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.
Able to Join the Church - Sunday, April 10, 1960
I'm so pooped I could drop! Betty Peters is here getting help with algebra from Phyllis. Carmen, Mrs. Pearson, Phyllis, Betty and I sang our quintet. It was pretty good. We had communion. Virginia and Ann finally were able to join the church and they weren't even expecting it. Rev. Peters had so many excuses they never did join last year and they never had the classes. I decided to run for FHA historian next year. We can choose the office we're interested in.
Shopping for Easter Clothes - Saturday, April 9, 1960
Daddy gave us permission to skip chores and go to town after our piano lessons. Purpose: to hike around town trying to find Easter clothes. I got a blue wool-cashmere shorty coat for $10.00 and a brown and white plaid sundress with brown jacket. I also bought a purse and hose. Mom got some red heels and purse. I made a play for the Sunday School class from the lesson book. It's for the breakfast. I got my $10.00 check from the Journal. I got my hair cut.
A Skit for Library Week - Friday, April 8, 1960
This afternoon the freshman girls gave the skit I wrote for the Library Week assembly. They performed my creation very nicely! Phyllis and some of the other kids got bookmarks for reading the most books. Phyllis and I went to choir practice. We're going to have a quintet Sunday. Virginia was home with a temperature today.
Non-Rotation Volleyball Server - Thursday, April 7, 1960
I got up this morning and wrote a skit for the freshman girls for Library Week. They'll give it tomorrow. Mrs. Fisher didn't ask Mr. Elder till yesterday if he'd speak - too short a notice. My team chose me me as their server for the two non-rotation games! These beautiful spring days!
University of Iowa Library Tour - Wednesday, April 6, 1960
This afternoon the library club toured the university library in Iowa City. Mrs. Kephart and Mr. Fudge went along. It fascinated me. They have telephone books for England, Scotland, Miami, etc., a room of old books and original manuscripts of Iowa authors, microfilm reading, all old magazines bound. They get 5,000 regular magazines. I wrote my column. We're at the point of half and half for spring and winter clothes.
FHA Council Meeting - Tuesday, April 5, 1960
Tonight I babysat for Cuddebacks' neighbors while they went roller skating with Cuddebacks. She paid me $1.55 - heavens! They have two little boys and a girl. They're so cute. This afternoon Mrs. Small, Gerry, Sheryl and I went to Wellman for an FHA Council meeting for next year's FHA. We got a lot accomplished. Phyllis's class went skating tonight, too.
A Speaker for Library Week - Monday, April 4, 1960
I finished my English project to meet tomorrow's deadline, shortened the skirt I think I'll wear (it's been too long - I wear it when we wear our matching shirts), and polished my shoes. I'll have to get up and do geometry in the morning. After school I went to see Mrs. Fisher. She's going to try to get Dave Elder to speak to us for Library Week.
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