Did you know that L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was likely influenced by the women’s suffrage movement? When he was writing his fantasy novel in 1900, it was unusual to have strong female characters such as Dorothy and Glinda. His mother-in-law was a feminist who collaborated with Rochester’s Susan B. Anthony.
Baum grew up in Syracuse and Chittenango, a suburb, which celebrates him with a yearly festival called Oz-Stravaganza.
For more about these connections to Oz, and about an exhibit based on the “Wizard of Oz” movie that opens in Rochester Jan. 21, check out my stories in today’s “Democrat and Chronicle”:
- ‘Wizard of Oz’ has connections to Rochester, Syracuse, http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120115/LIVING/201150302/Wizard-of-Oz-The-Strong?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|s
- The exhibit: Bringing Oz to a new generation, http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20120115/LIVING/201150303/Bringing-Oz-new-generation?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Home|p
Chris Swingle Farnum is based in Rochester, NY.
Chris Swingle Farnum, writer/editor 
It was an eye-opener when, as a child, I saw that there was more than the one Oz book! Like a miracle before me, budding reader that I was – still am, I guess… Thus I read your articles with LOTS of interest.
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