Scope and Contents
The L. Frank Baum Collection contains some of Lyman Frank Baum's writings, production reviews, programs and advertisements, plus correspondence and other papers related to the collecting, publishing, and producing of his works. The material spans the dates 1883-1982.
The collection consists of twenty-nine folders in two boxes. Baum's writings (the first thirteen folders ) are arranged alphabetically and filed with material associated with the production of his works. Folder three contains a typed carbon copy of The Maid of Arran, folder six a fragment of the manuscript for The Tin Woodman of Oz, and folder thirteen a photocopy of the typescript for The Woggle-Bug Book. The items associated with the production of these and other works by Baum include newspaper and magazine reviews, theater programs, advertisements, and a few song book covers. Many of these items are copies (from negative microfilm) of material that was previously removed from a scrapbook. The remaining folders contain alphabetically arranged correspondence, some International Wizard of Oz Club material, and other papers relating to book collecting. Box two contains oversized items.
Most of the letters are addressed to Hogan but other recipients include fellow Baumanians, Jacob Blanck, Stewart Robb, and Mrs. Robert Ford. It was from Mrs. Ford that Hogan purchased The Tin Woodman of Oz manuscript on August 31, 1961.
There is one letter by Baum, an undated reproduction, that discusses the unknown recipient's writings, and a microfilm copy of a greeting card to his grandson. The more illuminating letters from Baum's wife Maud and his sons Frank and Robert contain anecdotes from Baum's life and information about the production of Baum's books on stage or in film.
The other letters give information about Baum's use of pseudonyms, variations in Baum's book titles and covers, and general bibliographic data.
The International Wizard of Oz Club material provides a glimpse into the mass-appeal of Baum's stories. The collection concludes with some book lists with prices. Oversize material, primarily advertisements and reviews associated with Baum's writings, is located at the end of the collection.
Charles Beecher Hogan's large L. Frank Baum collection is cataloged as printed material for The Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library and includes books, articles, scrapbooks, and illustrated games.
Dates
- 1883-1982 (inclusive)
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The L. Frank Baum Collection is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Charles Beecher Hogan in 1968, 1977, 1979, and 1982.
Extent
2 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The papers contain writings, production reviews, programs and advertisements, plus correspondence and other papers concerned with the collecting, publishing, and producing of Baum and his works.
LYMAN FRANK BAUM (1856-1919)
Lyman Frank Baum, author and playwright known for his children's books about the "Land of Oz," was born in 1856. His early career was in publishing, reporting, and editing for the Rose Lawn Home Journal (Syracuse, N. Y.), the World (New York City), and the Pioneer (Aberdeen, S. D.). In 1897 he established the Show Window, a periodical for window trimmers, and served as its editor until 1902.
In the meantime he dabbled in poetry and prose. His first dramatic work was The Maid of Arran, produced successfully in 1881 in New York City. His first popular book, written in 1899, was Father Goose: His Book. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published in 1900 and produced on stage in 1901; altogether Baum wrote fourteen "Oz" books.
He published many other books as well, under such pseudonyms as Floyd Akers, Laura Bancroft, John Estes Cooke, Capt. Hugh Fitzgerald, Suzanne Metcalf, Schuyler Staunton, and Edith Van Dyne.
Baum married Maud Gage in 1882 and had four children, Frank Joslyn, Robert Stanton, Harry Neal, and Kenneth Gage. He died at his home in Hollywood, California on May 6, 1919.
See: The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Vol. XVIII, pp. 331-2, for a list of Baum's books. See also: The Dictionary of AmericanBiography, Vol. I., pp. 59-60.
- Title
- Guide to the L. Frank Baum Collection
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- by Ellen Zak Danforth
- Date
- July 1987
- Description rules
- Beinecke Manuscript Unit Archival Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.