[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 124 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 72--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
A COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP SHOULD BE ISSUED HONORING MARTHA MATILDA 
    HARPER, AND THAT THE CITIZENS' STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHOULD 
    RECOMMEND TO THE POSTMASTER GENERAL THAT SUCH A STAMP BE ISSUED

  Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Ms. Collins, and Ms. Stabenow) submitted 
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs:

                            S. Con. Res. 72

       Whereas Martha Matilda Harper, after spending much of the 
     first 25 years of her life as a domestic servant, opened the 
     Harper Method Shops and School, a health-conscious hair and 
     skin care store in Rochester, New York, in 1888;
       Whereas Martha Matilda Harper subsequently expanded the 
     business to include 2 international manufacturing centers, 5 
     training schools, and over 500 beauty shops around the world;
       Whereas Martha Matilda Harper shared the opportunity of 
     business ownership with former servant women, and created the 
     first franchise business model;
       Whereas customers of Harper shops included world leaders, 
     socialites, and suffragists, such as Presidents Woodrow 
     Wilson and Calvin Coolidge, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Prime Minister 
     Anthony Eden, First Ladies Jacqueline Kennedy and Lady Bird 
     Johnson, and Susan B. Anthony;
       Whereas Martha Matilda Harper's 19th century management 
     practices, which included a customer-oriented focus, an 
     equitable relationship with staff, a childcare center in each 
     shop, and the manufacture and promotion of organic products 
     and procedures, would be contemporary by today's standards;
       Whereas franchising now dominates retail business (with a 
     new franchise opening every 8 minutes) and generates more 
     than $1,000,000,000,000 in revenues annually; and
       Whereas, for her accomplishments, Martha Matilda Harper has 
     been referred to by some as the ``mother of franchising'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be issued honoring 
     Martha Matilda Harper; and
       (2) the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should recommend 
     to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be issued.

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