Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream: How One Woman Changed the Face of Modern Business

by Jane R. Plitt

Book by Plitt, Jane R.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

184 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desperate need of an editor and proofreader

There were a lot of simple errors that should have been caught by a good proofreader
"She was land, sweet and clearly successful"
"His reaction to his Mather's behavior"

But mostly this needed a firm editor. It read like a schools research paper instead of a professional biography. There were more opinions than facts. And a good author and editor team would have woven the story around Martha Harper instead of the authors opinions about what Martha should have been feeling.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martha Matilda Harper was a young Canadian immigrant who came to Rochester, NY as a domestic servant in the late 1800's.  Martha dreamed of doing more with her life and used a hair tonic recipe to catapult her into the business world.  Martha opened a series of salons that focused on inner health promoting outer beauty.  She hired former domestic servants like herself and trained them in her method- The Harper Method, creating what we now know as the franchise.  The Harper Method, products, and inventions thrived until the 1970's, 20 years after Martha's death; however, her legacy seemed all but forgotten. 

Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream is an eye-opening and revealing biography about a woman whose legacy might have been lost to time.  Biographer, Jane Plitt became interested in Martha's story after finding out that Martha was one of the first women in the Chamber of Commerce.  From there, Jane became determined to uncover Martha's story.  While many details of Martha's story have been lost, Jane has uncovered parts of Martha's life from her childhood in Canada to her death in 1950.  Martha Matilda's story should be one we learn about alongside suffragists such as Susan B. Anthony and inventors like George Eastman.  Extensive research has been done to attempt to put back together Martha's life and legacy. I was amazed at Martha's impact during her time and her tenacity to overcome obstacles.  I hope her story continues to unfold.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting story that should have been a short story and not a book. I felt like I was reading a book required for a business class not a book club. But I did finish and admire what Mary Matilda did for women in business at a trying time.

[Емилия Илиева · Rating 3 out of 5]

История за една велика жена, която слага началото на франчайза, развива го и го управлява. Открити са 500 салона "Харпер" осъществяващи грижа за косата в Америка и Европа. Марта Матилда Харпер управлява салоните си, чрез своите "харперити", обикновено жени, които обучава за да прилагат точната политика и предлагат продуктите "Харпер" в откритите от тях студия на принципа I win-you win, който e в основата на францайза. Била е слугиня в продължение на 25 години. Като млада е имала дълга до петите коса. Издавала е бюлетин с който е информирала нейните "харперити" за принципите, които са спазвани в техните салони. Всичко това започва в края на 19 век и продължава повече от 40 години. Жалкото е, че днес няма и следа от всичко, което е постигнала. Запитах се защо ? Марта се омъжва на 63 години за 24 години по млад от нея мъж, който се грижи за нея до смърта и през 1950 година на 93 годишна възраст. След нейната смърт бизнеса е продаден и попада в мъжки ръце. Те го комерсиализират и се губи нейния почерк и магията на принципите и , които са мотивирали стотици жени да повярват в себе си. Историята много ме впечатли. Колкото до книгата тя е написана в документален стил и не бих казала, че е литературно произведение.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunning revelation about a woman who change the face of American business. That’s just her inventions, the invention of franchising itself. Empowering women from the working class. An unsung hero who I had no idea existed.

[Jenna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!! It provided such an interesting insight into the origins of the beauty industry and how the concept of retail franchising came to be. This book is one of my favorites!!!!