The newspapers editor, George A. Madden, was so impressed with the letter that he published a note asking the Lonely Orphan Girl to reveal her name. When Bly was six, her father died suddenly and without a will. This is a short thirty-minute lesson on Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Her real name was Elizabeth Jane Cochrane; Nellie Bly was her pen name and the name under which she is most well-known. Bly, Nellie. Elizabeth Bisland Wetmore (February 11, 1861 - January 6, 1929) was an American journalist and author, perhaps now best known for her 1889-1890 race around the world against Nellie Bly, which drew worldwide attention. Her reporting on life in the asylum shocked the public and led to increased funding to improve conditions in the institution. [55], Anne Helm appeared as Nellie Bly in the November 21, 1960, Tales of Wells Fargo TV episode "The Killing of Johnny Lash". In it, she explained that New York City invested more money into care for the mentally ill after her articles were published. Bly was born Elizabeth Jane Cochran (she later added an "e" to the end of her name) on May 5, 1864, in Cochran's Mills, Pennsylvania. Print Page Nellie Bly Nellie Bly, c. 1890. She moved back to Pittsburgh to help her mother run a boarding house. Her report, published 9 October 1887[23] and later in book form as Ten Days in a Mad-House, caused a sensation, prompted the asylum to implement reforms, and brought her lasting fame. Interestingly, rival newspaper New York Cosmopolitan had sent their reporter Elizabeth Bisland on a similar journey but she arrived four days later. It was no mere armchair observation, because Bly got herself committed . Journalist Nellie Bly began writing for the Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1885. Nellie started boarding school but had to drop out after only one term since her parents did not have enough money to pay for the school. Jonathan J Chandler (1848-1903) FamilySearch Covering Mental Health - Journalism in Action Nellie Bly was an unwavering advocate for social change, a journalistic dynamo, and a force of nature. Nellie Bly was born as Elizabeth Jane Cochran on May 5, 1864 in Cochrans Mills, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, to a mill worker Michael Cochran and his wife Mary Jane. How might Elizabeths position as a woman have helped her investigative reporting? [20], In 1893, Bly used the celebrity status she had gained from her asylum reporting skills to schedule an exclusive interview with the allegedly insane serial killer Lizzie Halliday.[25]. The Historic New Orleans Collection, acc. [26], Back in reporting, she covered the Woman Suffrage Procession of 1913 for the New York Evening Journal. [10] In 1880, Cochrane's mother moved her family to Allegheny City, which was later annexed by the City of Pittsburgh. [69], The board game Round the World with Nellie Bly created in 1890 is named in recognition of her trip. Inside Nellie Bly's 10 Days in a Madhouse - Biography In this lesson, students will experience the tragedy of the commons through a team activity in which they compete for resources. Life Story: Elizabeth Cochrane, aka Nellie Bly (1864-1922) World-Traveling Journalist and Muckraker The story of an investigative journalist who used her career to shed light on the horrors of urban life and break gender stereotypes. Collection of the New-York Historical Society. Following her marriage, she retired from journalism and became the president of her husband's Iron Clad Manufacturing Company. Bly accomplished her goal with days to spare, and, as with her experience in the asylum, her report became a book, Around the World in Seventy-Two Days (1890). Popularly known by her pen name Nellie Bly, Elizabeth Cochran was an American journalist and writer who was a pioneer in the field of investigative journalism. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The marriage was the second one for both Michael and Bly's mother, Mary Jane, who wed after the deaths of their first spouses. Activist journalists like Elizabethcommonly known as muckrakerswere an important part of reform movements. With Caroline Barry, Christopher Lambert, Kelly LeBrock, Julia Chantrey. How many siblings did Warren G. Harding have? (New York, N.Y.), 14 Nov. 1889. After ten days, the asylum released Bly at The World's behest. Nellie Bly Lesson for Kids: Biography & Facts. Nellie Blys Book: Around the World in Seventy-two Days (1890) was a great popular success, and the name Nellie Bly became a synonym for a female star reporter. How many siblings did Benazir Bhutto have? Nellie Bly - Wikipedia Elizabeth positioned herself as an investigative reporter. Bly continued to produce regular exposs on New Yorks ills, such as corruption in the state legislature, unscrupulous employment agencies for domestic workers, and the black market for buying infants. Nellie Bly biography for kids - Lottie.com How many children did Catherine Parr have? She began working for the New York Evening Journal in 1920 and reported on numerous events, including the growing womens suffrage movement. Elizabeth Jane Cochran, a.k.a. She wasn't the first woman of her time to join a newsroom, but she was certainly the most. Elizabeths investigations brought attention to inequalities and often motivated others to take action. Nellie Bly, pseudonym of Elizabeth