**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.
Shopping in Kansas City - Saturday, November 4, 1961
This afternoon Janet, Margie and I went shopping in Kansas City. I got an orange belt to replace the one I broke on my orange plaid skirt and a birthday card for Mom. Janet and Margie got some clothes but I decided I should save some money. Vivien and I traded desks and are going to trade closets so I'll have all this side of the room. [An upperclass guy] asked me to the show but I'm sort of glad I was able to say I'd already seen it - "Parrish." It seems as if nobody likes him although some think it's sort of a sad case. I don't know what's wrong with him. A lady in the bus depot was reading today's Des Moines Register. Princess Margaret had a boy yesterday.
On Bio Mid-Term Vivien Gets Highest Grade - Friday, November 3, 1961
I did my laundry tonight rather than Friday afternoon as usual. There was so much racket with them putting up the fire door in the hall right outside our room that I decided my best bet was to go to the library. Vivien and I both washed our bedspreads so they should look nice for open house. Janet and I are sleeping (and early) in here tonight and Vivien (who's baby sitting) can have Janet's bed. I got 78 on my bio mid-term test. Vivien had the highest score - 88. I have a C average so far - B if they don't count the lowest test score the way they might do for the semester. I had Regina take a colored picture of me to finish the roll.
Birthday Box is Opened Three Days Early - Thursday, November 2, 1961
My birthday box arrived today. I got a pretty brown jersey blouse, a pink blouse, a pair of pretty silver earrings, beads and earrings to go with my magenta dress, two little pilgrim candles, a box of FHA saltwater taffy, Mom's copy of Vance Packard's The Status Seekers that mentions Park College, school papers, and a view book and pretty wool scarf from Mrs. Cowan. I got a pretty fall handkerchief and $2.00 plus "a dime to grow on" from Grandma and Grandpa and a dollar from Grandma Kay yesterday. It's getting cold and the paper says it's supposed to snow by morning! I hope I passed the art test. I only got a C on my speech. The president and dean spoke on some of the proposed changes for Park at assembly.
Three Chapters of Art Left to Read - Wednesday, November 1, 1961
I've decided that by spending an hour on each of my remaining three chapters of art I might pass the test tomorrow. I've really got myself in a mess this time. I think I'll have to pray for a miracle. I guess I'd better not get panicky or I won't know a thing. I'll have to concentrate on a few things. Gosh, it's only a two-hour course. I didn't take time to go to chapel or the campus church meeting tonight. I yearn to get back into a little more conversation and having fun rather than gluing myself to books - this is what comes from doing the former - oh, help!
Some of Us Went Trick or Treating - Tuesday, October 31, 1961
I was going to read art instead of going to the Halloween horror show. However, I spent so much more time on our trick or treat bit than I planned that I probably might as well have gone ahead and gone. As a group some of us Hawley girls dressed up and went to Copley to trick or treat. Then several of us went to President Morrill's house, Dean White's, Stephens (no answers at those two) and Herr House. It was a riot, all dressed up as if we were grade school kids. I have about this many pages in thickness (-----) of art to read by Thursday.
Russia Tested a 50 Megaton Nuclear Bomb - Monday, October 30, 1961
I spent the afternoon in the library trying to read and keep awake. The latter made concentrating on The Iliad rather difficult and I'm ten chapters or so behind! I guess I'll go to bed for tonight although I don't feel too tired right now. Russia has set off its 27th nuclear test since its resumption of nuclear testing this summer. And this one was thought to have been 50 megatons - 2,500 times as powerful as those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I got the nicest letter from Norma. It was so nice of her to write. We have started the reproduction unit in bio. We started turning flips on the trampoline.
Fourth Floor Girls Give a Chinese Party - Sunday, October 29, 1961
I didn't spend this weekend studying - and I should have. Fourth floor gave second and third a Chinese party tonight. Tonight I saw my fifth movie of the weekend - "Sons and Lovers." It wasn't as good as I expected. Boy, am I tired. I'm going to sleep in Regina and Terry's room again like I did last night. Last night Terry and I were the "night owls." Tonight Regina and Viv are. Must sleep.
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