Ruth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson was an influential American writer known for her contributions to the beloved "Wizard of Oz" series originally created by L. Frank Baum. After Baum's death in 1919, Thompson was contracted by the publisher Reilly and Lee to continue the Oz stories, ultimately writing nineteen additional novels that expanded the whimsical universe of Oz. Born in Philadelphia in 1891, she faced early adversity when her father passed away, prompting her to abandon a scholarship to Swarthmore College in order to support her family as a freelance writer. Thompson first gained recognition as the editor of the children's page for the Philadelphia Ledger, where she encouraged young readers to contribute their own stories and ideas.
In 1920, she received her landmark opportunity to write new Oz adventures, beginning with "The Royal Book of Oz," for which she was initially credited under Baum's name to ease the transition for the audience. Over her writing career, Thompson infused the series with romantic and international themes, collaborating closely with illustrator John R. Neill. Despite facing challenges, including legal disputes regarding her authorship, Thompson's work played a significant role in maintaining the popularity of the Oz franchise, and her legacy continues to be recognized, especially with some of her previously unpublished works being released posthumously. Thompson passed away in 1976, leaving a lasting impact on children's literature and the fantasy genre.
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Ruth Plumly Thompson
Writer
- Born: July 27, 1891
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Died: April 6, 1976
Biography
The Wizard of Oz series of books by L. Frank Baum is one of the most famous fantasy series in children’s literature. At the time of his death in 1919, Baum had written fourteen Oz books for his Chicago publisher Reilly and Lee. One of these books, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, served as the basis for the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film starring Judy Garland. What is less well known is that the Oz stories did not end with Baum’s death. Reilly and Lee contracted children’s writer Ruth Plumly Thompson to continue writing the Oz stories. By the time her last installment, Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz, was published in 1939, Thompson had made her unique mark on the series with an additional nineteen novels.
Plumly made her way in the world of freelance writing with a combination of talent, initiative, and tenacity. She was born in Philadelphia in 1891 to George Plumly Thompson and Amanda Elton (Shuff) Thompson. Her father moved the family to New York, where he became a night editor for The New York Times. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1895 when Thompson was only four years old. His death plunged the family into financial distress, with Thompson’s mother forced to raise four children in straitened circumstances. Although Thompson was an excellent student and received a scholarship offer to Swarthmore College, she turned it down to go to work as a freelance writer in order to help her family.
Her first substantial work as a writer came when she was offered the position of editor of the Sunday children’s page of the Philadelphia Ledger. She contributed original material to the weekly page from 1914 to 1921. She wrote fairy tales, a regular column on pets, another called the “Santa Claus Club,” and puzzles. She also encouraged contributions from child readers. Thompson later published much of this work in collections such as The Perhappsy Chaps: Stories, Pictures, Games, Puzzles, Hero Tales, Animal Lore, Plays, Fun, and Fancy and The Wonder Book.
The most significant turning point in Thompson’s career, however, occurred in 1920, when William F. Lee, vice president of publishers Reilly and Lee, invited Thompson to continue to write the Oz series initiated by L. Frank Baum. Thompson, delighted by the offer, nevertheless conducted a hardheaded negotiation with the publisher and with the Baum family to preserve a substantial portion of the royalties for continuing the Oz tradition.
The first Oz book completely created by Thompson, The Royal Book of Oz, was actually credited to L. Frank Baum because the publishers wanted to make the public believe that Thompson was merely reworking original Baum materials left incomplete at his death. The publishers also hoped that this subterfuge would help the reading public make the transition from Baum to Thompson. In Thompson’s later Oz books, published at the rate of one a year until 1939, Thompson was credited as the author with the qualifying line, “founded on and continuing the famous stories by L. Frank Baum.” John R. Neill, who illustrated the original Oz books, also worked closely with Thompson to illustrate all of her Oz books.
In later years, legal wrangling with her publisher and with the Baum family obscured her contribution to the Oz legacy, but Thompson is often credited with helping to perpetuate the popularity of the series and with bringing more romantic and international elements to Baum’s original concept. Some of Thompson’s previously unpublished Oz books came out in the 1970’s, preceding her death in 1976.