About the diary writer

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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.

Doing Chores Again - Saturday, December 16, 1961

We went to town this morning. I got started on my Christmas shopping. I talked to several kids I saw in town. Penney's is remodeled, there's a new Ben Franklin store, and Kleins has moved to Everetts' old store. Lots of the stores have Washington's new radio station on on their radios. This afternoon I didn't do much of anything except unpack and read things. Phyllis took the Sunday School class out to Grandma's to make Christmas cookies this afternoon. I did chores for the first time in three months - just like "the good old days." There are six baby pups and some little kittens out there.    

Sleeping While Family Went to School - Friday, December 15, 1961

I slept till 3:30! I only woke up three times and each time went right back to sleep. And the poor family had to get up at 7:00 and go to school after not getting to bed till 4:00. Phyllis and I went to the two boys basketball games at Kalona. We took Martha, Linda Pence and Betty. We won both games. I saw Judy Johnson and Ronna but didn't get a chance to talk to them. The house seems so much smaller than it used to - I guess from being used to the big dorm. Well, back to good old bed. We're using the Polaroid picture that Bob took last summer for the Christmas card.

Leaving Park For Christmas - Thursday, December 14, 1961


It's good to be home. My train was an hour late. We didn't leave Kansas City till about 10:30. Mrs. Cox took Flo, Nancy Kelley, Ken Peterson and me to the station. We met Carolyn Frobig about 9:00. Her uncle helped us catch our trains. The different train men were nice. It was sure fun being in a big city train station and seeing another city at Christmas. This afternoon I got ready to leave, cleaned our room, typed Vivien's philosophy paper, and got her off, read my biology, locked our room behind me, and left Park College for two and a half weeks.

A Candlelight Vespers Service - Wednesday, December 13, 1961

I'm packed and ready to go - if I'm not forgetting anything. Carolyn Frobig is going to get my ticket for me so that will save me some time and trouble. My one suitcase is pretty bulging - I can just see it coming apart in the Union Station! Tonight the family style Christmas dinner was very nice and the candlelight vespers service was so nice. This has really been a nice Christmas at Park. Everyone is busy packing and wishing each other Merry Christmas. I wrote on a Christmas card to Merry Lee. I had to buy a 90 cents French book on Audubon.

We Go to See the Plaza Lights - Tuesday, December 12, 1961

Tonight a school bus load of us went in to Kansas City to see the Plaza Lights. They are really pretty. Some of them follow the shapes of the tower-like building tops. Judy Cox guided Nancy Huebner, Kathy Gillespie and  me around the stores. Gosh, Karen Bentson and I got the third highest grades in the class on the art test. There were a 93 and 92 (A's) and Karen and I had 91's (A-). In biology we made "universes" - test tube aquariums. Dr. Hamilton said I was "turning green" after asking me if I was trying to asphyxiate the place with the Bunsen burner gas. I imagine I was turning red.

Working On Travel Plans - Monday, December 11, 1961

Gosh, I'm hungry. And tired. I got my billfold prints back today. They're okay. Those who've seen them like them. I got a Christmas picture card of Jeff. They think they can bring me back Tuesday, the 2nd so I'll get here around noon. Judy Cox's mother is going to take Flo and me to the train station Thursday night. I've felt a need to sleep today. I got up at 6:10 to study bio after going to bed at 1:00. Everyone is "dead." We were going in to see the Plaza lights tonight but the bus trip was called off. I hope this weather doesn't interfere with traveling Thursday.

Christmas Music Filled Day and Night - Sunday, December 10, 1961

I talked Nancy Huebner into going to the J. R. Christmas party at 9:00. It's now 11:00. I'm going to stay dressed to hear the Madrigal Singers carol at Hawley, then get ready for bed and hope I can both study bio and go to bed at a reasonable hour. I wanted to hear President Morrill give Dickens' Christmas Carol but we got there too late. The concert choir and chamber orchestra program was very good, especially the half hour long Gloria. Vivien is now going with Mickey Cook. The snow we got on Friday is still perfect.