Cochrane, also spelled Cochran, (born May 5, 1864, Cochran's Mills, Pennsylvania, U.S.died January 27, 1922, New York, New York), American journalist whose around-the-world race against a fictional record brought her world renown. The column, which appeared in The Dispatch on February 1, 1885, was bylined "Nellie Bly.". Nellie Bly was the most famous American woman reporter of the 19th century. Unscrupulous employees bilked the firm of hundreds of thousands of dollars, troubles compounded by protracted and costly bankruptcy litigation. Cochrans editor chose the name Nelly Bly from a Stephen Foster song. Nellie Bly had 14 siblings (10 half-siblings; 4 full blooded siblings). Bly died of pneumonia at the age of 57 in 1922. [48], Bly was the subject of the 1946 Broadway musical Nellie Bly by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen. How many siblings did Wilma Rudolph have? She only attended one year of boarding school, because the financial burden placed on the family following her father's death forced her to quit school. Bernard, Karen. Michael Cochrans rise from mill worker to mill owner to judge meant his family lived very comfortably. Astrological Sign: Taurus, Death Year: 1922, Death date: January 27, 1922, Death State: New York, Death City: New York, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Nellie Bly Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/activist/nellie-bly, Publisher: A&E Television Networks, Last Updated: April 19, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. After the company suffered losses from embezzlement, Bly returned to journalism and reported from Europe during World War I. Her report on the horrifyingly conditions inside the asylum led to numerous reforms in the living condition of the mental patients. Although Elizabeth never regained the level of stardom she experienced after her trip around the world, she continued to use her writing to shed light on issues of the day. The Girl Puzzle - Wikipedia How many brothers and sisters did Jimmy Carter have? Bly went on to patent several inventions related to oil manufacturing, many of which are still used today. As was the trend then, women writers wrote under pen names. Still only 21, she was determined "to do something no girl has done before. [38], Bly wrote stories on Europe's Eastern Front during World War I. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Who Is Dilbert Cartoonist Scott Adams? Wanting to write pieces that addressed both men and women, Bly began looking for a newspaper that would allow her to write on more serious topics. Brief Life History of Jonathan J She had several siblings and half-siblings. Amid their grief, Michael's death presented a grave financial detriment to his family, as he left them without a will, and, thus, no legal claim to his estate. History 101: Nellie Bly. How many siblings did Emily Dickinson have? How many siblings did Coretta Scott King have? Those words, describing New York City's most notorious mental institution, were written by journalist Nellie Bly in 1887. When she returned, she was again assigned to the society page and promptly quit in protest. Elizabeth Cochran Seaman (born Elizabeth Jane Cochran; May 5, 1864 January 27, 1922), better known by her pen name Nellie Bly, was an American journalist, who was widely known for her record-breaking trip around the world in 72 days, in emulation of Jules Verne's fictional character Phileas Fogg, and an expos in which she worked undercover to report on a mental institution from within. Shop eBooks and audiobooks at Rakuten Kobo. Nellie lived on a big farm with her parents Michael Cochran and Mary Kane and her siblings. Smithsonian Institute Archives Image # SIA 2010-1509. Engraving. She is often confused with the journalist Nellie Bly (1864-1922). Nellie Bly Baker - Wikipedia However, the newspaper soon received complaints from factory owners about her writing, and she was reassigned to women's pages to cover fashion, society, and gardening, the usual role for women journalists, and she became dissatisfied. How many siblings did Sojourner Truth have? Nellie was born on May 5, 1864 in a city called Cochran's Millis in the United States. New-York Historical Society Library. Bly's future began to look brighter in the early 1880s, when, at the age of 18, she submitted a racy response to an editorial piece that had been published in the Pittsburgh Dispatch. How many siblings did Mary Todd Lincoln have? Given the green light to try the feat by the New York World, Bly embarked on her journey from Hoboken, New Jersey, in November 1889, traveling first by ship and later also via horse, rickshaw, sampan, burro and other vehicles. From France she went to Italy and Egypt, through South Asia to Singapore and Japan, then to San Francisco and back to New York. Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story: Directed by Karen Moncrieff. Bly looked for work to help support her family, but found fewer opportunities than her less-educated brothers. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. All rights reserved. New York, Nellie Bly Press, 2017. After her return, she toured the country as a lecturer. The stunt made her famous. How many siblings did Sybil Ludington have? American National Biography. