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.
Mother-Daughter Dessert - Thursday, May 19, 1960
Tonight we had the mother-daughter dessert at church. I was a "high school graduate" in the program. Mr. Fudge had me write up the valedictorian and the salutatorian in my column - with pictures - an honor for me. Mrs. Kephart yelled "Where do you think you're going?!" at me for leaving the typing room after she must have said not to leave it.
Kindergarten and First Grade - Wednesday, May 18, 1960
Tonight slipped by with just my writing the beginning of a story for English - I'm not too enthused with it - and writing the rough copy of my column. I have a geometry test I really should study for. The days for the seniors (two left) are going fast. Then, for the first time in twelve years, we'll be the oldest class in school. I remember when the seniors were first graders and we were in Kindergarten. Now the seniors will soon be "gone."
"Please Don't Eat the Daisies" - Tuesday, May 17, 1960
We went to the show, "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," at Virginia's request. It was pretty good. I'm dog tired! Washington is on daylight savings time - confusing. I just missed three of 29 (a B) on our electricity test in physics. Geometry is done for us Friday when the seniors leave.
Voted to Stay in Mid-Prairie - Monday, May 16, 1960
Daddy and Mom went to PTA and just now Daddy and someone who stopped have been chasing someone else's cows, that were in the road, into our field. He got his good suit and shoes caked with mud. At PTA, by a straw vote, they voted to stay in Mid-Prairie. I should hope! We've been lining up the school paper. It's going to have senior and faculty pictures in it.
Ugh! Bugs! - Sunday, May 15, 1960
Ugh! Bugs! They're coming in my window after me! We had youth fellowship tonight. Mom had to run the projector for "Boy Dates Girl." Rev. Peters wasn't there. Now I'm doing geometry. I did English all afternoon. Most of it was makeup since I spent two class periods working on my impromptu theme.
Party For Honor Roll Girls - Saturday, May 14, 1960
This afternoon Phyllis and I drove to Mrs.Foster's house in Wellman for a party honoring the Mid-Prairie honor roll girls. We took Irene Hole along. It was really a lot of fun. I'm meeting so many friendly girls ahead of time, including Shirley Slaubaugh who I guess I'm to be co-editor of the school paper with next year. In town this morning Mom got a permanent. I bought some red material for shorts.
"Two Toads in the Pond" - Friday, May 13, 1960
Friday the 13th! I finished typing my autobiography and theme, "A Toad in the Hand is Worth Two in the Pond." I keep feeling I did something wrong. I just now started making up my English and now find out, "Don't put your humor in quotation marks." I mowed some grass, played softball, rode the horse. Phyl and I didn't go to the FFA party tonight.
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