[42] Bly was one of four journalists honored with a US postage stamp in a "Women in Journalism" set in 2002. Nellie Bly, pseudonym of Elizabeth Cochrane, also spelled Cochran, (born May 5, 1864, Cochrans 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. Nellie Bly Wikipedia. How many siblings did Warren G. Harding have? The investigative nature of her articles and her cry for womens rights issues did not go too well with the editors of the newspaper who pushed her into the so-called women's pages to cover fashion, society, and gardening. [29][30] During her travels around the world, Bly went through England, France (where she met Jules Verne in Amiens), Brindisi, the Suez Canal, Colombo (in Ceylon), the Straits Settlements of Penang and Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. Remembering Nellie Bly, Rabblerouser and Pioneer of Investigative She also became renowned for her investigative and undercover reporting, including posing as a sweatshop worker to expose poor working conditions faced by women. Nellie Bly: Daredevil, Reporter, Feminist. [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]. How many sisters did Susan B. Anthony have? On May 5, 2015, the Google search engine produced an interactive "Google Doodle" for Bly; for the "Google Doodle" Karen O wrote, composed, and recorded an original song about Bly, and Katy Wu created an animation set to Karen O's music. She recounted her adventures in her final book, Around the World in 72 Days. Goodman, Matthew. Shortly after her first article was published, Elizabeth changed her pseudonym from Lonely Orphan Girl to Nellie Bly, after a popular song. Blys husband died in 1903, leaving her in control of the massive Iron Clad Manufacturing Company and American Steel Barrel Company. Inside Nellie Bly's 10 Days in a Madhouse - Biography (New York, N.Y.), 14 Nov. 1889. 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. She stayed there until the World rescued her ten days later. All Rights Reserved. A progressive social reformer and activist, Jane Addams was on the frontline of the settlement house movement and was the first American woman to wina Nobel Peace Prize. The show ran for 16 performances. Promenading with Lunatics: Nellie Bly's Brave Undercover - Medium All rights reserved. [13] Her first article for the Dispatch, titled "The Girl Puzzle", argued that not all women would marry and that what was needed were better jobs for women. One of her first undertakings for that paper was to get herself committed to the asylum on Blackwells (now Roosevelt) Island by feigning insanity. Blys successful career reached new heights in 1889 when she decided to travel around the world after reading the popular book by Jules Verne, Around the World in 80 Days. This prompted Elizabeth to write a response under the pseudonym "Lonely Orphan Girl". 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". claimed that women were best served by conducting domestic duties and called the working woman "a monstrosity." [43][44], In 2019, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation put out an open call for artists to create a Nellie Bly Memorial art installation on Roosevelt Island. 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. "Nellie Bly." Well never share your email with anyone else, Nellie Bly became a star journalist by going undercover as a patient at a New York City mental health asylum in 1887 and exposing its terrible conditions in the, Bly looked for work to help support her family, but found fewer opportunities than her less-educated brothers. At the . 10 Days in a Madhouse: Directed by Timothy Hines. [47], The New York Press Club confers an annual Nellie Bly Cub Reporter journalism award to acknowledge the best journalistic effort by an individual with three years or fewer of professional experience. 1750. The story of an investigative journalist who used her career to shed light on the horrors of urban life and break gender stereotypes. [15] "Mad Marriages" was published under the byline of Nellie Bly, rather than "Lonely Orphan Girl". How many siblings did Mary Todd Lincoln have? In 1887, Bly relocated to New York City and began working for the New York World, the publication that later became famously known for spearheading "yellow journalism." Elizabeths investigations brought attention to inequalities and often motivated others to take action. How many children did Coretta Scott King have? The Babysitter Chronicles Series de libros - eBooks | Rakuten Kobo Here are 10 facts about Nellie Bly. She uncovered the abuse of women by male police officers, identified an employment agency that was stealing from immigrants, and exposed corrupt politicians. Christina Ricci starred as Bly and Transparent's Judith Light played the role of the head nurse. Nellie Bly's stint in the facility wasn't necessarily how she envisioned making a name for herself. 