It is interesting how history is so very forgetful. Those that deserve a place in the memory of the past can be forgotten so easily, while other figures who are not so profound become household names.
Elizabeth Cochran-Seaman, better known by her professional
name "Nellie Bly", was a journalist and reporter for the New York
World, Pulitzer's newspaper. It's
important to recognize that Elizabeth was a woman, in her 20's...working for a
high profile newspaper...in the 1880's.
This in itself is an achievement...aside from the fact that she was a
highly successful investigative reporter...perhaps it can be said that she laid
the groundwork for this style of journalism, the 19th century equivalent of
Geraldo Rivera.
Wanting to disprove or verify rumors of corruption and abuse
at New York City's preeminent institution for mental health, Nellie convinced
her paper to let her do an undercover story at the asylum on Blackwell's
Island. This is her story...