Elizabeth J. Cochrane

Elizabeth Cochrane or Nellie Bly

The 1880’s was a time when men ruled all, and when women were expected to be cooks and maids, housewives and mothers. But in the midst of all of this, a heroic woman named Nellie Bly inspired others to reach for the stars and break out of their social molds. Nellie Bly was born as Elizabeth Cochran in 1864. Later on she changed her last name to Cochrane because she thought that the “e” added sophistication. Elizabeth had a very sad childhood due to the death of her father followed by her mother's remarriage which, full of abuse, ultimately ended in bitter divorce. Her writing career kicked off in 1885 when she mailed an angry response to a sexist editorial in the Pittsburgh Dispatch. Shortly after, she chose the pen name of Nellie Bly, and became the Dispatch’s first female journalist (Paperback Libraries). Nellie Bly was a hero because she was selfless, courageous, and passionate. She inspired everyone who read her pieces to soar beyond expectations, and to achieve the impossible.

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Bly did not use her abilities to write for fashion magazines or advice columns, she used them to help those living hard lives. By tackling heavy, controversial topics such as divorce, servitude, insanity, cruelty, abuse, and much more, Bly established herself as a celebrity and a hero. Instead of interviewing people living the lives she was reporting on, she decided to spend time undercover pretending to be people like themselves. In order to get realistic, first-hand accounts of her topic, she spent time working for factories, and raised awareness on the low wages and long shifts women and children were forced to work (Encyclopedia of World Biography). In 1886, she traveled to Mexico, where she wrote on those living below the poverty line and on their corrupt government. After six months, Bly had to flee in fear of arrest from speaking against the government. Upon her return, she published a book called Six Months in Mexico about her trip. But her most daring feat was yet to come. In 1887, Bly selflessly faked insanity to report on life in an insane asylum called Blackwell’s Island. Subjecting herself to ten days of abuse, moldy food, and cruel nurses, Nellie Bly earned money for better food and staff, as well as awareness of the horrific lives lived inside the walls of Blackwell’s Island (Phillips) and Rootsweb.ancestry.com). These incredible acts of kindness and bravery prove that not only was Nellie Bly an incredible journalist with the ability to capture the attention of many readers across America, but she was also a hero, a philanthropist, and a generally good person.

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In such a sexist time in America, Nellie Bly was truly an inspiration to all women who read her work. One of her most famous challenges was a trip around the world modeled after the trip taken by Phileas Fogg in Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 days. With eyes all eagerly waiting for updates on her journey, Nellie Bly returned safely home after traveling around the world in just 72 days. (DISCovering Authors) This fantastic journey was more than a publicity stunt. Such an amazing feat along with the publication of her book Around the World in 72 Days showed women that they could do anything that they wanted to, and that within them was the ability to become anything that they wanted to be. After accomplishing so much as a journalist, Bly gained respect for all female journalists. In 1895 she married Robert Seamen who was 42 years her senior. When he died in 1904, she took over his company which manufactured steel barrels. Having no experience in business, this endeavor left her broke. Out of money and fame, Bly returned to writing and reported on WWII until she died of pneumonia in 1922. (Encyclopedia of World Biography). With the courage to try new things and the inhuman resilience that allowed her to touch so many lives, Elizabeth Cochrane will forever be remembered as Nellie Bly- female hero of the 1800’s.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Works Consulted~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Cochrane, Elizabeth (1867-1922)." DISCovering Authors. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 5 Feb. 2010 Frederick, Julie Foegen. "Seaman, Elizabeth Cochrane (1864-1922)." DISCovering U.S. History. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Lavalle, Matthew. “Cochrane, Elizabeth (Nellie Bly). “www.paperbook.libraries.psu. Spring 2007. Web. 29 Jan 2010 Philips, April. “Biography of Miss Elizabeth Cochrane”. http://www.pagenweb.org/~somerset/bios/Cochrane_www.pagenweb,org. November 25, 2007.the somerset county, Web. 29. Jan 2010. Seaman, Elizabeth Cochrane (1864-1922)." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Suzanne M. Bourgoin. 2nd ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998. 17 vols.Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. DEL NORTE HIGH SCHOOL. 21 Feb. 2010