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.
Hail and Snow on Easter - Sunday, April 17, 1960
We had a nice Easter although the weather was about the worst we've ever seen for Easter. It was cold, windy, rainy, and it even hailed and snowed! We had dinner at Grandma's. Parcells couldn't come because Sonja was sick. Phyl and I played our horns and Virginia accompanied us for the 9:00 o'clock service.
A Ton of Feed in a Week - Saturday, April 16, 1960
The urge to play basketball, practicing our horns for tomorrow, and coloring Easter eggs kept me from getting any homework done except geometry. I hemmed up my Easter dress. We had a close thunder storm during chores. Several times I thought it had me. Daddy won an Easter ham at Porter's for buying a ton of feed in a week.
Ham Radio in Physics Class - Friday, April 15, 1960
School was dismissed at 1:30 for Good Friday. We went in to town to do the wash. I got a $4.00 value Sheaffer cartridge pen and ten cartridges for $1.00 and a new pair of white tennis shoes. With Jim Orr's ham radio today we heard a Keota-Batavia conversation mentioning "the West Chester physics class." We went to Grace Hill to church tonight.
Tape Recording a Current Event - Thursday, April 14, 1960
I spent all evening tape recording my 15-minute current event for history tomorrow. Mrs. Diekman has been asking all year for something new. Now after pulling off miles of broken tape and doing it over again about four times with dear Virginia's wonderful help, Ogden and Jim will probably goof off tomorrow. I take life too seriously. Jim Orr was our "physics professor" today.
No Assigned Homework - Wednesday, April 13, 1960
Tonight we went to the service at our church. The choir sang. I wish Mrs. Janacek would use the organ more - she's not even going to for our Easter song. This has been the first night in months that I haven't had any actual homework. Even then I recopied my book review, and there are many more things to do.
Forgetting How to Shift - Tuesday, April 12, 1960
I had to drive the Dodge out to Grandma's tonight. I forgot how to shift! Daddy had to get me started! Mrs. Kephart is going to send some of my writing to the National Council of Teachers of English for a possible scholarship. I wish I could find my Education and Survival essay, but I've probably written better things since. I'm going to have to get some current events ready for Friday.
Combined Churches All Week - Monday, April 11, 1960
I'm still pooped! I haven't read my latest column yet, and it was in Saturday. I think someone stole our Journal. This is the longest I've gone without reading it. They are having church every night this week, but we didn't go tonight. The churches combined for the services.
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