Woman of the Century: Elizabeth Cochrane

What it is

This is a biographical entry on Elizabeth Cochrane, known as Nellie Bly, written by Frances Willard and Mary Livermore and published in their 1893 book profiling notable American women. It describes her birth, family background, and reputation as an author, journalist, and traveler.

Why it matters

This entry shows how Nellie Bly was regarded by her contemporaries as one of the notable women of her era, placed alongside other accomplished American women in a widely read reference work. It reflects how her fame as a journalist and traveler was recognized during her own lifetime, and gives details about her family history as understood at the time.

Look closer

• What does it tell us that Bly was included in a book celebrating notable women of the century?
• How might family background, as described here, have shaped the way she was presented to readers?
• What kind of details does this biography emphasize, and what might it leave out?