Franchise pioneer Harper to be honored

Harper, a servant turned international businessowner, launched in 1891 the nation's first retail franchise to empower former servant women to own businesses. The University will rededicate a plaque, portrait, and lounge in Harper's name in the Susan B. Anthony Hall at 10:30 a.m.

The event, which is co-sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony University Center and the Alumni Association, was spurred by the research of Jane Plitt, a consultant and University visiting scholar who has written a biography of Harper.

Plitt discovered that the University had originally dedicated the Martha Matilda Harper Lounge on May 25, 1956. The plaque and portrait were inadvertently removed during building renovations.

Harper opened Rochester's first beauty shop for women in 1888 and ran it and her manufacturing operations out of the Powers Building downtown. Three years later, she chose to expand by creating the franchise model, which opened new economic opportunities for working-class women.

Ultimately, more than 500 shops worldwide operated under the Harper Method flag.

The Harper Hair Method, a health-based hair and skin program, featured Harper's specially formulated organic products. The service attracted a wide spectrum of citizens, from the most prominent to the ordinary. Among them were world leaders, including President Woodrow Wilson and Britain's Anthony Eden, and suffragists, particularly Anthony, who regarded Harper as a model of women's achievement.

As part of her efforts to break down sex-stereotyped barriers, Harper was the first woman to join the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. A business maverick, she introduced to the corporate world the concepts of customer service and satisfaction, teamwork, and environmental accountability.

The dedication is open to the public and will be followed by a reception. Call x5-8799 to make a reservation; space is limited.