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 (1923): Funeral of Grandmother Mortenson (hour 20, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC20-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1923
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1923): Kenneth and Margaret's First Significant Date (hour 19, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC19-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1923
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1923): Margaret Washed Her Neck (hour 21, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC21-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1923
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1923): Margaret's Family Road Trip to Michigan (hour 19, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC19-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1923
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1923): Mortenson Family Politics (hour 20, clip 08)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC20-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1923
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1923): Mortenson Summer Vacation (hour 20, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC20-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1923
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1923): Mortensons Moved to Wheaton (hour 20, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC20-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1923
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924-1925): Margaret's Senior Year (hour 22, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC22-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1924-1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924-1927): Princeton was an Excellent Institution at the Time (hour 22, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC22-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1924-1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924): Anenus Duabus Stopped Working Again (hour 25, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC25-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1924
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924): Kenneth's Summer of 1924 (hour 22, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC22-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1924
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924): Margaret and Kenneth Get Engaged (hour 20, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC20-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1924
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924): Margaret Had an Engagement Luncheon and Kenneth's Interships (hour 21, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC21-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1924
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924): Margaret was In a Tennis Tournament (hour 21, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC21-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1924
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924): Mortensons Bought Two Lots in Wheaton (hour 22, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC22-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1924
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924): The Girls Went Out Early in the Morning to Play Football (hour 20, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC20-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1924
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1924): The Wright Family Lived Next to the Mortensons in Wheaton (hour 22, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC22-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1924
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1926): Adelle Lived at 610 Irving (hour 25, clip 15)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC25-15
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1926): Adelle Tried to Start a Café (hour 26, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1926): Adelle Used to Have Visitors (hour 26, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1926): Adelle's Attempt to Go Into Realty (hour 26, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1926): Bear Lake Countryside (hour 26, clip 15)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-15
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1926): Gospel Preacher was Booed at Princeton (hour 32, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1926): Margaret Makes Corrections About the Bear Lake School (hour 27, clip 25)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC27-25
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1926): Mrs. Thomas was Margaret's Only Friend (hour 26, clip 20)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-20
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925-1953): The Story of Adelle's Money (hour 24, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC24-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1925-1953
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Anenus Duabus' Evangelistic Trip and His Final Illness (hour 25, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC25-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Anenus Duabus Mortenson's Funeral and Burial (hour 24, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC24-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Anenus Duabus Mortenson's Last Summer and Death (hour 22, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC22-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Kenneth Paints His Car (hour 25, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC25-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret Attended a Teacher's Reception (hour 26, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret Coached the Basketball Team (hour 26, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret Hired a Student to Grade Papers for Her (hour 26, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret was Elected as Freshman Class Patron (hour 26, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret Went Home for Homecoming (hour 26, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret Went to Bear Lake to Teach (hour 25, clip 14)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC25-14
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret Went to Gull Lake with the Landons (hour 25, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC25-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret's Basketball Team Got Uniforms (hour 26, clip 11)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-11
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Margaret's Time at Bear Lake (hour 24, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC24-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Miss Edith Torrey (hour 26, clip 16)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC25-16
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Modernist and Fundamentalist Debate at Princeton (hour 23, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC23-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Mrs. Ousley Entertained Margaret at a Chicken Dinner (hour 26, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): Pierce Chapel was Completed (hour 26, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1925): The Work of Robert Dick Wilson (hour 23, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC23-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1925
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926-1929): J. Oliver Buswell Becomes President and the College Church Splits (hour 28, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1926-1929
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Adelle and Evangeline Entertained Irma Mallison (hour 26, clip 16)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-16
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Adelle Approved of Kenneth's Desire to Go Into Missions (hour 28, clip 11)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-11
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Adelle Had Felt a Strong Call to Become a Missionary (hour 28, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Adelle Reported on Her Realty Business (hour 28, clip 16)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-16
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Adelle Set Up an Office for Business (hour 28, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
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
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