On the Shoulders of Giants

On the Shoulders of Giants

Harper’s Story

A lifelong advocate, activist and warrior for social justice, Jane Plitt has worked tirelessly for women’s equality. So, it is no wonder that when she came upon the story of Martha Matilda Harper, she was compelled to ensure Harper’s story was not lost to history.

“If we don’t recognize how we have stood on the shoulders of others who have fought for equality for all, we are just repeating the mistakes of history,” Plitt said. “We have to personalize it and see the humanity.”

Before Plitt began her research and published her biography of Martha by Elizabeth Denham Matilda Harper, few people were aware of the pioneer Harper was in launching the modern retail franchising model and her inventions in the salon industry.

“Stories are so important,” Plitt noted, “That’s why the Harper narrative is so important. We need models that all people can identify with.”

If we don’t recognize how we have stood on the shoulders of others who have fought for equality for all, we are just repeating the mistakes of history.

Harper was born in 1857 in Canada and spent 25 years as a domestic servant there and then in Rochester, New York. Over her years as a servant, she saved enough money to create a hair salon that used her hair tonic. She marketed her tonic, invented reclining salon chairs and was the first to create cut-outs in sink bowls to add comfort to her customers’ experiences. Her innovation and ingenuity led her to a successful career as an American business owner and entrepreneur in the beauty industry. She began retail franchising by assuring that the first 100 of her salons went only to low-income women and eventually built an international network of more than 500 salons , five training centers, and a full line of organic hair care products.

“Martha pioneered the idea of social entrepreneurship – using business to create social change. She specifically targeted poor women for her franchise. She also didn’t use any dangerous chemicals in her tonic for more than 50 years,” Plitt explained. “Her business was ultimately taken over by men, and that changed. But the way she operated – out of principle – was not acknowledged in history, probably because she was a woman. I made sure my book was highly footnoted because I wanted there to be no doubt that this woman was the creator of modern retail franchising.”

Plitt had four goals when she began the process of telling this story.

1. Get the story printed

2. Get Harper acknowledged in the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the American Business Hall of Fame

3. Lecture at Harvard

4. Produce a mainstream movie or television show so the world can learn about Harper

To date, Plitt has met the first three, and the fourth is pending.

Plitt’s Story

Plitt’s accomplishments are also noteworthy in the fight for women’s equality in business and the reporting of women in history.

“So often we find ourselves fighting over the piece of pie, and that misses the point,” Plitt said. “We need to be enlarging the size of the pie.”

Plitt spent her life as a feminist who has advocated for women’s equality. She was the first Executive Director of the National Organization for Women, co-founded the Rochester Women’s Network, was an early leader of the Genesee Valley NOW Chapter, along with the Rochester chapter of NAWBO, national association of women business owners. She played a critical role in integrating men’s only grills in Rochester, eliminating help wanted women/men’s newspaper columns and integrating the Rochester Jaycees.

“As a child of the 60s, I was an activist for other people and other causes, and I suddenly realized women needed equal opportunity also,” Plitt said. “I became employed and realized I couldn’t eat with male colleagues because of men’s-only grills. That is not acceptable. Men and women should have the same opportunity and not be limited by biological happenstance.”

Plitt joined other bold men and women in the 70s who were beginning to rally around women’s issues.

“It was pretty empowering because we were making tangible, real change,” Plitt acknowledged. “Before Title IX, girls were only allowed to be cheerleaders as a physical activity. Today, I delight in seeing women on teams – not only for the enjoyment, but also for the learning experience of being a team member.”

Plitt says she was and is to this day, committed to justice for all.

“It is uplifting to look at the peaceful protests and see a rainbow of people participating. Young to old, male to female, people of color and gay and straight,” Plitt said.

And while Plitt’s current focus is in telling Harper’s story, hers is a story of courage and progress as well.

“Hers is an amazing, real-life rags to riches story, and it is time to embrace Martha Matilda,” Plitt summed up.

It is also time to embrace Jane Plitt’s story.

To learn more about Jane Plitt and Martha Matilda Harper, please visit www.marthamatildaharper.org