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 Lucretia Garfield have? 2022. www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/nellie-bly. Blys literary success proliferated when she turned the fictional tale of Jules Vernes 1873 novel Around the World in Eighty Days, into reality. [14] It was customary for women who were newspaper writers at that time to use pen names. Bly went on to patent several inventions related to oil manufacturing, many of which are still used today. Her plan was to graduate and find a position as a teacher. 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. PDF The Sibling Society Robert Bly - Spenden.medair.org The town was founded by her father, Michael Cochran, who provided for his family by working as a judge and landowner. How many siblings did Sophie Germain have? Male 4 November 1848-29 June 1903 LHVT-N79. Still only 21, she was determined "to do something no girl has done before. In this lesson, students will experience the tragedy of the commons through a team activity in which they compete for resources. The second-season episode "New York City" featured her undercover exploits in the Blackwell's Island asylum,[58] while the third-season episode "Journalism" retold the story of her race around the world against Elizabeth Bisland.[59]. Her work, which was later reprinted as a book titled Ten Days in a Mad House spurred a large-scale investigation of the institution as well as the much-needed improvements in health care. Elizabeth hoped the massive newspaper industry of New York City would be more open-minded to a female journalist and left Pittsburgh. Her first articles, on conditions among working girls in Pittsburgh, slum life, and other similar topics, marked her as a reporter of ingenuity and concern. Nellie Bly (U.S. National Park Service) Journalist Nellie Bly began writing for the Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1885. Feb. 1, 2000; Accessed April 27, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1601472. [1] [2] Her reporting on life in the asylum shocked the public and led to increased funding to improve conditions in the institution. Lutes, Jean Marie. There have been claims that Bly invented the barrel,[35] but the inventor was registered as Henry Wehrhahn (U.S. In her later years, Bly returned to journalism, covering World War I from Europe and continuing to shed light on major issues that impacted women. Activist journalists like Elizabethcommonly known as muckrakerswere an important part of reform movements. New York, Nellie Bly Press, 2017. Bly's expos, published in the World soon after her return to reality, was a massive success. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story: Directed by Karen Moncrieff. This lesson will teach you about Nellie Bly, her adventures, her inventions, and why she wrote under a fake name! (Bly's record was beaten in 1890 by George Francis Train, who finished the trip in 67 days.). Full_Name: Elizabeth Jane Cochran. [2], Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born May 5, 1864,[3] in "Cochran's Mills", now part of Burrell Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. "Nellie Bly." However, he also misspelled the name, and she became Nellie Bly.. Early in life, she was compelled to speak truth to power when she testified on her mother's behalf against an abusive stepfather. Her mother was from a wealthy Pittsburgh family. As was the trend then, women writers wrote under pen names. 1985.212. National Women's History Museum, 2022. When she returned, she was again assigned to the society page and promptly quit in protest. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Her fathers death when she was quite young had left the Cochran family with meagre means. She began her career in 1885 in her native Pennsylvania as a reporter for the Pittsburgh Dispatch, to which she had sent an angry letter to the editor in response to an article the newspaper had printed entitled What Girls Are Good For (not much, according to the article). [1] She was a pioneer in her field and launched a new kind of investigative journalism. Her report of the horrifyingly appalling conditions prevailing inside the asylum was an eye-opener for the general public and authorities alike. Writing for a newspaper wasn't considered "ladylike," and a fake name provided a veil of respectability between writer and public. University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center. How many siblings did Louisa May Alcott have? [7] Michael Cochran died in 1870, when Elizabeth was 6. America's first investigative journalist got her start in an asylum Her father, Michael Cochran, owned a lucrative mill and served as associate justice of Armstrong County. For a time, she was one of the leading women industrialists in the United States. Unfortunately, Bly did not manage the finances well and fell victim to fraud by employees that led the firm to declare bankruptcy. How many siblings does Bessie Coleman have? Bly