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Primary sourcePhotograph1889–1890

Nellie Bly Bids Farewell

1889–1890

A Library of Congress photograph showing Nellie Bly at the start of her 1889 journey around the world.

Shows Bly departing for her famous around-the-world journey, staged as a public spectacle by her newspaper.

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Black-and-white photograph of a woman standing in a full-length checked coat over a dark dress, raising a hat in one hand and holding a handbag in the other. A Library of Congress copyright stamp reading 'Feb 21 1890' appears at the bottom.
Nellie Bly bids farewell, publicity photograph for her around-the-world voyage, 1889. Library of Congress.

About this source

What it is

This photograph, held by the Library of Congress, shows journalist Nellie Bly dressed for travel, raising her hat as if in farewell. It was made as publicity for her 1889 trip to circle the globe and bears a copyright stamp from 1890.

Why it matters

The image documents how Bly's journey was staged as a public spectacle by the New York World, which used photographs like this to generate excitement among readers following her race against the clock.

Look closer

  • What is she doing in the photo, and why might that gesture have been chosen?
  • Why would a newspaper want readers to see her departing, not just her destination?
  • What does the copyright stamp tell you about how such images were controlled and distributed?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Nellie Bly on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Primary source

Nellie Bly, Journalist

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Front cover of the Official Program for the Woman Suffrage Procession, Washington, March 3, 1913. A painted illustration shows a woman on a white horse blowing a trumpet and carrying a purple banner reading 'Votes for Women', with the Capitol dome at right and two women walking behind. Text reads 'Official Program, Woman Suffrage, Procession, Washington D.C. March 3, 1913'.Document

Primary source

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National American Woman Suffrage Association · 3 March 1913

Black-and-white studio portrait of a woman standing in a checked wool coat with large buttons, a cap on her head, and a crocodile-skin travel bag in her right hand. A painted backdrop of foliage and a patterned carpet surround her. Printed title above reads Nellie Bly; caption below describes her trip around the earth in 72 days, 6 hours, and 11 minutes.Photograph

Primary source

Nellie Bly, The New York Correspondent

1889

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