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.
Grandpa Borrows "I Dare You" to Read - Friday, August 18, 1961
Not much did I really accomplish today. This morning I mowed some grass. This afternoon I rested and hemmed a skirt. It has been a hot day and we're all tired from all the company being here. Aunt Bertha is out at Grandma's. I took Grandpa my "I Dare Yo" book to read. He wanted to borrow it. Now a pair of intricately horned little moths are visiting me. They have dainty feather-like antennae. Mary is home with Virginia. Mom froze peaches. Daddy mowed weeds. Phyllis consented to "home typing lessons"!?!
A Letter From a Hawley Hall Floor Counselor - Thursday, August 17, 1961
I feel myself getting slower. I find it hard to hurry - even now, for instance, when the kids are yelling at me to hurry up and get in bed so the light won't be in their eyes! Help! I finished my dress except for the hem. I am starting to hem up some dresses and skirts. I got a letter from Merry Dean from New Mexico who is to be my Hawley Hall floor counselor this year. I'll have to find out if I'm still supposed to hear from my "Big Sister." Norma "gave me a talking to" about never going over to see her. I do feel guilty about it.
More Clothes for College - Wednesday, August 16, 1961
Today I put the soil samples I have in the containers. I had just 25 - more than I thought. A few are skimpy but that adds variety. I got another letter (form) from a Park girl about another of the five brother-sister clubs. Mom ordered me a magenta dress that I like, a longline bra, and a basket purse from Lana Lobell. I'll need hats and gloves for college. I think we had thought of everything I'll need, but some things we weren't sure about. We took our last piano lessons. I took the book, Iowa Outpost, all about Grace Hill, including Sheryl Vodicka's house, down to Sheryl.
Park Will Have 153 New Freshmen - Tuesday, August 15, 1961
We had another potluck supper out at Grandma's - Cuddebacks, Esteps and us. I got a freshman handbook and a book with pictures and addresses of the 153 new freshmen at Park. It's too bad they had to use my old junior picture reprint close-up. I suppose it could have been worse. In town this morning I got brown flats, green corduroy tennis shoes, a mirror, soap dish, and 25 of the 50 bottles I'll need to put my different states' soil samples on display. I ironed some of my clothes this afternoon.
Phyllis Registers for Her Junior Year - Monday, August 14, 1961
Tonight we went to the club picnic in the park. Mom was in charge of it. Mom, Virginia, Ann, Edna and the Estep girls went in to reserve the pavilion this afternoon. The kids went swimming. Phyllis went over to register this afternoon with some of the kids. (I can remember how frightened and uncertain the two of us were on that day last year!) She is going to take English, chemistry, Spanish and history. I sorted out my clothes. Most of them are good enough to take to Park. I have about ten things to shorten! We did my suit this morning.
Esteps Are Here for Dinner - Sunday, August 13, 1961
Esteps were here for dinner and the girls are staying here tonight. Merl was in my Sunday School class today!?! Goodness, I don't believe I did much of anything today. I answered Bob Barnes' letter. I hope I hear from my "Big Sister" before much longer or I am going to have to write to the first girl to see if she can get me another one. I didn't get my room cleaned up. I wonder what the Estep girls think! I started reading the first of our Bible Stories series. It is interesting. We're planning to use the set for Sunday School opening exercises since Johnsons have the set, too.
Slides Show Ann Was a Cute Little Girl - Saturday, August 12, 1961
We finished up the hay baling out at Grandma's. We did 642 bales this week. I guessed 640! Tonight Mom showed a lot of our slides. I never realized Ann was such a cute little girl!?! I answered Vernice Varley's letter, but I don't know what the LLC Club is. I also wrote another letter to Vivienne. I should write to my pen pals, too. I'm afraid some of them will have almost become a thing of the past by the time I start writing college letters home and to friends around here.
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