**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.
Mom was in Charge of Ceramics Exhibit at the Fair - Tuesday, August 3, 1965
This afternoon we all went in to the fair for a while. Mom was in charge of the ceramics exhibit all afternoon. Some of the ladies have some nice things - most of the interest in it seems to be in the West Chester area. Mom's set of eight small Christmas angels that she made for me in a brown stain (they look like hand-carved wood) is there. Phyllis and I looked around the rest of the fair, watched part of the lamb judging contest, and came home with George and the kids at 3:15. Everybody went out to Grandma's so they could ride horses.
Went to See the Miss Washington County Contest - Monday, August 2, 1965
We girls and Peg, along with Betty, Linda and Shirley went in to see the Miss Washington County contest tonight. Mary Butler was first runner-up. We're sorry she didn't win. It's kind of too bad, but not very many people seemed to care for the choice of winner, Janet Osincup. A lady behind us said "Something's got to be wrong." That struck me as funny. I went on the octopus with Peggy and Linda. It was a rough ride that caused me to say six bad words, "x x x" and "- - -!" I read this afternoon while the others went to the swimming pool.
We went Fishing in Cuddebacks' Second Farm Pond - Sunday, August 1, 1965
We went down to Cuddebacks' second farm this evening to go fishing. I baited dozens of hooks with our liver bait for Ann and Peggy but didn't fish much myself. Except for a nice size one Daddy caught, most of them weren't very big at all. This afternoon I read the Sunday paper and played Snatch. I seem to be in a semi-depressed mood. When I write to Tex I guess I'll tell him I'll be very busy with meetings and getting ready to teach. I just don't think I'll have a lot of time to see him if he comes to Kansas City the last of August.
Saw Amana Colonies with Jane, George and their Kids - Saturday, July 31, 1965
Like finally seeing the ocean when we did, we finally got to the nationally famous Amana Colonies in Johnson County, adjacent to our Washington County. We ate a picnic lunch at Lily Lake. At the woolens store I bought some red and green plaid wool for a sheath dress. Then we went to the furniture store, meat shop, winery, hearth oven bakery, kitchen and cooper's shop. It was so interesting to see all of their old implements and manner of occupation and the nice products they still make. We're glad Schwartzes wanted to go and invited us to go with them. We showed our New England slides tonight.
Schwartzes Came Here by way of Lake Michigan - Friday, July 30, 1965
Schwartzes got here this evening. They first went to Niagara Falls, into Canada, and back across Lake Michigan. We all went to Cuddebacks tonight for ice cream and cake for Grandma and Grandpa's wedding anniversary. I went to town with Phyllis this afternoon. She's still going in for contact lens appointments. I looked at clothes but didn't see much. I bought a pattern for the dress material I bought in May. I forgot to say yesterday that we traded our Ford in on a '62 blue with white roof Chevrolet.We have a fleet of three Chevrolets now.
Talked about Ron Fisher and National Geographic - Thursday, July 29, 1965
This evening I talked with Oneita Fisher. She's so much "fun" and thinks a lot like our family does. I found out some about their son Ron Fisher's work at National Geographic but will try to write to him to find out more. Mrs. Fisher said he hates to write letters so that I should have him call me - from Washington, DC. I think I'll try just sending him a questionnaire and self-addressed stamped envelope.
Have a Second Big Scrapbook of Park Momentos - Wednesday, July 28, 1965
We all combined our efforts and got the grass mowed this evening. We girls then went out to Grandma's for some ice cream made with the new electric ice cream freezer that Leets got for Grandma. I talked to Oneita about my Quill and Scroll article - I'll go to talk with her tomorrow evening about my "approach" and find out about Ron's work. I have most of my things glued in my scrapbook now. Two big ones covering four years of college will be nice to have. Mom and I went to town this morning but I didn't find a raincoat I went to look for at Duncans.
Can Write about West Chester for Quill and Scroll - Tuesday, July 27, 1965
I got a start toward the article on West Chester students doing things connected with journalism that the executive secretary gave me permission to write for Quill and Scroll magazine. Mrs. Fordyce was quite enthused when I called her about it, and we decided it would be okay to approach it from the West Chester standpoint rather than Mid-Prairie. After talking to their mothers and getting their addresses, I wrote to Jim Orr and Tom Bauer for "information." I did some more sorting and am to the place where I need to put things in my scrapbook and album (except for ordering some picture reprints).
Am Reading a Book on Teaching from Oakwood Manor - Monday, July 26, 1965
If I could just remember that one of my primary goals for this summer was simply to relax and rest up for fall, everything would be fine, because I am doing just that. The trouble is, I have a guilty feeling that has to do with not doing anything when I can think of a few things that I should do - such as reading and getting some of my things in order - photograph album and scrapbook up to date, sewing, etc. Oh well, I guess this is when I, too, "don't do anything that I don't want to do." I did sort a couple of boxes of stuff today and began reading the book on teaching that Mr. Fuller gave me. I got another letter from Ed (Tex) and wrote to him. I'm going to try to start calling him Ed.
Mom Showed Slides that Included Park's Commencement - Sunday, July 25, 1965
Since there wasn't any church at our church, we went to the Methodist Church this morning. It was nice - we enjoyed being there and I think they enjoyed having us. This afternoon the girls went swimming with Ron and Dan and I went with Mom and Dad on a Sunday drive through Wellman, Kalona, Hills, Riverside, Richmond and the surrounding country. The "kids" came back here for hamburgers. Later we showed the slides of our trip and Park's commencement. Then we showed some of the old ones from our "childhood."
Jim Took us to Jalopy Races in Columbus Junction - Saturday, July 24, 1965
Tonight, out of curiosity's sake, Phyllis and I went to the jalopy races at Columbus Junction with Jim. The night that we picked turned out to be one of the "roughest" nights they've ever had. In seven races, there were six wrecks, but each time the driver was apparently only shaken up. One car turned end over end, one went over an embankment, and one sailed over a dike. (Phyl and I were getting cotton candy and missed seeing that one!) This morning Virginia and I went in to town for an hour. My colored pictures are nice - they cost $12.00 to develop!
The Lions Club had Their Ice Cream Social Tonight - Friday, July 23, 1965
Mom got me up this morning to go with her and Phyllis over to the school to clean up the old "band mothers" shack. Daddy is president of the Lions Club now and they used the building for their ice cream social tonight. This afternoon Phyllis, Virginia and I sunbathed for a little while, although we were probably nuts to lie in the sun when it was so hot. It seemed as if Grandma Kay was the main topic of a "gripe session" this afternoon. Phyllis and I were riding our bikes on the back road tonight when Jim came along to ask us if we want to go to the car races tomorrow night.
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