Landon, Margaret, 1903-1993.
Person
Biographical Statement
Margaret Landon (September 7, 1903 – December 4, 1993) was an American writer who became famous for Anna and the King of Siam, her 1944 novel of the life of Anna Leonowens. Her book on Leonowens was published in 1944 and became an instant bestseller. It eventually sold over a million copies and was published in more than twenty languages. In 1950, Mrs. Landon sold the musical play rights to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammenstein II, who created the musical The King and I from her book. A later work, Never Dies the Dream, about her own experiences, appeared in 1949.
Born as Margaret Dorothea Mortenson to Anenus Duabus "A.D." and Adelle Mortensen in Somers, Wisconsin, she was one of three daughters in a devout Methodist family. The family moved to Evanston, Illinois, where she graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1921. She attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, graduating in 1925. She taught school for a year, then married Kenneth Landon, who she knew from Wheaton, and in 1927 they signed up as Presbyterian missionaries to Thailand. Between 1927-1937, in addition to having three children, Margaret Schoeherr, Carol Pearson, and William, while also running a mission school in Trang, Landon read extensively about the country. During her readings, she learned about Leonowens. When the family returned to America in 1937, she soon began writing articles and then began researching material for a book on Leonowens. The family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1942 when her husband joined the United States Department of State as an expert adviser on Southeast Asia. In 1947, Kenneth authored "Southeast Asia, Crossroad of Religion," subsequently reprinted in 1969 and 1974. He also wrote "The Chinese in Thailand" and "Siam in Transition." Her 4th child, Kenneth, Jr., was born in Washington, D.C. He followed the lead of his parents and took up writing about his own field of interest, releasing a weighty (904 pages) tome, "God of Glory: The Promise of Relationship" in 1992. Margaret Landon was married sixty-seven years. She died in Alexandria, Virginia, December 4, 1993, aged 90, leaving 13 grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren. One of her great grandchildren is also a writer. Mrs. Landon is interred in Wheaton Cemetery in Illinois.
Citation:
Author: Wheaton College Archives & Special Collections staffCitation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_LandonFound in 573 Collections and/or Records:
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Being Misquoted in a Bangkok Newspaper (hour 56, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Bill and Peggy (hour 57, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC57-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Cooking and the Marketplace (hour 56, clip 19)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-19
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Friends Not Faithful to Write Letters (hour 57, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC57-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Her Discouragement on the Field (hour 56, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Housework, Market, Sewing (hour 56, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on King's Daughters Meeting, Eating Durian (hour 56, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Making Clothes and Underwear (hour 56, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Peggy's Play at School (hour 56, clip 14)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-14
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Problems with Cooks and Shopping (hour 57, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC57-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Problems with Siamese Christians (hour 57, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC57-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on the Background to Her "A Grave for Frankie" (hour 56, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on the Beginnings of Anna and the King of Siam (hour 57, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC57-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on the King of Siam's Trip to America for Surgery (hour 57, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC57-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on the Many Family Animals (hour 56, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on the McDaniels (hour 57, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC57-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on the Uniqueness of Sunday Mornings (hour 56, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Landon Chronicles (1930): Margaret on Welcoming Rude American Students as Guests (hour 56, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC56-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
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Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Bill's Social Instinct (hour 53, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC53-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Dr. Bulkley's Tiger Skulls, Tiger Stories, and Years Later (hour 54, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Dr. Toy (hour 54, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Dresses Given to Margaret (hour 54, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: First Christian Margaret Met in Phuket (hour 54, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Kenneth's Letter: After a Tour, and a Package from Eve (hour 52, clip 15)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC52-15
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Kenneth's Letter: Phuket, Tin Mine, Family (hour 53, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC53-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Kenneth's Letter to Adelle and Margaret's Comments (hour 52, clip 14)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC52-14
