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.
A Drive to Fairfield - Sunday, April 3, 1960
This afternoon Mr. Peters and Betty, Sharon, Martha and Mary, and Phyllis, Virginia and I drove down to Fairfield only to find they had called the youth rally off. We didn't want to go very bad anyway. We had so much homework. I got most of it done, but I know I should have done some yesterday. But I deserve a break!
A Temperature on a Saturday - Saturday, April 2, 1960
It isn't fair! I've had a 100 degree temperature all day. Consequently, I got very little done, and no homework done. Virginia had a basketball girls party at Miss Flake's tonight. Mom and Ann did the washing before they brought home a car load of girls. Marion and Larry and Janet came up. I'm supposed to babysit for their neighbors Tuesday night.
Seven Times for Seven Points - Friday, April 1, 1960
I'm suffering a bruised hand and stiff arm from our third day of volleyball this week. I served seven times in a row for seven points - I think that's a record for me. Well, we got my beloved school paper given out - April Fools stories and all. Mrs. Smith gave us a chapter geometry test without warning. Ugh!
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)