Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Some Thai People Wanted Kenneth to Be Their Overlord (hour 54, 11) | Special Collections, Buswell Library

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Landon Chronicles (1930): Siam: Some Thai People Wanted Kenneth to Be Their Overlord (hour 54, 11)

1930

The Landons inherited from E. P. Dunlap a book in which were the names of people in a village where Dr. Dunlap had worked. Kenneth used the book to retrieve the people in the village and began to address them by name. He visited the village several times and stayed overnight the third time in the same room as the rest of the family. He became very acquainted with the villagers, and one day he was visted by a couple of men from the village. Later on the young chief from the village came to propose Kenneth to become their overlord. Margaret describes the very ancient feudal manners with which the chief approached Kenneth to become their overlord. It was very moving. Kenneth expressed deep appreciation for the offer but explained the disadvantages associated with the proposal.  Kenneth and Margaret explain that this was the way governments were formed in Thailand since the 1930s. (Length 13:17)

LC54-11

Special Collections, Buswell Library

Margaret and Kenneth P. Landon Papers, 1824-2000 Series 1: Biographical Sub-Series 8: Audio and Video Box 77: Oral History: "The Landon Chronicles," Tapes 38-54.