Wizard of Oz Collection
Scope and Contents
The collection contains various Wizard of Oz related materials, including some original art by Bill Eubank for stories featured in Oz periodicals, such as Oziana, typescripts for stories based on Wizard of Oz characters, sheet music, maps of Oz, a board game, coloring books, china plates, pins, and comic books. The Miscellaneous Oz Materials series includes ephemera and newsletters from the International Wizard of Oz Club, activity books, calendars, and bibliographies, programs and materials from fan conventions, play programs, clippings, and miscellaneous Oz ephemera.
Dates
- Creation: 1902 - 1996
Creator
- Musser, Laura J. (Person)
- University of Minnesota. Children's Literature Research Collection (Organization)
- Eubank, Bill (Illustrator, Person)
- International Wizard of Oz Club (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.
Biographical / Historical
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and first published in 1900. The popularity of the book prompted numerous sequels (including additional sequels written by Ruth Plumly Thompson after Baum's death), and adaptatations (the most famous of which was the 1939 film starring Judy Garland). Throughout the 20th century the series inspired fan clubs, such as the International Wizard of Oz Club, fanfiction, conventions, and adaptations in various formats.
Laura Jane Musser was born in Minneapolis in 1916 and raised in Little Falls, Minnesota. She lived for a period in New York City, where she attended the Julliard School of Music and took lessons from prominent pianists. After returning to Little Falls she became active in the town's civic life, teaching piano, serving of the school board, and was involved in preservation projects, among other activities. Musser died in 1989. During her life she collected books and materials related to The Wizard of Oz, and was involved in groups such as the International Wizard of Oz Club. (Biographical source: "Laura Jane Musser and family papers" finding aid. Minnesota Historical Society. http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00355.xml.)
Extent
3 Cubic Feet (5 boxes [1 record carton, 1 hollinger box, 1 half hollinger box, and 2 flat boxes])
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection contains various Wizard of Oz related realia and ephemera.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Many of the materials in the collection were donated by Laura J. Musser, along with her collection of Wizard of Oz books, while other materials were collected by the Children's Literature Research Collections.
Separated Materials
Wizard of Oz books donated by Laura J. Musser are held in the CLRC book collection. Scattered editions of Baum related periodicals, including The Baum Bugle, the The Oz Gazette, The Oz Observer, and Oziana, are available in the periodicals collection. Both books and periodicals are findable via the library catalog.
Subject
- Title
- Wizard of Oz Collection, 1902-1996
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jim Eyer
- Date
- 9-7-04
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- June 2022: Collection reboxed, name updated from the "Laura J. Musser papers" to the "Wizard of Oz Collection," and collection guide updated by Caitlin Marineau.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
