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 (1926): Adelle Sold One of Her Lots on Irving Ave (hour 29, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC29-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Adelle's Thoughts on Wedding Invitations, Date and Time (hour 28, clip 10)
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Identifier: LC28-10
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Bear Lake Beat Onekama (hour 28, clip 21)
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Identifier: LC28-21
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Biggest Snow of the Winter (hour 28, clip 2)
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Identifier: LC28-02
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Bordentown, NJ (hour 30, clip 4)
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Identifier: LC30-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Building of the Irving Street House is Delayed (hour 28, clip 17)
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Identifier: LC28-17
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Evan Welsh's Engagement and Evangeline (hour 32, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-01
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Evangelistic Meetings at Bear Lake (hour 28, clip 25)
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Identifier: LC28-25
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Final Wedding Plans (hour 29, clip 11)
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Identifier: LC29-11
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Further Reflections on Their Wedding (hour 30, clip 1)
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Identifier: LC30-01
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): High School Teachers were Criticized (hour 26, clip 19)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-19
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Honeymoon: Niagra Falls and the Trip to Bordentown (hour 30, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC30-03
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Honeymoon: Stony Lake and Gull Lake (hour 30, clip 2)
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Identifier: LC30-02
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Jane Melk was an Excellent Basketball Player (hour 28, clip 7)
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Identifier: LC28-07
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret Adjusted to Marriage Naturally (hour 31, clip 1)
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Identifier: LC31-01
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret Applied to the Presbyterian Mission Board (hour 32, clip 6)
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Identifier: LC32-06
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret Entertained a Mission Board Member (hour 32, clip 16)
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Identifier: LC32-16
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret in Chicago the Day After Their Wedding (hour 29, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC29-13
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret Tried to Get Adelle to Visit (hour 32, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-02
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret Went to the Wright's for Thanksgiving (hour 32, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-13
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret's First Christmas (hour 32, clip 18)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-18
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Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret's Wedding (hour 29, clip 12)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC29-12
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth and Margaret's Wedding Plans (hour 26, clip 24)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-24
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth Had an Effective Ministry (hour 32, clip 14)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-14
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth Sent Margaret a Wedding Ring (hour 26, clip 14)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-14
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth Suggested a Possible Honeymoon (hour 28, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth Told Adelle Margaret is the Best Wife in the World (hour 32, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth was Having Trouble with Ann Wilson (hour 26, clip 23)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-23
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth Writes Christmas Cards by Hand to His Entire Congregation (hour 32, clip 17)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-17
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Kenneth's Wedding Clothes (hour 26, clip 17)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-17
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Lois Visited Margaret at Bear Lake (hour 28, clip 22)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-22
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret Bought a New Dress (hour 29, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC29-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret Got Candy for the Girls and Talked with Jane Melk (hour 28, clip 27)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-27
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret Got Kenneth a Typewriter for Christmas (hour 32, clip 15)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-15
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret Had a Bad Cold (hour 26, clip 18)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-18
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
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Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret Liked the Location of Their Home in Princeton (hour 32, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret Requested a Reference for the Mission Board (hour 32, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret Returns to Bear Creek After Christmas Break (hour 26, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret Told Adelle She Felt Better About Missions (hour 28, clip 15)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-15
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret's Basketball Team Beat Copemish (hour 28, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret's Basketball Team Became Tied for First Place (hour 28, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-06
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Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret's Basketball Team Won a Game (hour 27, clip 26)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC27-26
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret's Final Letter from Bear Lake (hour 29, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC29-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Margaret's Team Beats Onekama (hour 26, clip 22)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC26-22
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Mrs. Ousley Became a Christian and Experienced Hypocrisy (hour 29, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC29-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Mrs. Thomas and Margaret Had a "Bust-up" (hour 28, clip 18)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-18
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Pierce Chapel is Secured for Kenneth and Margaret's Wedding (hour 28, clip 23)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-23
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): Thanksgiving Basket and Miss Abbie Farwell (hour 32, clip 11)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-11
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): The Bowles are to Move Into a New House (hour 32, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC32-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1926
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1926): The Game Against Brethern, Finances, and the Fur Coat (hour 28, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC28-01
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
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