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.
Fire Drill - Monday, December 5, 1960
I'm poky. I spent all evening getting Mrs. Cowan's bread basket and Karen Yoder (FHA secret sister's) bracelet wrapped up. Now I'm going to have to hurry if I get my chemistry done "before morning." We had a fire drill this afternoon but we couldn't hear the fire alarm till we were clear outside. At least we weren't surprised by its loudness!
Chemistry Formulas and Equations - Sunday, December 4, 1960
I spent all afternoon and night on chemistry, writing formulas and balancing equations. It has about driven me bats. We are supposed to have our workbooks completed, 100 formulas and 250 equations done by the end of class tomorrow. I'm glad I got four chapters in the other government book looked at last night. Cuddebacks were up this afternoon.
Yearbook Deadline - Saturday, December 3, 1960
If utter exhaustion doesn't get me, then I don't know what will! This morning I went over to Wellman to work on the yearbook while Mom and Phyllis went to Iowa City. They only have nine pages completed and 32 were due December 1! I got my health sheet finished up today at the doctor's. I did a little Christmas shopping. The things we ordered from Spiegels are here, so I have mine about done.
Yearbook Assignment - Friday, December 2, 1960
I babysat for Fudges tonight while they went to the girls' game here with Durant.The rest of our family went, too. The girls got beat by quite a lot. I'm about pooped from reading to Craig. Becky has sure grown. I guess I have the yearbook material satisfactorily completed. I had most of the teachers okay it and they seemed to like it. I just got the latest two Gold Feathers ready to send to Iowa City for evaluation.
Writing for Yearbook - Thursday, December 1, 1960
I've been having a lot of fun writing about all of the high school departments for the yearbook. It's the kind of thing I've always wished I could do. But it has taken lots of time and work. Here it is December. It's awful for me not to have my college application sent in. Much longer and I won't get there. I've also got to get my research paper worked on. I took my proofs back to Driscoll's Tuesday and placed my order, but they're not going to start them till after Christmas.
Yearbook Assignment - Wednesday, November 30, 1960
The school paper was real good this time in spite of all our troubles. (Yesterday I had to "correct" all of the right hand margins that someone didn't justify.) Mary Ellen gave me the job of writing about all of the department sections for the Knowledge part of the yearbook. I got the English and science parts done tonight. I've got to get back to my college application, but there's so much school work. The wind finally stopped.
This Poor House - Tuesday, November 29, 1960
The wind is still blowing.When I came up to my room after school, one of my windows (already cracked) had broken out and the curtain was flapping like it was outdoors! This poor house! I don't think I slept half the night last night, so tonight I'm sleeping with Phyllis. We two stayed home tonight while the rest of them went to Kalona--Virginia played in the junior high band concert. I got another A on the government test, unusual for me in social studies!
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