Land of Oz

1856-1919. Frank L Baum was one of seven children born in New York State. The family was wealthy, his father having made money in oil. Frank rejected his first name ‘Lyman’ and used his middle name from early on. His love and fascination for writing was shown when his father bought him a printing press and together with his brother created The Rose Lawn Home Journal – which told news and stories from local and family life. He worked as a journalist from 1891, and in 1900 published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz which was made into a musical shortly after. Frank L. Baum had a love and interest in the theatre which throughout his life caused much financial difficulty. After his death, in 1939 The Wizard of Oz was made into a film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, which became iconic and immortalised Baum’s creations.