Martha Matilda Harper, The Greatest Businesswoman You've Never Heard Of

image credit Library of Congress)

Nearly 30 years before Helena Rubenstein and Elizabeth Arden launched their beauty brands, a former servant girl from Canada created the American hair salon industry, designed the first reclining salon chair, and went on to establish retail franchising as we know it today. Along the way Martha Harper empowered thousands of young women and amassed a fortune.

(via Miss Cellania