After Étienne died in 1875 at 48,[1] Louise Bourbonnaud decided to continue her philanthropy and follow her passion for travel allowing her to discover and write about the world and its inhabitants.

Intrepid, determined, reckless and eager to learn, she traveled alone across the American continents (the North in 1885, the Center and the Caribbean in 1886, and finally the South in 1887).

At each stop, she sought out members of the working class who she called "the most humble people," and took copious notes for publication on her return to Paris.

In her travel writings, she made a point of contradicting[3] prevailing social attitudes toward adventurous women.How impressionable is woman’s nature!

An eminent Parisian, Louise Bourbonnaud did not hesitate to use her many, highly placed friends to rally support for the most disadvantaged in the capital city.