Jane Plitt ran a thriving business consulting practice until she became enthralled with the story of Martha Matilda Harper. Plitt became a Visiting Scholar at the University of Rochester. Plitt spent six years criss-crossing the United States and Canada, knocking on doors of former Harperites and relatives to piece the story together. Without their warm welcome and storage of Harper records and memorabilia, the Harper story could not have been written. Now three books about Martha exist for the very young (Martha’s Magical Hair), the young adults (Martha the Hairpreneur) and the serious biography readers (Martha Matilda Harper and the American Dream) .
Now Plitt has created an inspiring documentary, The MARVELOUS MARTHA, to bring to life Harper and her loyal Harperites whose lives she uplifted, and whose customers were delighted with Harper’s innovative methods. Included in the film are explanations by Plitt about how she stumbled and pursued the story for six years with the essential help of the Harperites and family members who had saved Harper artifacts and memorabilia. Contact marthamatildaharper1888@gmail.com for rental information.
Plitt has been a champion advocate for small business, women, and social justice. She was chosen by SAVVY magazine as one of fourteen outstanding women in New York State and by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a Small Business Advocate. She has authored articles and lectured internationally on creative marketing, economic development, social entrepreneurship and women’s rights. She charms pre-k and elementary school students, and inspires older students to develop their dreams whatever their hardships. Grown-ups soak up the forgotten leadership of the amazing Martha Matilda Harper. Her blog showcases how to use business for social change, just like Harper did and the relevance of Harper today.
A graduate of Cornell University, Plitt has an amazing family!
Here’s a fun summary about Plitt and women’s equality. https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2020/08/talking-with-former-national-organization-for-women-head-jane-plitt
A heartwarming documentary on Martha Matilda Harper has just been released. The Marvelous Martha captures the saga of uncovering the story of how and why modern retail franchising was created and why the story was buried for decades. Could it be because this new business model was accomplished by a woman, a poor immigrant woman no less? You decide.
Delight in seeing how Martha Matilda Harper changes her life and the lives of hundreds of other poor women with historic photos of Harper, her dedicated Harperites, her family and supporters. Get ready to cheer. Perfect for individual viewing, along with associations, business, church, community, immigrant, school, and women’s groups. Ready for large screen theatres, smaller screen or individual viewing.
For rental details, email marthamatildaharper1888@gmail.com
NEW BOOKS
Help get Harper on a commemorative Postage stamp. We need overwhelming signatures to show a broad interest in finally getting Harper the recognition she deserves for being the creator of modern franchising and the path blazer who showed us how to use business for social change.
Martha Matilda Harper 