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.
Smorgasbord at Church - Thursday, March 31, 1960
Tonight was the church smorgasbord. We had a lovely evening after postponing it for several weeks. It is so routine now that it just seems like an everyday thing - when it used to seem like a president's banquet. I didn't get there in time to wait tables. Well, one more day this week of getting up early for homework. I sent in a column. We had tests in history and physics. We had to go clear around because of the mud to go out to Grandma's.
Grimes Decorating Shop - Wednesday, March 30, 1960
We had an FHA meeting this afternoon. Mrs. Grimes from the Grimes Decorating shop in Keota talked. I'm about pooped from all this work I've been doing. I don't think the paper got taken to Kalona after all - Mr. Shoemaker wasn't here. If I please one teacher, I upset the next one. I'm taking life too seriously.
Beating Rain and Thunder - Tuesday, March 29, 1960
I did English, physics and geometry to the tune of beating rain and thunder. I'll have to do history in the morning if I want to proofread the school paper in first study hall. This has been some day, weatherwise. There was so much fog that visibility was 00. We had P. E. and played volleyball. Beth and I crashed heads.
April Fools School Paper -Monday, March 28, 1960
Right now, although I'm holding my breath for fear it won't last, I feel pretty successful about the April Fools school paper - I've worked long enough on it! I'll have to get up in the morning and do geometry - I spent two hours on three problems (straight working!). Neta and Gerry will be on the student council from our class next year.
Playing Instruments for Church - Sunday, March 27, 1960
We played our horns for church. Phyllis and Virginia did "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross" on the flute and piano and Virginia and I played "Rock of Ages." People said it was good. This afternoon I worked on the school paper, doing more than my share as usual. I have to pick some kids I think would be worthy of Quill and Scroll. There sure was a lot of snow melting today.
A Full Day And Night of Homework - Saturday, March 26, 1960
This morning I did geometry, this afternoon my book review for The Red Badge of Courage, and we had piano lessons, and tonight I read physics and history. Gilbert was here for dinner and Mr. Marcus stopped just as we sat down and was here the whole time talking about another horse. It was pretty warm. Phyl had straight A's the last nine weeks.
71st Column was in the Journal - Friday, March 25, 1960
About all I can say is that I'm glad it's another weekend because the school paper and library club kept me from getting any work done. A week ago at this time we must have been hearing the Grinnell College boys sing at the FHA Convention. Mom got us some horn music but we might exchange some. We're supposed to play Sunday. My 71st column was in the Journal.
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