Ida Minerva Tarbell was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on November 5, 1857 (Lowrie). She was the daughter of Esther and Franklin Tarbell (Lowrie). At the age of three, Ida moved to Titusville, Pennsylvania with her family (Lowrie). Tarbell's mother took a teaching job and his father became an oil producer and refiner in their new town (Lowrie). As King writes, "his father's business, as well as that of many other small businessmen, was affected by the South Improvement Company project between the railroads and big oil interests." Tarbell remained in Titusville and completed high school there (Lowrie). She then attended Allegheny College in 1876, graduating in 1880, the only woman in her class (Lowrie). Tarbell began her teaching career in Poland, Ohio and after two years, “she realized teaching was too much for her. and that she loved writing more” (Lowrie). Tarbell returned to Pennsylvania, where she met Theodore L. Flood, editor of The Chautauquan (Lowrie). She quickly accepted Flood's offer to write for the newspaper; she said, “I was happy to be helpful, because I had grown up with what was called the Chautauqua movement” (Lowrie). In 1886, she became editor (Lowrie). In 1890, Ida wrote articles for many magazines, including McClure's Magazine, and was eventually offered the position of editor of McClure's (King). His series on Abraham Lincoln ended up being published in a book because the articles doubled the popularity of the magazine (King). This gave Tarbell a national reputation as a major writer. Tarbell had always accused the head of the Standard Oil Company, John D. Rockefeller, of putting his father and many other small oil companies out of business through the use of his ruthless tactics. ...... middle of paper ...... Arbell certainly fit the character of Muckraker, she didn't like the label of Muckraker (Weinberg). Tarbell wrote the article "Muckraker or Historian", in which she justified her efforts to expose the oil trust (King). She did not want to stir up society in any way; she simply wanted to expose the Standard Oil Company's abuse of power and put an end to it. Ida Tarbell left a great imprint on women, journalists and muckrakers after her death on January 6, 1944 at the age of 86 (Lowrie). In 2000, Tarbell was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York (Weinberg). On September 14, 2002, the United States Postal Service issued a stamp honoring Tarbell as a famous journalist (Weinberg). Her legacy is long forgotten, and her work is considered one of the most lasting impacts on monopolies, journalism and women's empowerment..