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 (1927): Siam: Siamese Culture (hour 37, clip 19)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC37-19
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: Snake Stories (hour 37, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC37-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: Tennis, and the Misfortune (hour 40, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC40-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: Tennis Court, Theolbald Preached, James' Operation (hour 39, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC39-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: the American Minister Entertained Prince Damrong (hour 37, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC37-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: the Buying and Selling of Women (hour 37, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC37-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: The Fuller's Children and Warren Fuller on Marriage (hour 41, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC41-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: the House, the First Day and Language Training (hour 36, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC36-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: the Language Exam (hour 37, clip 18)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC37-18
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: The Theobalds (hour 41, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC41-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Siam: White Elephant and Festival (hour 39, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC39-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): The Landon's were Accepted as Missionaries (hour 33, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC33-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Trip to Siam: a Summary with Dates (hour 36, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC36-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Trip to Siam: Honolulu (hour 35, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC35-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Trip to Siam: Kobe, Japan (hour 35, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC35-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Trip to Siam: Shanghai (hour 36, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC36-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Trip to Siam: Singapore (hour 36, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC36-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Trip to Siam: the Ship to Honolulu (hour 35, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC35-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Trip to Siam: the Train (hour 34, clip 20)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC34-20
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1927): Trip to Siam: the Trip and Arrival at Bangkok (hour 36, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC36-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1927
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928-1929): Margaret on Background to How She Learned About Anna Leonowens (hour 74, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC74-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1928-1929
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928-1933): Margaret on Background to "The Pakai Affair" (hour 61, clip 5)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC61-05
Dates:
Digitized: 1928-1933
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928-1942): Kenneth and Margaret on His Remarkable Language Skills (hour 64, clip 18)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC64-18
Dates:
Digitized: 1928-1942
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Ah Chuan Celebrates His Baby at New Years (hour 41, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC41-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Ah Chuan's Whooping Cough and Skill as a Servant (hour 41, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC41-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Bill's Birth (hour 44, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Car, Heat, and Margaret's Near Accident (hour 44, clip 14)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-14
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Climate Caused Their Blood Pressure to Decrease (hour 42, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC42-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Coming of Nai Dit, Domestic Details, Coconut Picking (hour 44, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Commencements in Siam (hour 42, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC42-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Funerals and Cremation (hour 42, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC42-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Important Events at Nakon Sri Tamarat (hour 44, clip 13)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-13
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Kenneth and Margaret Prepared to Move (hour 42, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC42-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Kenneth Bought Margaret Some Clothes (hour 44, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Kenneth Fired Ah Chuan (hour 41, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC41-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Kenneth Got Dengue Fever (hour 42, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC42-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Kenneth Heard Two Men Talking About Him at Night (hour 44, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Kenneth's Tours and Ants (hour 43, clip 1)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC43-01
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Language Studies and Kenneth's First Sermon in Siamese (hour 40, clip 4)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC40-04
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Leander the Cat (hour 43, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC43-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Margaret Played the Organ at Church (hour 43, clip 8)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC43-08
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Margaret was Left Alone and Had a Quiet Birthday (hour 44, clip 2)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-02
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Margaret's Cook Ran Off (hour 44, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Margaret's Coolie at Nakon Sri Tamarat (hour 43, clip 7)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC43-07
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Margaret's Fondness for Her British Friends; Irene Bradley (hour 45, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC45-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Margaret's Letter: Furniture and J.J Seigle (hour 41, clip 9)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC41-09
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Margaret's Trip to Nong Kha (hour 42, clip 6)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC42-06
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Margaret's Trouble with the Brits (hour 41, clip 3)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC41-03
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Miss McCague, Bertha Blout (hour 44, clip 17)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC44-17
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
Found in:
Wheaton College Archives
Landon Chronicles (1928): Siam: Miss McCague's Illness (hour 43, clip 10)
Digital Record
Identifier: LC43-10
Dates:
Digitized: 1928
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