See if any of this sounds familiar. As a child, Baum was an imaginative loner who spent much of his time with imaginary friends. He was a shy, meek child, (see: not courageous)

And was even diagnosed as having a weak heart…

You’re listening to Dorothy’s companions from the rare original 1939 Decca Recording.

Baum’s stories became books in 1900 with publication of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. He wrote 14 Oz books altogether, and many other stories for children. He was billed as the Royal Historian of Oz, claiming that Dorothy and Princess Ozma detailed accounts of the tales via wireless telegraph.

Syracuse University Library’s Special Collections Research center houses L. Frank Baum’s personal papers. They contain publishing history, correspondence and much more.

For an extended look at the Papers, click right here!