Tarbell

Tarbell is a surname. It has appeared in North American and European records and is most widely recognized for Ida Tarbell (1857–1944), an American journalist and author who was a leading figure in the muckraking movement during the Progressive Era. Tarbell is best known for her investigative reporting on the Standard Oil Company, culminating in The History of the Standard Oil Company (1904), a work that documented monopolistic practices and helped shape public opinion and policy on antitrust enforcement.

Beyond Ida Tarbell, people bearing the surname have pursued careers in journalism, academia, the arts, and other fields. However, none have achieved the same level of historical prominence, and Ida Tarbell remains the most widely cited bearer of the name in reference works and historical accounts.