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.
The Hay is Finished - Saturday, July 16, 1960
We finished up the hay after dinner. I never got around to sewing. I'm going to have to so Mom and Virginia can get theirs done. I bought David a birthday card and mailed it--from "your Iowa nieces and nephews". I ironed some. Our new neighbor, Mrs. Morrow, was over twice. She gets lonesome, even with five kids five and under! I'm reading Let the Hurricane Roar by Rose Wilder Lane.
Raspberry Picking - Friday, July 15, 1960
Phyllis, Virginia and I went to the dentist this afternoon since we couldn't last week because of the hay. As it was, Daddy got Jimmy to help.Virginia and I didn't have anything done. Phyl had a baby tooth pulled. We went to the library. I finished mowing the lawn and picked some raspberries. I can't find my other pen. Summer starts on the downward path now. Just found the pen!
An Iowa City Outing - Thursday, July 14, 1960
This afternoon Phyllis and I went up to Iowa City with Mom so she would have someone to ride back with after she went to the Pi Lambda Theta iniation and banquet. She was one of fifteen new members--recommended by two professors. Phyl and I had pizza, visited Shirley Bush at Burge, went to the library and the student union. We put up hay here. I hoed the garden this morning.
Democratic National Convention - Wednesday, July 13, 1960
We've been watching all the goings on of the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Some of the most likely candidates are Johnson, Kennedy, Symington and Stevenson. Iowa had Loveless as a "favorite son" but he withdrew his name. Jimmy rode his bike up. He taught Phyl and me how to play poker and I won! I mowed some lawn. They found Mr. Janacek. The funeral is Friday morning.
The Scrapbook Grandma Gave Me - Tuesday, July 12, 1960
I finally got up in time to take Virginia up to her band lesson although I wondered if I was going to make it! Linda didn't get there for our lesson this time. It rained too much for them to make hay here. I finally used the scrapbook Grandma gave me a year ago at Christmas. It was exactly full with things from my first three years of high school. They haven't found Mr. Janacek yet.
Rules for Tractor Pulling Contest - Monday, July 11, 1960
We have found out that it was just Louie who drowned. No one knows just what happened. They haven't found him yet. Vince ran nearly a mile to a house when he got out and called his parents. Tracy was swept 1/4 mile further downstream. I went up to the school and typed the "Rules" for the Lions Club tractor pulling contest. I had to call Iowa City "information" to get Mr. Fudge on the downstairs phone. He came to run them off.
A Drowning in the Skunk River - Sunday, July 10, 1960
We were down at Bishops this afternoon. Don was the only one home. He had a phone call that Louie Janacek drowned in the Skunk River. Tracy Janecek and Vince Smith were along, and one of them must have drowned, too. Gary Sheetz told Marvin Yoder that it was the Janacek boy. Things sre still indefinite. We had Gary Reif for the church speaker. Ann had dinner with and spent the afternoon at Denise's. Miss United States won the Miss Universe contest.
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