**nightly entries written by a coming-of-age girl who became a woman from Washington County Iowa**
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.
Sophomores Are in National Honor Society - Tuesday, May 2, 1961
Here I am with a cold in full swing again. It's maddening. Oh, by the way, Phyllis is one of the eight new sophomore members of the National Honor Society. The others are Linda Timmins, Linda Pence, Gary Swain, Gene Stromley, Dorothy Mast, Nancy Lewis and Sheila Maxwell. I worked on a picture for my project. I might try to do another one or two for a sries of scenes. I've got to put my cold to bed.
Seniors Go to Court Day - Monday, May 1, 1961
Jerolyn started my day by getting me up at 5:45. I didn't sleep very good last night--had to go to the bathroom twice. Anyway, our families told little white lies to [one of our classmates] for our sake so we wouldn't have to take her with us to Court Day. We felt awful, but we didn't want her trailing us all day. Court Day was interesting. Lee, Arthur, Jim Slockett and Fred got called for the jury. Lee and Jim were on it--also Linda Crile and a lot of kids I knew. I went to an Honor Society meeting tonight but just got there in time for adjournment.
Seventeen More Senior Pictures - Sunday, April 30, 1961
I wrote off seventeen more senior pictures after a lapse of about two months. Maybe I'll get them all done and given before school's out. Something tells me that for an A in English this semester I should read or write for my A Tale of Two Cities project. But she said writing a script would also mean a presentation, and I haven't got that much energy when I probably won't get an A anyway. I always have for every semester so far in English. I read one chapter of chemistry.
Lack of Enthusiasm - Saturday, April 29, 1961
I let another Saturday go by without getting anything done. I slept most of the morning. We went to town this afternoon but there sure wasn't much doing. It was a cold, rainy day but hot in the stores. I kept getting dizzy. I don't know what to do for my A Tale of Two Cities project. This isn't like me, but I'm sure not enthused. I don't want to read or write and I can't draw. Help! The little kittens and puppies sleep together out at Grandma's. Sonja and Sheri are out there. Rikki had his tonsils out yesterday.
Mushroom Hunting - Friday, April 28, 1961
I'm afraid I good and properly flunked a chemistry test. I had read it but didn't have a chance to go over it this morning and hadn't done the workbook. Tonight we drove over near Kalona and to Dwight Colliver's to get some seed corn. We visited Collivers about half an hour. Some of the kids in music got to stay all night in Vinton. Phyllis and I hunted mushrooms in Bady's timber (but with no luck) while they did chores.
It's Beginning to Rain - Thursday, April 27, 1961
All this time I was thinking the last school day of April comes on Monday rather than tomorrow. No wonder Mrs. Fordyce was in such a dither over the school paper. I stayed to work on it after school (along with Nancy) and still got home in time to do chores. Something is wrong with Mrs. Kephart--she doesn't dig me--probably because I'm afraid of her!?! It's beginning to rain. I like the sound. I don't very often hear it begin to rain. I bet I humdingered a C on our A Tale of Two Cities essay test.
Talking and Tiredness - Wednesday, April 26, 1961
We had a newspaper meeting during activity period with this year's and next year's production staffs. I just didn't feel up to it after school, so I came home rather than stay. Mrs. Fordyce told me to restrain myself and that I wasn't setting a very good example for the sophomores by my talking when they had to keep still. Grr! I finished A Tale of Two Cities. It's a good book. Last summer I was determined to really study this year. I don't know why I'm always too tired to study extra when I do have some spare time.
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