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- Tags: Margaret Landon's Childhood 1903-1921
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Margaret's Family Moved Back to North Evanston
Within six months Margaret's family moved to Evanston and she continued Kindergarten there. There she had her first "disgrace" in school: she couldn't say the days of the week, unlike everybody else in her class
Margaret's Earliest Memories
Margaret's earliest memory is of no significance but quite vivid. She recalls that at eighteen months old she was standing at a door looking in, with a window to her left, and before the window was a table with a red-check cloth on it. She was…
Margaret's Doll Daisy
Margaret's favorite doll was Daisy, the name it had when she got it. It was made by the company where her father worked. The company published three different advertising journals, and Margaret owned the journal in which Daisy was first advertised.…
Margaret's Diary Entries from May 17, 22, and 24 of 1917
Margaret reads from her diary about her decision to take a bath every day, hot summer days when she played softball, her practice of violin, and her mom's return from the hospital.
Margaret's Birth Certificate
Margaret's birth certificate was registered in Kenosha County. When she went to Siam with Kenneth in 1927 she had to send for her birth certificate. It was then that she discovered that it read "Female Mortenson." Adelle had to go to the Wheaton…
Margaret's Birth
Margaret was born in the house at 8412 Highway, Somers, WI, on Sept. 7, 1903. It was in a tiny room , perhaps ten feet by ten. She stayed there with her parents, Adelle and A.D. through the winter.
Margaret's Baptism
Margaret's mother kept a lot of memorabilia. On a small program for children's day at church, which her mother kept Margaret found written the date of her baptism: June 12, 1904, a short time before her first birthday.
Margaret's 8th Graduation and the Following Summer
Margaret tells about her eighth grade graduation and her receiving of a medal from dad and mom. She describes other stuff she received from other people. She tells about her time after the graduation ceremony.
Margaret Went to Camp After Her Junior Year
Margaret recalls attending an eight week summer camp for girls. She tells about life at the camp and the things they were doing there. It was one of the best memorable experience she ever had growing up
Margaret Was Very Busy
By the time she was fourteen Margaret was endlessly busy. She was in the church choir, practiced two musical instruments, went to school, played sports, participated in a club, spent time with special friends, and participated in various family…
Margaret Was Told She Had the Gift Of Words
Margaret was very good at English. In her junior year her English teacher, Miss Effie Wambaugh, told her that she had the gift of words and that she should do something with it. This compliment stayed with Margaret for the rest of her life.
Margaret Was Raised to Be Polite
Every Saturday afternoon, A.D., Margaret's father, would bring home a bag of candies after work. The girls were expected to be polite and nice to each other in their using of the candies.
Margaret was Always Popular
Margaret has always been popular, a "top dog." She always had friends, always was team leader, class president, etc. It was natural to her and everybody took it for granted. In seventh grade she had her reverses: her parents wouldn't let her go to…
Margaret Was Addicted to Reading
Margaret recalls being addicted to reading, going frequently to the library to hunt for books. At home she would go into the living room where there was a library table and perch on the chair arm to read. An hour later she would still be perched…
Margaret Wanted to Be an Actress
Margaret recalls wanting to be an actress. She reads from a diary: "I think I should like to be an actress. This is my latest idea."
Margaret Traveled to Chicago by Herself
Margaret began traveling alone to Chicago at age seven. She would take to train and board the bus in the city to go see her eye doctor. She was always safe--there were dangerous areas but she never went there.
Margaret Shares Her Cream Puff
Margaret always loved desserts, so when she was convalescing her mother made her a batch of cream puffs. She was down to the last one when the doctor came in to see her, and mother suggested that she gave it to the doctor. "And to this day I can…
Margaret Recalls the Great Flu Epidemic
Margaret shares thoughts about the 1918 flu epidemic which killed 23,000,000 people around the world and 550.000 in the US. She recalls her whole family (except her father) getting the flu, and the steady procession of funerals in her town.
Margaret Realized Evangeline Was More Loved Than Her
Margaret recalls a scene in which her father clearly showed his preference for Evangeline by giving her the pink apron that Margaret wanted. This childhood perception was confirmed as the kids grew up, but Margaret never felt jealous of her sister or…
Margaret Put on a Program of Hiawatha
Margaret tells about her turn to put on a program for the children. It took a lot of preparation, but the children in those days had a great deal of initiative. They were always putting on programs of entertainment.
Margaret Loved Reading
Margaret loved reading from the beginning of her schooling. She would complete and turn in her assignment before it was due in order to get to read one of the books that Miss Morse kept at the back of the classroom. She remembers her mom reading to…
Margaret Liked to Make Presents for People
By the time she was ten years old Margaret was famous for liking to make presents for people. One summer when she was visiting in Round Lake she earned money by swatting flies for her aunt. With that money she bought gifts to return home and give to…
Margaret Liked Football
Margaret's youngest uncle, Lawrence, was on the football team of Northwestern University. Her dad, A.D., began taking her to Lawrence's football games. That was when Margaret acquired her taste for football.
Margaret Learned to Knit
Like many women during World War I, Margaret learned to knit socks, and learned to do it fast. She then learn to knit dresses, coats, and sweater coats. She quickly became an expert in knitting.
Margaret Helped Write the School Song
Margaret was on the committee to write the school's new song. They used Northwestern's battle song as the melody. After they had all sung the song she remarked that she didn't think highly of it.