crafted a fiery rebuttal that grabbed the attention of the paper's managing editor, George Madden, who, in turn, offered her a position. She began working for the New York Evening Journal in 1920 and reported on numerous events, including the growing womens suffrage movement. The editor chose "Nellie Bly", after the African-American title character in the popular song "Nelly Bly" by Stephen Foster. How many siblings did Patricia Bath have? [14] Her second article, "Mad Marriages", was about how divorce affected women. How many sisters did Charles Dickens have? For the first 20 or so years of her life, Nellie Bly was known not as Nellie, nor as Elizabeth Jane Cochran, which was her birth name, but as "Pink," due to her fondness for the color, according to New World Encyclopedia. Abrams is now one of the most prominent African American female politicians in the United States. Chicago- Norwood, Arlisha and Mariana Brandman. How many siblings did Mary McLeod Bethune have. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Who Was Nellie Bly and What Was She Famous For? - WorldAtlas Between 1889 and 1895, Nellie Bly also penned twelve novels for The New York Family Story Paper. Her trip around the world in 72 days brought her even further fame. She often exposed the poor working conditions faced by women. Oportunidades Iguales Para Las Mujeres En El Trabajo y La Educaccion, Womens Strike for Equality, New York, Fifth Avenue, 1970, Eugene Gordon photograph collection, 1970-1990. During her early journalism career, Bly wrote Six Months in Mexico (1888), which describes her time as a foreign correspondent in Mexico in 1885. Sherwood, D., Gabriel, R., Brescovit, A. D. & Lucas, S. M. (2022). Life Story: Elizabeth Cochrane, aka Nellie Bly (1864-1922), Women & The American Story, New-York Historical Society Library and Museum. Died: January 27, 1922, New York City, NY. Elizabeths writing career started abruptly and unintentionally. Nellie Blys first major work as a reporter was when she did the asylum expose for New York World. Her work Ten Days in a Mad House was a phenomenal success and won her great acclaim. Ten Days in a Madhouse: The Woman Who Got Herself Committed To sustain interest in the story, the World organized a "Nellie Bly Guessing Match" in which readers were asked to estimate Bly's arrival time to the second, with the Grand Prize consisting at first of a trip to Europe and, later on, spending money for the trip. In her first act of stunt journalism for the World, Elizabeth pretended to be mentally ill and arranged to be a patient at New Yorks insane asylum for the poor, Blackwells Island. And much of this has to do with her firsthand account of life in an insane asylum. The newspapers editor, George Madden, saw potential in her piece and invited her to work for the Dispatch as a reporter. On train, ship, rickshaw, horse, and donkey . She also prioritized the welfare of the employees, providing health care benefits and recreational facilities. In 1911, she returned to journalism as a reporter for the New York Evening Journal. [15] In one report, she protested the imprisonment of a local journalist for criticizing the Mexican government, then a dictatorship under Porfirio Daz. Madden immediately offered her a job as a columnist. Answer and Explanation: Nellie Bly had 14 siblings (10 half-siblings; 4 full blooded siblings). Working for Joseph Pulitzer's New York World, Bly gained national fame for her undercover work as a patient in a women's mental asylum in New York City. With her courageous and bold act, she cemented her legacy as one of the most notable journalists in history. Read free previews and reviews from booklovers. How many siblings did Deborah Sampson have? His farm, mill, and the surrounding area became known as "Cochran's Mill" (part of a suburb of Pittsburgh). Just over seventy-two days after her departure from Hoboken, Bly was back in New York. She was arrested when she was mistaken for a British spy. [20] Penniless after four months, she talked her way into the offices of Joseph Pulitzer's newspaper the New York World and took an undercover assignment for which she agreed to feign insanity to investigate reports of brutality and neglect at the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island, now named Roosevelt Island. Elizabeth too began writing under the pen name Nellie Bly after the Stephen Foster song. The Crazy True Story Of Nellie Bly - Grunge.com Omissions? The Sibling Society The Sibling Society Reconsidering the Siblings, a Critical Study of Robert Bly's The Sibling Society The Sibling Society Mirabai Iron John Leaping Poetry A Little Book on the Human Shadow Morning Poems The Teeth-Mother Naked at Last Growing Yourself Back Up Talking Into the . Michael Cochrans rise from mill worker to mill owner to judge meant his family lived very comfortably. