Ida Minerva Tarbell was an American writer, investigative journalist, biographer, and lecturer, born on November 5, 1857, in Amity Township, Pennsylvania. She passed away on January 6, 1944, at Bridgeport Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut, at the age of 86. Tarbell is best known for her work as one of the leading muckrakers and reformers during the Progressive Era, a period of intense social and political reform in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was a pioneering figure in investigative journalism, with her most famous work being her exposé on the Standard Oil Company, which played a key role in the breakup of monopolies in the United States. Tarbell graduated from Allegheny College in 1880 and was the daughter of Franklin Sumner Tarbell and Esther Ann Tarbell. She had several siblings, including Sarah, Franklin Sumner Jr., and Will. Throughout her career, she was known for her meticulous research and her ability to tackle complex social issues with clarity and impact. Her work remains an important contribution to American journalism.