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.
Beat Again in Basketball - Saturday, December 10, 1960
We got beat last night. They're the only team that has ever beaten Mid-Prairie in football and then they have to do it again in basketball! I babysat all afternoon while Mrs. Fudge went shopping in Iowa City. Mom had class up there again. I started sewing my red wool skirt so I can wear it to the French class Christmas party. I am making French block print Christmas cards. This next week will be filled to capacity.
"The Thread of Life" - Friday, December 9, 1960
Phyllis went to the Regina game. I did chores by myself to repay her for doing them for me Wednesday night. I watched "The Thread of Life"- genetics - that Mr. Statler recommended. It was pretty interesting. I was going to go to town tomorrow afternoon, but now I guess I'll babysit for Fudges. Might as well make money rather than spend it. They've been working on our house. They took the front porch off, changed three windows and the back door.
Dusting Powder - Thursday, December 8, 1960
As Phyllis and I both figured we would, we both ended up with dusting powder from our FHA secret sisters. I think Phyllis's pillow for Junean was about the most popular present there. I didn't have to do anything for the yearbook.Everyone else was typing what I've written, so that's okay with me. I was too wordy with my definitions so didn't get five chemistry questions answered on the first part of the test.
Park College Autobiography - Wednesday, December 7, 1960
I just got home from babysitting all evening for Fudges while they went with the teachers to the Captain's Table to treat Howard and Mabel. The kids went to the youth fellowship silent auction at the church. I finished my autobiography since I didn't do chores tonight. Thankfully I managed to get as much chemistry studied in study hall as I would have at home. We had an FHA meeting fifth period.
Betty Crocker Homemaker Test - Tuesday, December 6, 1960
I've been writing my college application autobiography all evening. It at least looks pretty hopeful now and I'll try to have it mailed by Thursday. Jerolyn, Shirley Bush, Linda Scott, Helen Birkey and I took the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow test. On the ten-minute essay part I was still writing the introduction when she said "Stop."! More writing, we also had essay tests on three Medieval England topics.
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.
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