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.
Another Busy Harvest Festival Day and Night - Saturday, October 21, 1961
The LEC float got third place. I do believe our senior class float was better than the first place float. Jay Pooley dreamed the idea for the winning LLC float - "Gone with the Wind". Tabor beat us 2-0 in soccer. It is an interesting, active game. Kay has to go home on the train tomorrow and I can't get the college operator or figure out the timetable to see what time she'll have to leave. Hope she and Beth Purdy don't miss the train! Vivien's folks got here at lunch time. I played the role of "mother" tonight zipping formals, lending items, getting corsages, etc. I should study but I think I'll get to sleep before the gang gets in.
A Bright But Exhausting Harvest Festival Day - Friday, October 20, 1961
This has been a bright but exhausting Harvest Festival day. This morning I got up and got the room ready for Kay. She got here about 10:30 (came on a private plane from Omaha). She's 16 and real nice. This afternoon we saw part of the pep rally, cross country, went to the dedication of Dearing Hall, and tonight we saw the Park Singers and the pageant depicting the life of Col. George S. Park and the founding of Parkville and the college. Margie and I spent about 20 minutes stuffing napkins on the LEC float. Quite a contrast to last year but it sure reminded me of it.
Harvest Festival is Underway - Thursday, October 19, 1961
Vivien is in the infirmary because of her sinuses. I didn't even know she was up there until after dinner. I went up to see her after biology. She thinks she can come home in the morning. It is going to be a picnic sleeping a little later since there are no classes tomorrow. I got some real good colored pictures today if I just didn't move my camera. Tonight the band gave a real good concert along with the king and queen crowning - Paul Thackaberry and Carolyn DeFriend. Jay Pooley's sister is coming to visit him for Harvest Festival. She is going to stay in this room and Vivien will go up to stay with Gloria Brown.
Turned Down a Date With Naaman - Wednesday, October 18, 1961
I have just spent the last of the money (70 cents) Mom and Dad originally gave me when I came to Park for pizza. Now I'll have to cash the check they sent me. I'm going to pass my art test tomorrow if it kills me and food will help hunger. I made a trip to Parkville this afternoon to get some distilled water for my steam iron, some sandpaper, and to inquire about Parkville-Kansas City Trailways bus trips. I hope nobody thought my jug had gin in it! Naaman from Kenya asked me, "Would you take me to the arrangement for Saturday night?" (Harvest Festival dance) but I told him I couldn't go. Some of the girls think I should have gone with him, but I was feeling shy since I've never gone on a formal date.
Lab Animals Died and Need to be Replaced - Tuesday, October 17, 1961
Janet and Carolyn are in the process of papering over Judy's door since Judy originally took Janet's clothes while she was in the shower. We couldn't have lab today because all the little animals died. Dr. Hamilton made a long distance call to North Carolina to have them air mail some more by Thursday. I went over to work out on the trampoline and got my confidence back on the front drop but still need to relearn the back drop. Gee, I got one of the four highest grades in the class on my speech. It's promising but I've got to keep working, working, working at my 17 hours!
About Killed on Trampoline Test - Monday, October 16, 1961
I spent the afternoon in the library reading The Iliad and doing French. Boy, did I ever mess up on my trampoline practical test. Not only did I about kill myself doing the back drop, I couldn't even go down for the front. She said not to worry about it though. I got a letter from Esteps. I wrote to Patty and Delbert telling them I plan to visit them at Thanksgiving time. We had an LEC meeting tonight. When I hear them go through all their planning for the Harvest Festival float it reminds me of our senior float a year ago. Since they decided to have Friday and Saturday off for Harvest Festival, Christmas vacation doesn't begin till the 15th rather than the 13th.
A House Meeting of a Serious Nature - Sunday, October 15, 1961
Tonight we had a house meeting of the serious nature that money has been taken in Hawley. Whoever took it is to return it to Mom Hawkins before tomorrow night. Vivien, Janet, Margie and I made pizzas tonight. We had a half of one apiece. I didn't get much studying done again this weekend. I could kick myself. I took two more colored pictures this morning going to and from chapel. There was a jazz concert this afternoon but I didn't go. I guess Johnny Desmond from the national Glenn Miller TV show was there.
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