Ruth Plumly Thompson (1891-1976)
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
An author of children's literature, she wrote 19 Oz books (1921-1939), including The Royal Book of Oz, in the series begun by L. Frank Baum with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She maintained the popularity of the stories beyond the 1939 classic MGM film. She lived and wrote here.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
When L. Frank Baum died in 1919, the beloved land of Oz might have faded away—except that Ruth Plumly Thompson took up his pen. From her Philadelphia home she wrote nineteen Oz books between 1921 and 1939, more than Baum himself, beginning with The Royal Book of Oz. Her steady output kept Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and their friends alive in children's imaginations right up to the 1939 MGM film that made them immortal.
Why it matters
Thompson helped turn one author's fairy tale into a lasting American mythology, and her long, prolific career marks a woman's central role in shaping the country's most enduring children's literature.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Bridgette Mayer3.3 mi away · 709 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- African American Museum in Philadelphia3.4 mi away · 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Congress Hall3.4 mi away · Philadelphia, PA
- Liberty Bell Center3.4 mi away · 526 Market Street, Philadelphia
- Independence Visitor Center3.5 mi away · 599 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Independence Hall3.5 mi away · 520 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Attractions
- American Bandstand0.3 mi away
- Philadelphia Zoo1.6 mi away
- Pennsylvania Railroad, Connecting Railway Bridge1.9 mi away
- Rocky Steps2.0 mi away
- Discovery Center at East Park Reservoir2.3 mi away
- The Universal Sphere2.4 mi away
Food & drink
- Philly Pretzel Factory3.3 mi away
- Munchie’s Cafe3.3 mi away · 728 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Burger King3.3 mi away
- Fat Salmon3.3 mi away · 719 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Talula's Daily3.3 mi away · 208 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
- Talula's Garden3.3 mi away · 210 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA
Places to stay
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City2.7 mi away · 237 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown - Center City2.7 mi away · 219 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Holiday Inn Express2.8 mi away · 1305-11 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Residence Inn Philadelphia Center City2.8 mi away · 1 East Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA
- The Notary Hotel2.8 mi away · 21 North Juniper Street, Philadelphia
- Fairfield Inn & Suites2.8 mi away · 261 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA
Places data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hours and details change — call ahead.
Own a business near here? Add it to the map.
Related people
- · Ruth Plumly Thompson
- · L. Frank Baum
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Laura Wheeler Waring (1887-1948)
Philadelphia, PA · est. 1992
Laura Wheeler Waring built her career as a portrait painter in an era when few Black women found a place in the American art world. Trained in Philadelphia and in France, she captured the faces of leading African Americans and led the art department at Cheyney State College, shaping generations of students. Her portraits now hang in the National Portrait Gallery and other major collections.
Girl Scout Cookies
Philadelphia, PA · est. 2001
On Armistice Day 1932, Philadelphia Girl Scouts baked cookies and sold them in the display windows of the local gas and electric company, turning a simple fundraiser into a local sensation. The idea spread through the city as a yearly tradition, and by 1936 the national Girl Scouts had adopted the cookie sale as an official program. What began as girls behind a store window grew into one of the most recognizable youth enterprises in the country.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia, PA · est. 2004
Founded in 1805 by Charles Willson Peale, sculptor William Rush, and fellow artists, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the oldest art museum and school in the nation. Its studios trained a remarkable roll of American masters, from Thomas Eakins and Mary Cassatt to Maxfield Parrish and Charles Demuth. The striking Neo-Gothic building that houses it was designed by Frank Furness and George Hewitt in 1876.
New Century Guild
Philadelphia, PA · est. 1997
Founded in 1882 by Eliza S. Turner, the New Century Guild became one of the oldest and largest organizations devoted to improving the lives of women in the paid workforce. As more women entered offices, shops, and factories in the industrializing city, the Guild offered education, classes, and mutual support. It moved through several Philadelphia addresses before settling at this location in 1906.