Martha Matilda (Harper) McBain (1857 - 1950)

Born 10 Sep 1857 in Oakville, Halton, Canada West

Wife of Robert Arthur (McBain) MacBain — married 27 Oct 1920 in New York City, New York, United States

Died 3 Aug 1950 at age 92 in Rochester, Monroe, New York, United States

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Biography

Martha (Harper) McBain is Notable.

Canadian-American entrepreneur and inventor, credited with the launch of modern retail franchising

Martha was born in 1857 in Oakville, Canada West (Ontario). Her parents were Robert C. Harper and Bettie Gifford. At the time of the 1871 census at age 12, she was in Clarke, Durham West, Ontario.^[1]

After working 25 years as a domestic servant, beginning at the age of seven, she created Harper Method hair products. She began franchising the salon model to low-income women, and by its peak, the company included more than 500 franchises and an entire line of hair care products. The network started in Rochester, New York, where she made her home, and expanded worldwide. ^[2]

She invented reclining shampoo chairs and sinks designed for hair washing. She hired former servant women and offered flexible financing for them to purchase franchise locations. The franchised salons offered child care and evening hours. As a Christian Scientist, her products and salons used natural ingredients; the salons did not carry synthetic dyes or do chemical perms.

Among her customers were British royalty, Susan B. Anthony, Woodrow Wilson, Grace Coolidge, Joseph P. Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy, George Bernard Shaw, and Ladybird Johnson.

She died at age 92 on 3 August 1950 in Rochester^[3] and was buried at Riverside Cemetery. She was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the American Business Hall of Fame for her achievements in business.

She was survived by her husband, Robert, and one sister, Mrs. Harry Waters, of Belleville, N. J.^[4].

Sources

1. ↑ 1871 Census: "1871 Census of Canada"
   Year: 1871; Census Place: Clarke, Durham West, Ontario; Roll: C-9978; Page: 64
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1578 #1729409 (accessed 4 November 2023)
   Martha Harper (12) in Clarke, Durham West, Ontario. Born in Ontario.
2. ↑ Martha Matilda Harper, the Greatest Businesswoman You’ve Never Heard Of
3. ↑ Death: "New York, U.S., Death Index, 1852-1956"
   New York Department of Health; Albany, NY; NY State Death Index
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61535 #1722748 (accessed 14 April 2023)
   Martha H Macbain death 3 Aug 1950 (age 92) in Rochester, New York, USA.
4. ↑ * Death notice, Martha Matilda Harper MacBain: "Newspapers.com"
   Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) Mon, Aug 7, 1950, page 38
   Newspapers Clip: 135234457 (accessed 15 November 2023)

• Seaton, Jaimie. "Martha Matilda Harper, the Greatest Businesswoman You've Never Heard Of". Atlas Obscura. 11 January 2017
• Western New York Suffragists: Winning The Vote, Rochester Regional Library Council
• "Martha Matilda Harper" Women of the Hall. National Women's Hall of Fame.
• Parker, Sally. "Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream". Rochester Review, University of Rochester. Fall 2000 Vol. 63, No. 1.
• "Women of History: Martha Matilda Harper". Mary Baker Eddy Library. June 1, 2020.

See also:

• Wikipedia: Martha Matilda Harper
• Wikidata: Item Q1903073, en:Wikipedia