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center. Life Story: Elizabeth Cochrane, aka Nellie Bly (1864-1922), Women & The American Story, New-York Historical Society Library and Museum. Into the Madhouse with Nellie Bly: Girl Stunt Reporting in the Late Nineteenth Century America. American Quarterly, 54 no 2. What are nellie blys siblings names? - Answers How many children did Abigail Adams have? On the final lap of her journey, the World transported her from San Francisco to New York by special train; she was greeted everywhere by brass bands, fireworks, and like panoply. Kroeger, Brooke. Freedom Forum: "Nellie Bly's Forgotten Sisters" - Brooke Kroeger [citation needed] The character of Lana Winters (Sarah Paulson) in American Horror Story: Asylum is inspired by Bly's experience in the asylum. Her time was 72 days 6 hours 11 minutes 14 seconds. When Bly was six, her father died suddenly and without a will. Early in life, she was compelled to speak truth to power when she testified on her mother's behalf against an abusive stepfather. Bly's celebrity reached an international level with her mission to travel around the world in 80 days, just as the character Phileas Fogg did in Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days. Born in 1864, Bly was the thirteenth of 15 children in a family headed by Michael Cochran, a mill owner and county judge. Led by New York Assistant District Attorney Vernon M. Davis, with Bly assisting, the asylum investigation resulted in significant changes in New York City's Department of Public Charities and Corrections (later split into separate agencies). Nellie Bly: Around the World in 72 Days. Senator John Heinz History Center. Just over seventy-two days after her departure from Hoboken, Bly was back in New York. Does Nellie have any. Unfortunately, he died when Elizabeth was only six years old and his fortune was divided among his many children, leaving Elizabeths mother and her children with a small fraction of the wealth they once enjoyed. [60], Bly has been featured as the protagonist of novels by David Blixt,[61] Marshall Goldberg,[62] Dan Jorgensen,[63] Carol McCleary,[64] Pearry Reginald Teo, Maya Rodale,[65] and Christine Converse. Once examined by a police officer, a judge, and a doctor, Bly was taken to Blackwell's Island. How many siblings did Mother Teresa have? These changes included a larger appropriation of funds for the care of mentally ill patients, additional physician appointments for stronger supervision of nurses and other healthcare workers, and regulations to prevent overcrowding and fire hazards at the city's medical facilities. Nellie Bly: Around the World in 72 Days. Senator John Heinz History Center. Nellie Bly was a nationally significant journalist at the New York World. Also around this time, she retired from journalism, and by all accounts, the couple enjoyed a happy marriage. Similar reportorial gambits took her into sweatshops, jails, and the legislature (where she exposed bribery in the lobbyist system). Omissions? "Nellie Bly." How many siblings did Deborah Sampson have? Cochran's Mills, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Burrell Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story, An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster, "She went undercover to expose an insane asylum's horrors. Young Elizabeth attended boarding school but just for a term before dropping out due to insufficient funds. 1985.212. In 1885, Elizabeth read an article in the Pittsburgh Dispatch that argued a womans place was in the home, to be a helpmate to a man. She strongly disagreed with this opinion and sent an angry letter to the editor anonymously signed Lonely Orphan Girl.. The editor, Joseph Pulitzer, declined that story, but he challenged Bly to investigate one of New Yorks most notorious mental asylums, Blackwells Island. Seaman died in 1904, and Bly took over his firm, the Iron Clad Manufacturing Company. She went undercover to expose an insane asylums horrors. Following her superlative success with the Blackwell expose, she continued with her investigative series of work, exposing improper treatment in New York jails and factories, corruption in state legislature and so on. Quick Quiz: Around The World With Nellie Bly. At the age of 15, she enrolled in the State Normal School in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and an added an e to her last name to sound more distinguished. Our experts can answer your tough homework and study questions. How many siblings did Dorothy Vaughan have? Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Nellie Bly Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements In response to an article in the Pittsburg[h] Dispatch that criticized the presence of women in the workforce, Bly penned an open letter to the editor that called for more opportunities for women, especially those responsible for the financial wellbeing of their families. Fashion Philosophy Special: Nellie Bly - College Fashion New-York Historical Society Library. