**nightly entries written by a coming-of-age girl who became a woman from Washington County Iowa**
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.
Reflection on a Year as the President of Stephens - Monday, March 29, 1965
Nancy Rohlfing will be the new president of Stephens. She should make a good one. Winnie Fleming will be vice president; Diane Calvert will be secretary; Carol Dotts, treasurer; Kathy Amayo and Rita Hoover, house council members. So I'm free of another responsibility. It has been quite a year. I'm going to miss being president of Stephens. I made some mistakes, but the experience has taught me a lot. It didn't take long to "get over" Seth - I suppose that's unfortunate considering how much I meant to him. I got a B+ on the Family test.
It is Time Again for Another Guy in Life to go His Way - Sunday, March 28, 1965
I don't know how long it has been that I have just sat and read continually - all afternoon and evening with the exception of a half hour out for supper. Of course, Seth kept crossing my mind. We smiled at each other as I walked out of Commons at noon. Being defiant, I suppose, he had gone to dinner in his jacket and Terry had apparently not let him through the line. They were sitting and talking. However, it is time again for another guy in my life to go his way and me mine.
Tonight Seth Said Goodbye for the Last Time - Saturday, March 27, 1965
I feel terrible. Seth just said goodbye for the last time. I'm ashamed of the way I treated him tonight, but I just felt as if our relationship shouldn't continue. Given a few years, Seth should be quite a man. He said the nicest things just before he left. In my heart I feel the same way. I'm depressed and bewildered. Probably if I'd not chosen to walk through Mackay the night of February 2 some of the "storm and stress" in two individuals' lives never would have occurred. He thinks so much of me, and I was selfish. We went to the House of Toy on the Plaza with Vivien and Charlie tonight.
Began Not Feeling Well While in the Observatory - Friday, March 26, 1965
Seth brought me back at 10:00 since I started not feeling well up at the observatory after we went to the Park Singers show. It's a good thing I came back when I did. I was just now sick to my stomach. I suppose I picked up some of the flu that has been going around - I wonder how long my system has been fighting it off. I didn't think the Family test was that bad - but that's what I thought last time when I got a C+. No social psych class and Holly didn't come, so I enjoyed my half free afternoon for once.
Met with Mrs. McDaniel, Dean Miller and Mrs. Applebee - Thursday, March 25, 1965
It's 11:00 and I finally finished reading Family. Now I'd better hurry and begin reviewing notes - since February 4 - for tomorrow's test. This Stephens business at the end of the year is unbelievable. I spent an hour this morning talking with Mrs. McDaniel and Dean Miller, and an hour this evening talking with Kathy, Winnie, Jean and Mrs. Applebee. Mrs. Applebee is a guest of the college from time to time. The granddaughter of the first president, she has been known to exert influence, so we wanted her to hear our cause. Evelyn and Jim have a new light blue Volkswagen.
Saw Photos as Ranger Zeroed in on Moon - Wednesday, March 24, 1965
Another space flight first again this morning! Seth and I watched the moon shot pictures being transmitted live as the Ranger zeroed in on the moon's surface for several minutes before impact. It was one of the most fascinating things I've ever seen. Jayne was up tonight to talk about Stephens. I haven't seen any indications of hard feelings. Seth went to the American Physicists Society meeting in Kansas City to work (filing cards). He stopped past when I was tutoring Holly. He rightly accused me of using the "Pavlovian technique" (jelly beans for right answers!).
Will Invite Nine to Stephens when More were Qualified - Tuesday, March 23, 1965
The vote for new Stephens members was long and drawn out because so many were qualified. We finally decided to vote for only nine for numerous reasons. Those to be asked are Diane Calvert, Ruth Millett, Jayne Humbert, Rita Hoover, Terri Osuga, Paula Hansmire, Trudy Henderson, Rosa Smith and Marthanne Gravis. I'm afraid there are going to be some hurt feelings among those equally well qualified who didn't make it. Mrs. McDaniel came up to talk to the house council about her duties and stayed a few minutes at the house meeting. I watched most of the Gemini two-manned space flight (Grissom and Young) with Seth.
Typed Group Outline, Wrote Stephens Invitations - Monday, March 22, 1965
Tonight I typed our outline that our group has been working on for philosophy. I've been writing Stephens membership invitations (without names) so I won't have them all to do tomorrow night. I had a hamburger and shake in the J.R. with Seth tonight. I left him sitting in Commons after we finished eating supper. He said he sat there thinking for half an hour. Becky Neibling came to our Family class to talk about her work as a juvenile court officer.
Had Contact with Mrs. McDaniel and with Dr. Hamilton - Sunday, March 21, 1965
Dr. Hamilton gave the spaghetti dinner sponsored by Hawley second floor that he bought at the SUDC auction to the student council members and their dates, so Seth and I went to that tonight. He and I shared a table with Dr. Hamilton and had a very nice time. Mrs. Hamilton has the flu so wasn't able to come. This afternoon Nancy took Rosemary and me out to the McDaniels to talk with Mrs. McDaniel about Stephens since she, Mrs. Stewart, and Glenn Petrie's sister have become very interested in helping us out. I called her back this evening to tell her we'd like to have her as our sponsor (to help lessen problems between Stephens and the Dean of Women).
Went to Wetherills for a Party, Then to Friends - Saturday, March 20, 1965
Seth and I went with Elliott and Babs to Mr. Wetherill's party for sociology majors and others tonight. I certainly do enjoy going to the homes of different Park professors. Jerry Howell and his German wife Gisela, friends of Elliott (he's a Park graduate) went with us - in fact, he drove. Afterwards we went back to their apartment for drinks and appetizers. Another couple (he's a soc major here this semester) came over, too. This afternoon I went with Flo to KC and we picked out a nice barbeque grill and five utensils for the LLCs to give the Johnsons since he's retiring. I got some undergarments, too.
Had a Grasshopper at the Plaza III Lounge on the Plaza - Friday, March 19, 1965
Tonight I went to a synagogue service with Seth. He is Orthodox Jewish and this was a Conservative service, but there isn't too much difference. It was interesting - the Jewish was the only one of the religion field trips I missed. Afterward we went to the really neat Plaza III cocktail lounge on the Plaza. There was a combo, and we and our "quadruples" - Elliott and Margy, Kent and Mary Jo, and Dave and Carolyn sat around a little table in the center. It reminded me of the movies! I had a "grasshopper." Such a fabulous evening!
Saw Cosmonaut Become First Human to Walk in Space - Thursday, March 18, 1965
Seth and I just finished watching the Russian TV pictures of one of their cosmonauts. It was a two-man space flight in which one stepped outside the space capsule to become the first man in history to "walk" in the weightlessness of outer space. It's amazing that we can see pictures of it the day it happened. GREs were quite an experience. So many of the answers involved such a fine line of distinction that it's hard to know how one did. There were only a few questions that involved things I didn't know anything about.
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