About the diary writer

My photo
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.

We Took Phyllis and Rich to the Municipal Auditorium - Sunday, March 14, 1965

Vivien and Charlie, Seth and I took Phyllis and Rich to the Municipal Auditorium where they were to meet the McGeehes at 6:00. We all crowded into the Volkswagen. I assume they made their connections. The Armentrouts didn't want to wait, so we just dropped them off. We went to chapel this morning, and this afternoon walked down to the river. Seth really thinks Phyllis is great. Mom Hawkins told me I have a cute sister. And I was proud to have her on campus this weekend. For an unserious relationship, Seth and I sure have enough serious talks.

Phyllis and Steve Shugart's Brother Rich are Here - Saturday, March 13, 1965

Phyllis and Steve Shugart's brother Rich got here about 11:00. Seth showed them the science hall and I got to see the work he is doing in the physics department. After lunch I talked with Phyllis and washed my hair. Then the four of us went up to the observatory and walked around campus some. I think Mr. McGehee brought a popular little "couple for the weekend" to Park. Both Steve and Dee are in Chicago this weekend. Rich is certainly making himself at home. We went to the movie tonight, then Phyl and Rich went to the Parchie Varsity Playboy Club and Seth and I went to the Armentrouts. Seth and Charlie made fudge while Vivien taught me how to play chess.

Statement on the Mind was Basis for One Hour Discussion - Friday, March 12, 1965

Between 7:00 and 8:30 I took a bath and did an arithmetic assignment for Jeri. Then I went out with Seth for an enjoyable evening on campus and up at the observatory. By 12:00 I was so tired I could hardly see straight , so he brought me back. Evelyn is still babysitting at Chronisters. Holly forgot to bring back the library book that I'm supposed to return by Monday to avoid suspension of borrowing privileges. I had to re-read my statement on the mind I had conjured up for philosophy - it provided the basis for the whole hour's discussion. I also talked with Dr. Pai and Mr. Carey about my philosophy term paper on a phase of semantics.

The UN Model Assembly was Held at Park Today - Thursday, March 11, 1965

Phyllis called this evening about her plans for coming this weekend. Mr. McGehee, her biology professor, is going to bring her and Steve Shugart's brother Rick to Park while he attends a dog show in Kansas City. I watched the student council polls from 8:00 to 9:00. The P.R.s next year will be Jim Hunter, Kathy Amayo, Bill Perry, Bill Schubert and Tom Mooney. The UN Model Assembly was today. Seth helped with the public address system. I'm still seeing him - he won't know what to think. I'm having a time deciding what to do.

Have Told Seth it's Time to go Separate Ways - Wednesday, March 10, 1965

I didn't study at all tonight. Jim and Chuck took Evelyn and me to the health center to get TB skin tests since one of the foreign students has come down with it. Rosemary and I talked to _____ and told her the house council had decided to revoke her punishment since there was a lack of understanding about lounge hours. Then the dorm decided at a house meeting to set 2:30 AM as lounge closing time. I'm in the process of sending Seth on his separate way and me on mine with the exception of a few dinners and a dance this month.

Student Council Election Results were as Predicted - Tuesday, March 9, 1965

I almost find it hard to believe that the results of the student council election were exactly as I had predicted: Walt Black, president; Winnie Fleming, vice president; Terri Osuga, WJC chairman; and Bob Theis, MJC chairman. It was a close election, however. I'm glad I had at least something to do with Terri's and Winnie's running. I came back to the dorm at 10:00 after studying with Seth, and then Kathy and Carol, Randy and Bill, and Shelly Teale and her father wanted to go up to the observatory to see Mars at its closest point to Earth in fifteen years. I went, too - it had been cloudy earlier.

The Others Liked Paper on Soviet Education - Monday, March 8, 1965

The others in the class and Dr. Pai were pleased with my Soviet education paper. Luckily I had read enough to be able to talk intelligently on the subject. I typed rapidly most of the time from 4:00 to 1:15, skipping Family class and part of work to get it finished by class time. I got a D on the social psych test - rats! Too many activities, Seth, house council, etc., impinging on my time, I guess - have to rationalize. Seth went with me to the library after the student council meeting.

We Had Our Stephens Dinner Out at the Gold Buffet - Sunday, March 7, 1965

I'm up against time again - I'm approximately one-third done with my comparative education paper. I literally can't wait to have it done and over with. I'll have to get up at 4:00. We had our Stephens dinner at the Gold Buffet, leaving at 4:00 and getting back at 6:00. We had planned to go the Wishbone again but changed our minds for certain time and financial reasons. Seth went to chapel with me again. We had Dr. White, a Southern Baptist, as a guest minister. Seth and I had shakes in the J.R. for a half-hour study break.

Went to the Movie About Lt. Kennedy, PT 109 - Saturday, March 6, 1965

I had Seth bring me back early tonight so I could get some sleep. At this point I'm not yet worried about my comparative education paper which still hasn't begun to unfold. I read some for it this afternoon, but it was a noisy dorm with the freshmen getting ready for their house party tonight. It's going to be "fun" going to sleep to the sound of double base! Tonight we went to the movie featuring Kennedy as a navy lieutenant, PT 109. It was very interesting. Then we sat in the J.R. and talked about the Soviet concept of man and the world in years to come.

Vivien Served Lettuce, Chicken, Greens and Relish - Friday, March 5, 1965

Seth and I had a really nice time at Vivien and Charlie's tonight. Vivien had supper ready (on time!) and it was delicious - "wilted" lettuce, chicken cooked in wine, rice and mushroom sauce, greens with toasted almonds, and cranberry relish. We played Hearts. While the guys went out to get some Pepsi Viv told me Seth had been down to talk for two hours last night about being afraid he had lost me forever (help! - I wish he wouldn't be so serious). I thought I'd die laughing when he literally sat down in a gutter while carrying me across - there I was on his lap - perfectly dry - with a car going by! The social psych test wasn't too bad, I didn't think. I got up at 5:00 again.

Former Boyfriend Married, Boyfriend Walked Out - Thursday, March 4, 1965

Unfortunately for [a member of Stephens] I was in the hall studying this morning (I got up at 5:00) when she came in at 5:45 and confessed to being in the lounge all night with [her boyfriend]. The really uncanny thing is that I had a feeling she would come walking in this morning. The house council decided her lounge privileges should be taken away for a month. In another situation I acted cooly enough toward Seth that he "walked out" on me. I called him tonight and he sounded as if he was ready to cry. Nic Walker's wedding writeup was in the Journal.

Mr. McDaniel will be Our Class Marshall - Wednesday, March 3, 1965

We had a senior class meeting tonight at which we elected Mr. McDaniel as class marshall to lead the commencement procession. We had a WJC meeting tonight - a case involving four freshman girls whom we decided should not be punished but have "letters of advice" sent to them. So I've been typing up a storm. Not wanting to neglect Seth, I met him later and he showed me a card game in the J.R. I'm back to my old ways again - "activities" are gaining precedence.