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. When Cochrane introduced herself to the editor, he offered her the opportunity to write a piece for the newspaper, again under the pseudonym "Lonely Orphan Girl". How many siblings did Lucretia Garfield have? Though New York World continuously covered her travel diaries, it was later in 1890 that Bly published a book about the experience, titling it Around the World in 72 Days. Nellie Bly tied the nuptial knot in 1895 with the millionaire manufacturer Robert Seaman. Bly crafted a fiery rebuttal that grabbed the attention of the paper's managing editor, George Madden, who, in turn, offered her a position. Feb. 1, 2000; Accessed April 27, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1601472. Her trip around the world in 72 days brought her even further fame. Blys husband died in 1903, leaving her in control of the massive Iron Clad Manufacturing Company and. She met Jules Verne at his home in France. [9] In 1879, she enrolled at Indiana Normal School (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) for one term but was forced to drop out due to lack of funds. [17] Madden was impressed again and offered her a full-time job. Born In: Cochrans Mills, Pennsylvania, United States. Her trip only took 72 days, which set a world record. How many sisters did Susan B. Anthony have? [40], On January 27, 1922, Bly died of pneumonia at St. Mark's Hospital, New York City, aged 57. The story of Nellie Bly, the pen name of a young reporter named Elizabeth Cochran, has been told and retold ever since she burst onto the scene in 1887. How many children did Anne Hutchinson have? To what extent did Elizabeths trip around the world redefine ideas of what it meant to be a woman? Her straightforward yet compassionate approach to these issues captivated audiences. How many blood siblings did Queen Isabella have? How many siblings did Queen Elizabeth I have? Nellie Bly married manufacturer Robert Seaman in 1895. A misogynistic column in the daily, The Pittsburgh Dispatch, prompted her to pen a fiery rebuttal to the editor under the pseudonym Lonely Orphan Girl. Such was the impression of her writing that it won her a full-time employment with the newspaper. Her father, Michael Cochran, owned a lucrative mill and served as associate justice of Armstrong County. How many siblings did Emmeline Pankhurst have? Unable to maintain the land or their house, Blys family left Cochran's Mill. On train, ship, rickshaw, horse, and donkey . She went undercover to expose an insane asylums horrors. She started a new trend in reporting that earned her recognition as an undercover reporter. In business, her curiosity and independent spirit flourished. She challenged the stereotypical assumption that women could not travel without many suitcases, outfit changes, and vanity items. Unknown photographer, A Typical Boomer Family, ca. Wanting to write pieces that addressed both men and women, Bly began looking for a newspaper that would allow her to write on more serious topics. Nellie Bly was never one to sit idle while the world rushed by. Bly suffered a tragic loss in 1870, at the age of six, when her father died suddenly. What might she have been able to do that men could not? Second, she wanted to prove that women were capable of traveling just as well asif not better thanmen. Elizabeth traveled light, taking only the dress she wore, a cape, and a small travelers bag. [28] Bly's journey was a world record, though it only stood for a few months, until George Francis Train completed the journey in 67 days.[31]. Her expos of conditions among the patients, published in the World and later collected in Ten Days in a Mad House (1887), precipitated a grand-jury investigation of the asylum and helped bring about needed improvements in patient care. How many siblings did Mary McLeod Bethune have. [66] David Blixt also appeared on a March 10, 2021 episode of the podcast Broads You Should Know as a Nellie Bly expert. Upon her husbands death in 1904, Bly took the helm of his Iron Clad Manufacturing Co. During her time there, she began manufacturing the first practical 55-gallon steel oil drum, which evolved into the standard one used today. Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland's History-Making Race Around the World. "Nellie Bly." Here are 10 facts about Nellie Bly. In 1895, Bly married millionaire industrialist Robert Seaman, who was 40 years her senior, and she became legally known as Elizabeth Jane Cochrane Seaman. She breathed her last on January 27, 1922 at St. Mark's Hospital in New York City due to pneumonia. Her father had ten children from his first marriage and five children from his second marriage to Elizabeths mother, Mary Jane Kennedy. How many siblings did Angelina Grimke have? Bly went on to gain more fame in 1889, when she traveled around the world in an attempt to break the faux record of Phileas Fogg, the fictional title character of Jules Verne's 1873 novel, Around the World in Eighty Days. [67], A fictionalized account of Bly's around-the-world trip was used in the 2010 comic book Julie Walker Is The Phantom published by Moonstone Books (Story: Elizabeth Massie, art: Paul Daly, colors: Stephen Downer). One of her first undertakings for that paper was to get herself committed to the asylum on Blackwells (now Roosevelt) Island by feigning insanity. Gertrude Kasebier (photographer), Zitkala Sa, Sioux Indian and activist, c. 1898. She stayed up all night to give herself the wide-eyed look of a disturbed woman and began making accusations that the other boarders were insane. [14] It was customary for women who were newspaper writers at that time to use pen names. Her plan was to graduate and find a position as a teacher.