The Family of the Wizard: The Baums of Syracuse

About the Book

The Chinese say the journey of many miles begins with one small step, and this book is no different.  This work began with the need to know where L. Frank Baum´s family lived in 1856 when he was born.  That one small step led to the discovery of a family journey which meandered around Upstate New York, to the oil fields of Bradford, Pennsylvania and back, before the author left Syracuse for South Dakota in 1888.  

Baum was born in Chittenango, New York, a small village about 15 miles East of Syracuse, New York.  Baum´s parents moved to this village so his father and uncles could open a barrel factory.

Members of The Chittenango Foundation, a group of citizens who work to preserve the birthplace of the author, had no idea where the Baum Barrel Factory was located; previous searches had led to dead ends.  Rising to the challenge, this book began as a search for the Barrel Factory site.

But the story could not end at the Barrel Factory, for it was rich with history.  The Baums played  important roles at a time when Syracuse, New York was growing.  Baum´s brother fought in the Spanish-American War; an uncle fought in the Civil War.  Baum came from a family of actors, including an aunt who ran a school of elocution in Syracuse.

While those who love to learn all they can about L. Frank Baum will enojy this book, so will those of you who are fascinated by history.  

Extensively researched, and rich with historical detail, much of the history in these pages speaks for itself through letters, documents and news accounts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 2000, celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the publishing of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by reading about The Family of the Wizard:  The Baums of Syracuse, New York.

About the Author

Sue Ferrara holds a Ph.D. in Public Communications from the University of Maryland-College Park and a Masters degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.