(born
Elizabeth Jane Cochrane) 1867-1922 Nellie
Bly was considered the "best reporter in America" according
to the New York Journal. She became a pioneer in journalism
and investigative reporting for Joesph Pulitzer's New York
World in the 1880's and 1890's. Nellie Bly worked for the
Pittsburgh Dispatch, New York World, and the New York
Journal. Nellie Bly is most famous for traveling around the
world in 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes. In 1888, Bly
spent 10 days in a mental hospital on Blackwell's Island in
NYC for a story. She was trying to gather information on the
treatment of patients. The mistreatment of patients was on
the front page of the New York World. Eventually, the insane
asylum was shut down, and the care of the mentally ill was
reformed. Bly was married in 1895 to Robert Seaman. At this
time, she retired from journalism. After her husband's
death, Bly started a new career by taking over her husbands
failing industries. She made these industries a success by
introducing the steel barrel to the distilling process in
America. For ten years, Bly managed two multimillion dollar
companies. She treated her workers very well, providing them
with gymnasiums, bowling allies, and health care. Bly
encouraged mental fitness by providing staffed libraries to
teach employee's how to read and pass exams for diplomas so
that they could enjoy intellectual pursuits and improve
their lives. After retiring as a business woman, Bly was
trapped in Europe as WWI began. However, she used her skills
as a reporter to cover the war from the European front. Bly
was a model of progress and achievement as a researcher,
reporter, industrialist, and a reformer for women of the
late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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