Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream: How One Woman Changed the Face of Modern Business (Writing American Women) [Hardcover]

Jane R. Plitt (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: Syracuse Univ Pr (Sd); 1 edition (May 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815606389
• ISBN-13: 978-0815606383
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,194,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A biography of the woman who invented the business franchise, March 15, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream: How One Woman Changed the Face of Modern Business (Writing American Women) (Hardcover)

Martha Matilda Harper And The American Dream: 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. Yet her inventive contribution was lost to American business history until Jane Plitt (business owner, labor arbitrator, social justice advocate, and visiting scholar at the University of Rochester) discovered through original research what a remarkable contribution Martha Matilda Harper had made to the contemporary face of American-style free enterprise. Martha Matilda Harper And The American Dream is enthusiastically recommended reading and an essential addition to Women's Studies and American Business History reading lists and library collections.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about a dynamic American business woman, August 22, 2000

By 

Rose L. Blickstein - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream: How One Woman Changed the Face of Modern Business (Writing American Women) (Hardcover)

A well-written and well-deserved biography about a previously obscure
female entrepreneur and humanitarian who overcame her own impoverished
background and helped other women do the same. Although recognition
of Martha Matilda Harper's accompliishments are overdue, she was a
person ahead of her time-- she introduced the first franchise idea in
America. [Ms. Plitt's] excellent (and very readable) book broadens
the perspective of American history by identifying this dynamic
American business woman.

Thanks, Jane R. Plitt, for bringing Martha
Matilda Harper to our attention.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pioneer in Skin and Hair Care Industry, February 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream: How One Woman Changed the Face of Modern Business (Writing American Women) (Hardcover)

This is a great book about one of the first, if not THE first, woman to open a public beauty salon (in the 1890's when people did their hair at home). Harper manufactured and distributed hair and skin care products; she trained women to open their own shops under the Harper name. According to the book her products preceded those of the familiar cosmetic names of today. Her business ethics were to help others, share the wealth, the Golden Rule, deal with others honestly and fairly. This, and hard work paid off! This story would make a great rags-to-riches movie!