**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.
PCC Hobo Party is a Blast - Saturday, November 11, 1961
I went to the PCC hobo party with Bob Smith tonight. It was a blast. There was singing, square dancing, entertainment, sandwiches and cider, and dancing. Bob's roommate took Lou Rogers and Lou's roommate took Mickey Cook and the six of us really had a time. We were stuffing corn down each other. There was a boy there from Davenport related to the Mills Rambler place in Washington. I accomplished quite a little bit today, cleaned my share of the room, ironed two weeks' ironing, did my French and read some of the Iliad. I hurried through Grandma Kay's and Schwartzes' letters only to find there was no mail delivery because of Veterans Day.
Lecture by Erik R. Von Kuehnelt-Leddihn - Friday, November 10, 1961
Vivien, Margie, Janet and I just got back from hearing a tremendously interesting lecture by Dr. Erik R. Von Kuehnelt-Leddihn from Austria. He spoke on "Colonialism - Myth and Reality." He was sponsored by Park's new Society of the Right and it was very stimulating. Before that we went to the LEC melodrama, "Dora the Beautiful Dishwasher" or "The Girl Who Cleaned Up." The biology test was easy but I made something too hard and goofed a good chance for probably 40 points. My colored pictures finally came. Everyone is pleased with the composition but the color isn't too good.
Concerns About Proposed Changes - Thursday, November 9, 1961
Here I am once again, a college frosh who will probably mess up my biology record tomorrow. I'm shunning genetics problems. We have a French test tomorrow, too. Thank heavens I know most of that. I guess if Park switches to the trimester program next year you'll get out the first of May if you only go two trimesters. I really don't know what all is going to come of this proposed change. The tuition has been raised $200.00 for next year. These fast weeks! And only five more till Christmas vacation. Here it is almost the weekend and this weekend I must catch up on my studying.
Typing Vivien's Philosophy Paper - Wednesday, November 8, 1961
I wrote a fast letter home and I didn't get it proofread before the mailman came. I sent Mom a birthday card. I would have had more time to write but Vivien wanted me to type her philosophy paper for her. Tonight Bob Smith returned my copy of 1984 that he borrowed from me at open house and he asked me to the Parchie hobo party Saturday night. This afternoon Nancy and I went over to see Margie at the infirmary. She's coming home tomorrow. I went with Janet to see her the last two nights. I've about decided not to go to Varner's house at Thanksgiving after all. Dean White doesn't seem to think it's the world's best idea to miss class.
Working on Genetics Problems with Janet - Tuesday, November 7, 1961
I just took long enough out to write to Grandma and Grandpa. It's about time I wrote someone a letter. Golly darn, I flunked my art test. I'm determined not to get a D in any course if it's the last thing I do. Janet spent quite a while tonight showing me how to work genetics problems. She really knows her stuff and she never had biology in high school. I've just got $6.00 again. I don't know where my money goes. The chairman of the National Council on Marriage Relationships spoke in assembly today. I went down to get what was left of my birthday cake in the refrigerator tonight and someone had taken it! They said that happens.
A Roommate's Metamorphosis - Monday, November 6, 1961
Tonight I witnessed a metamorphosis in the form of my roommate. Some of the fourth floor girls have her made up "sexy" looking with a wardrobe planned for her for the week. I slept this afternoon from 2:00 to 5:00. It sure helped me stay awake tonight and I feel better, too. I've really had to spend a long time on French. Now I plan to read the Iliad. I guess I'm not going to have time to write to Grandma and Grandpa or anyone. I got three more birthday cards and a box of cookies from Jane and George. One boy here is from Iowa City (I hadn't known that but knew he was from Iowa). He's familiar with Mid-Prairie, Kalona, Washington. Margie's in the infirmary.
Birthday Cake, Open House, Dorm Party - Sunday, November 5, 1961
I'm now 19 years old. I've had a quite varied and happy birthday. This afternoon Teresa and I went up to the woods again to bring back things for her to make bouquets for the hall windows for open house. I spent the rest of the afternoon getting the room ready for open house. I was about ready to take a shower when the phone rang and they said I had a call on the pay phone. I thought it was the folks calling me for my birthday (on the way down I tried to think of what to say), and on a chair in the phone booth was a birthday cake with lit candles that Vivien had bought and Janet had made. Then a whole bunch of the girls came out of the lounge singing "Happy Birthday." The open house and party afterwards provided me a big birthday party.
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