About the diary writer
- Barbara McDowell Whitt
- 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.
Junior-Senior Prom - Saturday, April 30, 1960
Tonight we had our junior-senior banquet and prom at the Washington Country Club. I went with (none other than) Mrs. Diekman. Our theme was "Outer Space." The banquet was pretty, the food good, and the prom "at the country club" was just like books. At the music contest at Ainsworth both the mixed chorus and band got II's. I got ready for the prom in a half hour, as we didn't get home from chores till 5:00. Phyllis has been sick since yesterday so didn't go to school today.
Home From Drake Relays - Friday, April 29, 1960
We spent all evening trying to get Norma's lawn mower to start for the Peterson girls. I babysat for Fudges tonight. Mrs. Fudge, Mom and Mrs. Small went to a party for Mrs. Fudge at Mrs. Palmer's. Mr. Fudge was at the Drake Relays and I drove home after he got home. He said, "Why aren't you in bed?" to Craig. When I got home, Phyl said, "Did he pull the curtains down?" I said, "He wasn't in bed," and she said, "He wasn't?" It only then dawned on me that I "forgot" to put him to bed.
Moby Dick Takes Time to Read - Thursday, April 28, 1960
This is getting me down! I had to retype the faculty page of the programs because we left out Mr. Neville's name. That was this morning. I also typed my column at school and made two additions at Mr. Fudge's suggestion. Moby Dick takes a lot of time to read but it's pretty good.
Youth Temperance Week - Wednesday, April 27, 1960
Grandma brought some pamphlets to school and a filmstrip for National Youth Temperance Week. She didn't stay but had Mr. Fudge do it. He really put it across with a good impression, so I told Grandma and she'll be happy to report good results. I'm trying to squeeze a column in, with everything else!
Parliamentarian Candidate - Tuesday, April 26, 1960
We had another Mid-Prairie FHA council meeting at school to select the two candidates for each office. I ran for historian and ended up as a candidate for parliamentarian which they were short on. I can not figure my geometry out. I haven't had trouble with it for ages. Some of the kids at school are getting awfully ouchy.
Soccer Outside for P. E. - Monday, April 25, 1960
Miss Flake ran us like pigs again in P. E. We played soccer outside. Mrs. Small "forgot" that the school paper was to come out Friday, so maybe I won't have to slave to get it out. I've been studying for a "hard" physics test on radio, t.v., electronic controls, nuclear energy, etc. I feel determined.
A 784-Page Second World War Novel - Sunday, April 24, 1960
We ate dinner at the Smith's restaurant in Keota. It is interesting to have my geometry teacher take our orders. I finally got my 40 physics problems done, skimmed Moby Dick to chapter 40 and skimmed through a 784-page Second World War novel by Winston Churchill.
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