nellie bly was born elizabeth jane cochrane.  

in the 1880s and 1890s, as a reporter for joseph pulitzer's new york world, she became a pioneer in journalism and investigative reporting.

before the muckrakers of the early 20th century publicized corruption and before the investigative reporters of today sought out the story behind the story, bly paved the way to valuable journalism as one of the first to "go behind the scenes" to expose society's ills. 

at some personal danger, she had herself committed to a mental institution for 10 days so she could study firsthand how the mentally ill were being treated. as a result of her expose, the care of the mentally ill was reformed.  as the new york journal recognized, bly was considered the "best reporter in america."

bly "retired" from journalism after her marriage to robert seaman in 1895, but embarked on a new career after her husband's death 10 years later.  taking over his failing industries, she introduced the steel barrel to the distilling process in america and made his companies a huge success.  for almost 10 years, she managed two multimillion-dollar companies.  more important, she recognized the value of treating her workers well. 

she ran her plants as social experiments, initiating physical fitness by providing gymnasiums, bowling alleys and health care, and mental fitness by providing staffed libraries to teach employees how to read and to pass examinations for diplomas so they could enjoy intellectual pursuits and improve their lives.  then, after retiring as a businesswoman, she was trapped in europe while vacationing there as world war i broke out.  she used her skills as a reporter to cover the war from the eastern front.

as a researcher, reporter, industrialist and reformer, bly was a model of progress and achievement for women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

at age 25, she was the most famous female in the world.  in the end, the girl who could hardly spell, was claimed the best female reporter in the world.

  around the world in 72 days video by pbs.org
  member of the national women's hall of fame