About the diary writer

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Kansas City, Missouri, Alexandria, Virginia, United States
~ About: A 1961-65 Park College Diary ~ As a high school girl and then a college coed in the first half of the 1960s, I wrote nightly entries on the pages of one-year diaries. In January 2010 I began transcribing the entries into a blog and gave each one a title. I grew up on three farms within 30 miles of Iowa City and the University of Iowa with its Iowa Writers' Workshop. As the oldest of four daughters, in my diaries I sometimes referred to my sisters as "the kids" or "the girls." We helped our parents, but we also had good, wholesome fun - a characteristic I took with me to Park. Park is 300 miles southwest of West Chester, Iowa, in Parkville, Missouri, on the Missouri River 10 miles northwest of Kansas City, Missouri, and across the river from Kansas City, Kansas. In 2000 Park College became Park University. Today Park's flagship campus is in Parkville and there are an additional 41 campus centers across the nation. Park was one of the first educational institutions in the United States to offer online learning. My last post was on May 22, 2018. I may be followed on Twitter @BarbaraMcDWhitt.

Voted in New Members of Stephens Tonight - Sunday, April 5, 1964

It's awful that I should be acting in ways more immature about the Stephens move than I did about the Hawley move. We voted in new members tonight but I haven't heard the results yet. I think a combination of factors have been acting to make me jumpy. My pent-up steam needs an escape valve. I went to the choir concert this afternoon. After all our efforts, Mr. Larson forgot to have them stay for yearbook pictures. (Just got back from Karen's phone call about the matter.) I went to Sunday evening forum - a man from India on a march for peace spoke. We had a student council meeting with the new goon squad. Stephens served Woodward the breakfast they bought at the WUS auction - pancakes in the Meetin' House.

Fred Was at a Herr House Party - Saturday, April 4, 1964

I went with Judy and Bonnie to the play "Picnic" tonight. It was okay, but I've seen better plays at Park College. I've seen the movie so was familiar with the story. Then I went to the party at Herr House and had a good time with some of the freshman boys. Fred was there having a good time with Kathy Olson. He's still been smoking a lot. This was a cold rainy day. I made several attempts at homework but didn't accomplish much. Nancy and I took a walk through Parkville in the rain this afternoon. The Parkville librarian let me have the copy of the paper with the student council picture in it.

Saw the President About Staying in Stephens - Friday, April 3, 1964

Diane, Karen, Barb, Liz, Terry, Rosemary, Evelyn and I went in to talk to the president this afternoon. He's almost sure we'll have to move out of Stephens next year. It's all because this college has been taking in all these male students from eastern college admissions centers. Some of us have been through having to leave a dorm once before. We've now decided that since our number will be reduced next year anyway, we'd like to live in "His House." John Garrett was dismissed from the health center while I was working. No one came to see the doctor.





Stephens May Have Male Students Next Year - Thursday, April 2, 1964

I'm afraid I'm going to have to go through yet another dorm fight during my stay at Park College. It seems that the administration thinks Stephens may have to be occupied by male students next year. "Rise up ye women with arms, the fight has just begun!" I thought I would die this afternoon, yet was thrilled with the composure Babs maintained when she pretended to be Diane after I had taken a call from the president's secretary when they tried to get us to cancel our appointment with him until after we had seen Dean Gibson. Everyone likes my book. Ellen showed it to George and said he just loved it. The algebra test was murder, but at least quite a few thought that. Babs and I made cupcakes for the LLC meeting tonight. I sold 11 chocolate bars to students here for the U. N. Model Assembly during lunch.

Phyllis and Virginia Were in a Car Accident - Wednesday, April 1, 1964

Mom called me about 7:00 this morning from Shenandoah where they went Monday to the hospital after Phyllis and Virginia were hurt in a one-car accident Sunday evening. One of the college guys was driving them to Red Oak so Virginia could take the train home after visiting Phyl over the weekend. They have cuts and bruises but are going to be okay. They took Phyl back to Tarkio today and returned home with Virginia. I guess the college car was totally demolished. I called Phyllis this evening. I have an algebra assignment and test tomorrow. I really don't feel much like studying.

Was Student Council Secretary Tonight - Tuesday, March 31, 1964

Diane had me take her place as student council secretary tonight. I'm glad I don't have that job all the time - it's wearing. We has a long meeting - till 10:00 - selecting the goon squad for next year's "Hell Week." I went down to Parkville this afternoon to get some books at the library. The weather finally got nice and warm again. Terry Seelye is the new ICC chairman. I'm going in circles trying to keep up with things. As an advisory member of the student council, I'm going to have to speak up more. I still like the way you can say what you think at Park College - people may disagree with your idea, but they don't hold it against you personally.

We Discussed Education in the Middle East - Monday, March 30, 1964

Dr. Patton had a good discussion on education in the Middle East at the SNEA meeting at Hilltop House tonight. I think we've had a nice series of programs. It's too bad there haven't been more there to enjoy them. I guess most people don't do anything they don't want to do. I got up at 6:00 to do algebra but should have stayed in bed. She gave us an extension until 1:00 and I still didn't get some of them. I've been making some more "spills" for my children's lit book.

Optimism, Determinism, Abundant Life - Sunday, March 29, 1964

I enjoyed this Easter Day. To begin with, Evelyn and I went with a group of kids, the Pattons, Gehrenbecks, and Edwardses to Alfalfa Point for a sunrise Easter service. The bright orange ball did rise indeed - a beautiful sight. The Stephens cat went along, but nobody thought too much of it when he didn't return with us. So at 5:45 this evening Shirley and I set out looking for him. After calling his name, "Here, Socrates!" and walking for an hour he appeared just as we were giving up hope - and the orange sun was just setting on the opposite side of Alfalfa Point. Dr. Patton had a good sermon today - about optimism and determinism and enjoyment of an abundant life. It was cold today.

Children's Library Today, Fritz's Tonight - Saturday, March 28, 1964

I spent the entire day in Kansas City, going in on the 8:00 bus and coming back on the 6:00. With the exception of an hour until it opened at 9:30 and time enough to buy lunch, get a new skirt at Macy's, and buy some cookies for my supper, I was at the children's library reviewing books. I guess I've given the whole day to children's lit since this evening I tried some illustrations with shoe polish for my book, Spills. Bob Kendrick wanted someone to go with him, Chris, John, Doug, Michael and Armando to Fritz's for Armando's birthday, so I went. I had a Coke and a ham sandwich.