The History of the Standard Oil Company
Encyclopedia
The History of the Standard Oil Company is a book written by journalist Ida Tarbell in 1904. It was an exposé of the Standard Oil Company, run at that time by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller
, the richest figure in America's
history. Originally serialized
in 19 parts in McClure's
magazine, the book was a seminal example of muckraking, and inspired many other journalists to write about trusts
, large businesses that (in the absence of strong antitrust
law in the 19th century) attempted to gain monopolies
in various industries.
The History of the Standard Oil Company was credited with hastening the breakup of Standard Oil, which came about in 1911.
The original book was a two volume hardcover set. A briefer paperback edition was also released later.
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
, the richest figure in America's
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history. Originally serialized
Serial (literature)
In literature, a serial is a publishing format by which a single large work, most often a work of narrative fiction, is presented in contiguous installments—also known as numbers, parts, or fascicles—either issued as separate publications or appearing in sequential issues of a single periodical...
in 19 parts in McClure's
McClure's
McClure's or McClure's Magazine was an American illustrated monthly periodical popular at the turn of the 20th century. The magazine is credited with creating muckraking journalism. Ida Tarbell's series in 1902 exposing the monopoly abuses of John D...
magazine, the book was a seminal example of muckraking, and inspired many other journalists to write about trusts
Trust (19th century)
A special trust or business trust is a business entity formed with intent to monopolize business, to restrain trade, or to fix prices. Trusts gained economic power in the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Some, but not all, were organized as trusts in the legal sense...
, large businesses that (in the absence of strong antitrust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
law in the 19th century) attempted to gain monopolies
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
in various industries.
The History of the Standard Oil Company was credited with hastening the breakup of Standard Oil, which came about in 1911.
The original book was a two volume hardcover set. A briefer paperback edition was also released later.