry. Born in canada, harper was sent away by her father when she was seven to work as a domestic servant. She was born into a workingclass family in ontario, canada, on september 10, 1857. Now three books about martha exist for the very young marthas magical hair, the young adults martha the hairpreneur and the serious biography readers. At the age of seven, her father sent her away to work as a domestic servant in the household of a relative. Marthas innovation, leadership, natural marketing savvy, and new business model created an army of women entrepreneurs in a time when few would have thought it possible.
She became a visiting scholar at the university of rochester. Driving down east main street recently, i spotted the name martha matilda harper engraved on a building near the old beech nut packaging plant. From servant to business empress and martha matilda harper and the american dream. Martha matilda harper rotary club of madison, wisconsin. Nov 06, 2017 in fact, in jane plitts well researched book martha matilda harper and american dream. Jan 11, 2017 martha matilda harper was born in 1857 into a working class family in ontario, canada. Martha matilda harper and the american dream even before the indomitable susan b. The building still stand on east main street in rochester. Sarah deer born november 9, 1972 is a native american lawyer, professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies and public affairs and administration at the university of kansas, and 2014 macarthur fellow. She reportedly used the 1868 date to make herself seem younger, but swore in an affidavit that the correct date was 1857.
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