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What people are saying:
“An extraordinary
amalgam of fascinating reading, both for the Judy Garland scholar and for any
scholar or layman anywhere who revels in genealogy and American history. The
back stories, anecdotes, and detail about the nineteenth century are endlessly
captivating. And in many places, the Civil War material--drawn from legitimate
letters, newsprint, and city, town, village, and county records of the time --reads like
an elaboration and expansion of "Gone with
the Wind.” Great stuff!”
- John Fricke, Garland and Oz historian
“Here is an excursion into the past of the Gum family that takes you to 18th century Tennessee, where Michelle
Russell’s impeccable research allows you to feel you are there. Frontier America comes alive in this rich tale of the paternal side of the yet-to-be-born Frances
Gumm (a.k.a. Judy Garland). No author has ever unearthed so much information about the origins of Frank Gumm (that’s how the family name had been written until this remarkable
book), and no Garland authority has ever shown such tender
loving care in describing the genealogy of one of the great talents of the 20th century. This is a book not just for admirers of Judy Garland, but
for those interested in American history from the angle of one of its most seminal families.”
- Lawrence Schulman, Producer
Judy Garland: Child of Hollywood (RPCD/Nimbus); Judy Garland à Paris (Europe 1/RTE); Judy
Garland: Classiques et inédits 1929-1956 (Frémeaux & Associés); and a forthcoming box-set
to be released by JSP Records.
“Ms. Russell has done an excellent job of bringing to life the people and events of the 18th and 19th centuries
in Middle Tennessee. She really makes you feel a personal and in-depth connection with
those years. Reading "From Tennessee to Oz" was like stepping back in time and visiting with our ancestors, seeing
them in their day-to-day activities as if I had actually been there. I was particularly interested in the Crosthwait family history,
but I learned a tremendous amount about the other families that are connected to Judy Garland's family. I feel that I know
them all personally now! Ms. Russell has done an unbelievable amount of research in putting this book together. It will surely become one of the foremost references on the Gumm and other families.”
- Carolyn
Whittenburg, Tennessee
“What a delightful
and didactic book! The author has done a tremendous job of researching the Gum(m) family and their neighbors! It was especially sobering to view the Civil War
from the southern perspective. Though, no matter which side your ancestors come from the Civil War is a dark time in our history...with that said, Ms. Russell
gives warm and compassion to all the characters in her story. The realism she pieced together after so many years was truly awesome!
I look forward to the
sequel!”
- Polly Edington, Minnesota
“Received
my book today!!! Just can't put it down. I only had to read a few
pages
and found more information there...than in all my years of searching out
the
Gum/Gumm families. What a "JOY"....thank you so much for this. I plan
on
sharing your hard work with every family member I know and hopefully will
"find''
due to your effort. Oh, how I wished my grandfather, Elbert B. Gumm
were
alive to read this. I can hear him and the memories he had of Tennessee
as
I read your words. Thank you again.”
- Rebecca Howell, Texas
I was thrilled to get Russell's long awaited "From Tennessee to Oz,"
and could not put it down once started. Even though my primary attraction
was the history of the Gumm family, I found rich details in her historical
research that would engage anyone interested in the old South. For me,
she brought to life both the hardships of the late 18th century settlers
who came over the Cumberland Gap and ravages of the Civil War, as it
affected the inhabitants of central Tennessee."
- Richard Gumm
Thank you for your comments!
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