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Kids and Mrs. Bulkley's Rudeness (hour 54, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Length of Margaret's Stay in Phuket & the Sheehans (hour 53, clip 15)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC53-15
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret Felt Like She Didn't Do Anything Important (hour 55, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC55-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret Leaves Phuket (hour 54, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret Was in Charge of the School (hour 54, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's Letter: Discouragements on the Field (hour 55, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC55-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's Letter: First Date, Social Times in Wheaton (hour 55, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC55-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's Letter: Girls' School, Customs. Peggy (hour 53, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC53-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's Letter: Heat, Bedbugs, Bovees, Mrs. Bulkley (hour 53, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC53-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's Letter: Ladies' Aid, Nai Lai, Cashews, Phuket (hour 53, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC53-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's Letter: Language Exam, Madam Butterfly (hour 55, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC55-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's letter: Phuket (hour 54, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's Letter: School, Spirits, Peggy's Skin (hour 55, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC55-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Margaret's Letter: Trip to Phuket, a Marriage, Visit Nakhon (hour 53, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC53-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Mr Bulkley's Elephant (hour 55, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC55-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Some Thai People Wanted Kenneth to Be Their Overlord (hour 54, 11)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-11
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Stories from the War (hour 54, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC54-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: The Tin Dredge (hour 53, clip 14)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC53-14
Dates:
Digitized: 1930
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1931): Margaret on Her Journey Stateside Without Kenneth for Furlough (hour 77, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC77-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1931
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1934-1937): Margaret on "The Pakai Affair" (hour 62, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC62-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1934-1937
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1936): Kenneth on Brits Commenting on Defending Malaya and Burma (hour 65, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC65-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1936
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1937-1938): Margaret's Article at Medill and Related Stories (hour 55, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC55-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1937-1938
Found in:
Special Collections
Landon Chronicles (1938-1939): Margaret on Deciding Not to Go Back to Siam (hour 70, clip 11)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC70-11
Dates:
Digitized: 1938-1939
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1938): Margaret on an Article She Wrote and Published on Siam (hour 63, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC63-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1938
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Additional filters:
- Type
- Digital Record 568
- Unprocessed Material 3
- Collection 2
- Subject
- Basketball. 7
- Death. 7
- Marriage. 7
- King and I (Motion picture) 4
- Missionaries -- Thailand. 4
- Thailand -- Social life and customs. 4
- Tennis 3
- Articles. 2
- Audiotapes. 2
- Christmas. 2
- Correspondence. 2
- Football 2
- Legal documents. 2
- Photographs. 2
- Wheaton (Ill.) 2
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Alumni. 2
- Wheaton College (Ill.) -- Buildings. 2
- Administrative Records. 1
- American University (Washington, D.C.) -- Faculty. 1
- Bangkok (Thailand) 1
- Baptism. 1
- Bradley, Dan Beach, 1804-1873 -- Correspondence. 1
- Chinese -- Thailand. 1
- Christmas trees. 1
- Cole, Edna Sarah -- Correspondence. 1
- Davenport, Mary Frances -- Correspondence. 1
- Dengue. 1
- Dentistry. 1
- Diaries. 1
- DuPage County (Ill.) 1
- DuPage County (Ill.) -- History. 1
- DuPage Heritage Gallery (Ill.) -- Archives. 1
- Financial records. 1
- Golf 1
- Ham 1
- Influenza 1
- Interviews. 1
- Knitting 1
- Landon, Kenneth Perry, 1903- -- Archives. 1
- Landon, Margaret, 1903-1993 -- Archives. 1
- Lectures. 1
- Matoon, Stephen -- Correspondence. 1
- Methodism 1
- Microfilms. 1
- Minutes (Administrative records) 1
- Missions -- China -- 1900-1944. 1
- Missions -- China. 1
- Missions -- Soviet Union. 1
- Missions -- Theory. 1
- Monsoons 1
- Negritos 1
- Organ (Musical instrument) 1
- Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) -- Clergy. 1
- Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. -- Missions. 1
- Presbyterianism 1
- Religion and culture -- Thailand. 1
- Reviews (documents) 1
- Scarlatina 1
- Serials (publications) 1
- Sermons. 1
- Softball 1
- Southeast Asia -- Politics and government -- 1945- 1
- Stout 1
- Thailand -- Courts and courtiers. 1
- Thailand -- Description and travel. 1
- Thailand -- Religion. 1
- Theses. 1
- Videotapes. 1
- Volleyball 1
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