"What Becomes of Babies?" - Nellie Bly - New York World

Hundreds and Hundreds of Little Ones Given Away Yearly; Met the Petted Darlings of the Rich, But the Infants Born to Shame; These Are the Ones That Are Given to Alien Hand; Regular Traffic in New-Born Babes; A Money-Making Trade in Humanity 'th

Byline: Nellie Bly; 1887-11-06; New York World; pages 10

Report: Exposing Predators

Tags: baby-buyer, baby-buying trade, Nellie Bly, New York World, posed as

"What name awakens such universally tender feelings as that of "baby"? Last week some philanthropist wrote to THE WORLD to suggest that I try to find out what becomes of all the baby waifs in this great city. Not the little ones who are cordially welcomed by proud parents, happy grandparents and a large circle of loving relatives, but the many hundreds of babies whose coming is greeted with grief anf whose unhappy mothers hide their little lives in shame."

Description:Bly poses as a woman in pursuit of a baby to buy in an exposé of the baby-buying trade.

Rights: Public domain.

Additional Media

Nellie Bly's article "What Becomes of Babies?" written for The New York World in 1887.