Jane R. Plitt

I am a curious, determined entrepreneur who stumbled on a brief clipping about Martha Matilda Harper . I had to find out more and I spent six years uncovering her buried tale. What fun to travel across the United States and Canada and be warmly embraced by relatives, former and active Harper shop trainees and owners. Even though she died in 1950, she and I have developed a love affair. As a former business owner, our lives have tracked in synchronistic ways.

I am proud that Harper's story is now spreading across the world because we need to know more about our amazing women whose accomplishments have been buried. Imagine, she was a servant for 25 years and ultimately created modern franchising so that other poor women like her could change their lives by associating with the Harper Method. She even invented the first reclining shampoo chair to delight customers. Enjoy discovering her full story in , "Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream."

In 2017 a young children's story "Martha's Magical Hair" came out to inspire youngsters with her story.

To help fill the need for true women's stories, a young adult book about Harper is now available. "Martha the Hairpreneur, From Servant to Business Empress." targeting the pre and teen audiences. It was co-written by Sally Valentine, a young adult author.

Thanks for helping to pass on the amazing accomplishments of this once poor servant turned brilliant entrepreneur /humanitarian!