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.
A 20th Anniversary Cake for Mom and Dad - Monday, August 21, 1961
This is Mom and Dad's 20th wedding anniversary. Phyllis, Virginia and I went to the dentist this afternoon. I had two fillings and Phyllis one. I hadn't had any in quite a while. He has a new kind of drill that sprays water when he drills and hardly hurts at all. After we kids pooled our money for a cake mix and frosting for their anniversary cake we walked around town with only three cents to our name. We were able to use the services of the library though. I wrote to Phyllis Crone. She's at Paris Beauty Academy in Cedar Rapids.
Peggy and Keith's House and Property - Sunday, August 20, 1961
We went to the root beer stand for dinner, then came home and decided to go down to Peggy and Keith's. Keith had gone fishing, but Peggy showed us the way out to the house and property they are going to buy south of town. The house looks kind of run down, but it is big and can be fixed up nicely. I'm on my third cartridge pen. If this one gets taken I think I'll croak! I wrote to Merry Lee Dean and Sandy Mossiman (Big Sister co-chairman) hoping one of them can straighten out who's to be my "Big Sister."
Still Shopping for Things for College - Saturday, August 19, 1961
All the things Mom has bought me for college! Everything we got today were things I need and a lot of it we were lucky to get on sale: my iron, waste paper basket, summer and winter hats and gloves, two purses, fountain pen, key case, green belt for my dress (which I finished making tonight), alarm clock, slip, three bras, swim suit and cap, and car coat buttons. It's just like Christmas (and probably will be my Christmas!). Mom said the kids would be wearing dresses made from dish towels! I started cutting out my winter dress. I decided to do it on the back side of the material.
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.
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