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, mission specialist, carries her son Wilson Miles-Ochoa following the STS-96 crew return at Ellington Field. Young Elizabeth attended boarding school but just for a term before dropping out due to insufficient funds. Elizabeths mother soon remarried, but quickly divorced her second husband because of abuse, and relocated the family to Pittsburgh. [33] Bly was 31 and Seaman was 73 when they married. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Nellie (her pen name) is the best known of these children, and there is not much information about her 14 siblings. She moved to New York City in 1886, but found it extremely difficult to find work as a female reporter in the male-dominated field. Her New York debut, at age 23, was a harrowing two-part expos of the Woman's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's (now Roosevelt) Island for which she had feigned insanity and fooled a battalion of Bellevue doctors and curious reporters from competing papers to get inside. For the same, she feigned insanity to get into the asylum and have a first-hand experience of the treatment meted out to patients. [32] In 1893, though still writing novels, she returned to reporting for the World. ACTIVISM AND SOCIAL CHANGE; AMERICAN IDENTITY AND CITIZENSHIP, Major support for Women & the American Story provided by, Lead support for New-York Historicals teacher programs provided by. Nellie Bly - Bio, Age, Wiki, Facts and Family - in4fp.com 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. Nellie Bly had 14 siblings (10 half-siblings; 4 full blooded siblings). 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. It was initially published as a series of articles for the New York World. The story of Nellie Bly, a female journalist who willingly got herself admitted to an insane asylum in 1890s New York so she could write about the experience and expose the injustices. The New York World published daily updates on her journey and the entire country followed her story. Chapultepec Castle, Mexico City. A young journalist looks behind the curtain of a nearby mental hospital, only to uncover the grim and gruesome acts they bestow upon their "patients". When Bly was six, her father died suddenly and without a will. Smithsonian Institute Archives Image # SIA 2010-1509. 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. Also Known As: Elizabeth Jane Cochran, Elisabeth Cochrane Seaman, place of death: New York City, United States, Notable Alumni: Indiana University Of Pennsylvania, education: Indiana University Of Pennsylvania, See the events in life of Nellie Bly in Chronological Order, (Journalist and Writer Known for Her Record-BreakingTrip Around the Worldin 72 Days), http://www.newseum.org/2015/03/17/unsung-heroes-nellie-bly/, http://womenshistory.about.com/od/blynellie/p/Nellie-Bly.htm, https://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2015/01/25/Honoring-Nellie-Bly-s-trip-125-years-ago-a-British-woman-retraces-her-steps-around-the-globe/stories/201501250014, https://www.biography.com/people/nellie-bly-9216680. For ten days Elizabeth experienced the physical and mental abuses suffered by patients. On January 25, 1890, the world waited for a young reporter named Nellie Bly to arrive back home. However, Bly became increasingly limited in her work at the Pittsburgh Dispatch after her editors moved her to its women's page, and she aspired to find a more meaningful career. She is often confused with the journalist Nellie Bly (1864-1922). However, after only a year and a half, Elizabeth ran out of money and could no longer afford the tuition. In 1895, Bly married millionaire industrialist Robert Seaman, who was 40 years her senior, and she became legally known as Elizabeth Jane Cochrane Seaman. The majority of her writings were literary works. How many siblings did Eleanor of Aquitaine have? Elizabeths report about Blackwells Island earned her a permanent position as an investigative journalist for the World. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. During her travels around the world, she went through England, France, Brindisi, the Suez Canal, Colombo, the Straits Settlements of Penang and Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. Nellie Bly - Story, Timeline & Facts - Biography Her world tour made her a celebrity. In 1880, her mother moved the family to Pittsburg, and Nellie Bly caught the eye of "The Pittsburg Dispatch" editor George Madden, when she wrote a response to the article "What Girls Are Good For." She was 57 years of age. A fireboat named Nellie Bly operated in Toronto, Canada, in the first decade of the 20th century. Into the Madhouse with Nellie Bly: Girl Stunt Reporting in the Late Nineteenth Century America. American Quarterly, 54 no 2. A steam tug named after Bly served as a fireboat in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. [11], Burdened again with theater and arts reporting, Bly left the Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1887 for New York City.