**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.
A Fabulous, Beautiful Day in Kansas City and at Park - Saturday, February 3, 1962
This afternoon Marge and I went in to Kansas City from 1:00 to 4:00. I bought a tan purse and matching shoestring belt. This was truly a fabulous day - 65 beautiful degrees or more. Trench coats were plenty - you could go without a coat if you wanted to. Marge and I went over to sit on Mackay steps tonight and watched the sunset and listened to the chimes.
Groundhog's Shadow, Magazine Stacks and Gone With the Wind - Friday, February 2, 1962
The groundhog had a beautiful day today. I'm afraid he saw his shadow, although it was cloudy at first this morning. Gee, February 2nd already. I'm starving, but I'd just as soon sleep as eat. Barb Page and I went to see Gone With the Wind tonight. I got more out of it the second time. I got quite a lot done at the library. I even got back to my straightening and dusting of the magazine stacks.
Almost Locked in the Library - Thursday, February 1, 1962
I'm really going to be busy this semester even if I just have 15 hours. They will amount to about what I had last semester. We didn't have lab this afternoon. I probably could have gone to work early this afternoon but decided not to confuse anyone by doing so. I about got locked in the library this evening. Patty Pence going out the front door and Miss Fishburn and Mr. Jones going out the back door all thought I was at the opposite door. President Morrill spoke at assembly this morning. He called it the "Survival Assembly."
Will Be in Charge of Periodicals - Wednesday, January 31, 1962
I think I'm going to like my two new classes of anatomy and physiology and introduction to music, and I know I'm going to like my job. Dick Connett is leaving the library for a job in the chemistry department so I am taking over his job in charge of periodicals. It involves sorting the mail, recording all incoming magazines and newspapers, and putting them on the racks. I won't have any morning work so I'll try to get my French done after second hour. I got a good letter from Mom. Tonight we had a Campus Church meeting with election of officers.
Finding Fossil and Geode Specimens - Tuesday, January 30, 1962
I got my registration taken care of after the usual hour long procedure in Mackay. I went for a walk with Gloria. We went up to Alfalfa Point (I've now seen it snow covered) and then started looking for fossils and geodes on the hill above the highway. We brought back several specimens. We stopped in the science building to show them to Dr. Hamilton but he wasn't there. I got an A on my biology final and an S+ on my succession lab report.
First Semester Grades and a Job at the Library - Monday, January 29, 1962
I got to Kansas City about 12:30 after getting on the bus at 8:50. I shopped around in Kansas City and then ran on to Marge and Carolyn in Macy's. We got back to campus on the 4:00 bus and I had my grades waiting for me. I'm real pleased with everything except world lit. They are as follows: French, B+; biology, B; phys ed, B; speech, B; world lit, C; and art, C+. I also got my 12 hour a week job at the library. Tonight I was busy helping make punch and pop corn for our party for Copley (they returned our stolen hair dryer) and cleaning up afterward. I felt perfectly fine this morning.
A Case Indigestion Puts a Damper on Visit - Sunday, January 28, 1962
Darn! Why does this happen to me? I had a case of flu or indigestion today of all days - I bet the last time I was sick like this was at the FHA state convention in Des Moines. They had to stop the car for me to throw up on the way home from church. I hope it is only a one-day siege - I think my stomach's aching now because of hunger. Pat, Delbert and Jeff went to a church meeting tonight. I stayed here and read the Sunday paper. I slept this afternoon. It was fun going to Sunday School and church in El Dorado. I've had such a nice time at Varners.
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