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 (1907): Margaret Shares Her Cream Puff (hour 12, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1907
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1907): Margaret's Grandfather Estberg's Death (hour 12, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1907
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1908-1909): Margaret Had Two Kittens (hour 12, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1908-1909
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1908-1909): Margaret's Family Moved, Taking Over a Boarding House (hour 12, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1908-1909
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1908-1917): Margaret's First School Project and Teachers (hour 12, clip 11)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-11
Dates:
Digitized: 1908-1917
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1908): Margaret Realized Evangeline was More Loved Than Her (hour 12, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1908
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1908): Significance of Names in Margaret's Family (hour 11, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC11-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1908
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1909-1911): Margaret's First and Second Grade (hour 13, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC13-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1909-1911
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1909-1913): Margaret's Neighbourhood Had Many Children (hour 15, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC15-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1909-1913
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1909): Margaret Loved Reading (hour 12, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1909
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1909): Margaret's Family Moved Back to North Evanston (hour 12, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1909
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1909): When Living on Park Avenue, Kenneth Helped Lottie Price (hour 1, clip 20)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC01-20
Dates:
Digitized: 1909
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1910-1911): Kenneth's Family Moved to Randolph Street (hour 1, clip 24)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC01-24
Dates:
Digitized: 1910-1911
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1910): Kenneth Sings a Song From His Childhood (hour 47, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC47-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1910
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1910): Kenneth's Family Moved to Baldwin Street by Jean Kitchen (hour 1, clip 22)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC01-22
Dates:
Digitized: 1910
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1910): Margaret Travelled to Chicago by Herself (hour 13, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC13-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1910
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1910): Siam: Beginning of the Trang Station (hour 46, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC46-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1910
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1910): Siam: E. P. Dunlap and His First Convert (hour 49, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC49-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1910
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1911-1912): Kenneth Loved Ham and First Used Zippers (hour 2, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC02-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1911-1912
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1911-1912): Landons Lived in a Warehouse Before Walnut Street (hour 2, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC02-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1911-1912
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1911-1912): Margaret's Third Grade (hour 13, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC13-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1911-1912
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1911): Adelle Punished the Kids for Actions Around the Street Car (hour 12, clip 15)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-15
Dates:
Digitized: 1911
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1911): Elizabeth Tossed Sand into the Flour Bin (hour 12, clip 16)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-16
Dates:
Digitized: 1911
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1911): Kenneth Dressed Up as a Girl (hour 2, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC02-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1911
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1911): Margaret Got an Unknown Sickness (hour 12, clip 18)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-18
Dates:
Digitized: 1911
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1911): Margaret Liked Football (hour 12, clip 17)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-17
Dates:
Digitized: 1911
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912-1913): Kenneth Describes His Boyhood Fighting (hour 2, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC02-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1912-1913
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912-1913): Margaret Didn't Make a Practice of Lying or Stealing (hour 14, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC14-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1912-1913
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912-1913): Margaret Had to Walk Past a Saloon (hour 14, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC14-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1912-1913
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912-1913): Margaret Liked to Make Presents for People (hour 14, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC14-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1912-1913
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912-1915): Margaret's Involvment with Sports (hour 14, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC14-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1912-1915
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912-1919): Kenneth's Dad Would Steal His Sons' Money (hour 4, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC04-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1912-1919
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912): Betty Supplanted Evangeline as Favorite (hour 12, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC12-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1912
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912): Elizabeth Was a Rascal (hour 15, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC15-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1912
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1912): Elizabeth's Birth (hour 15, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC15-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1912
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1913-1914): The Stout Story (hour 2, clip 11)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC02-11
Dates:
Digitized: 1913-1914
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1913-1916): Margaret Describes the Lincolnwood School (hour 14, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC14-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1913-1916
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1913-1918): Kenneth and His Brother Fight (hour 3, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC03-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1913-1918
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1913-1975): Margaret's Doll Daisy (hour 14, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC14-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1913-1975
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1913): Lucy Fitch Perkins Lived Near Margaret (hour 15, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC15-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1913
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1913): Margaret Describes the House at 2400 Harrison Street (hour 14, clip 11)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC14-11
Dates:
Digitized: 1913
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1913): Recreation on Harrison Street (hour 15, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC15-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1913
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1914-1917): Adelle's Health (hour 15, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC15-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1914-1917
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1914-1918): Margaret Learned to Knit (hour 18, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC18-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1914-1918
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1914-1921): Social Life During Kenneth's Youth (hour 2, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC02-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1914-1921
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1914): Margaret Was Always Popular (hour 13, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC13-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1914
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1914): Summer of 1914 (hour 15, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC15-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1914
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1916): Death of David Bosworth Fletcher and His Career (hour 1, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC01-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1916
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1916): Evangeline's Artistic Side (hour 15, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC15-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1916
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1917-1918): Margaret on President Wilson and Earliest Intelligence Service (hour 64, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC64-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1917-1918
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
- Zippers 1 ∧ less
∨ more