**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.
15 of Us Took a Psychological Test Tonight - Tuesday, May 15, 1962
Tonight 15 of us freshman girls took a psychology test on group activities that Carolyn, Mickey, John Laderer and Ed gave. We took a written test and then had a group discussion on criminology. They observed us for such things as participation, leadership, how easily we were swayed and so forth, although we didn't know that at the time. Kelmie wants me to type her religion paper now but she didn't get it over here tonight as she planned. I'm afraid I just might not have it done for her tomorrow night. Mrs. Applebee spoke in chapel this morning. She's such a nice lady. Her grandfather (one of Park's original 17) wrote "Near to the Heart of God."
Prose for Unrequited Love - Monday, May 14, 1962
I don't like Mr. Larson. He gave F's to 23 on the music test and I was among the unfortunate. Ooh, I'm sick. Now I have another possible D for a course to be concerned about. Another world dropped out from under me yesterday when Jim went off with Linda Lehman and some other kids in a convertible for an afternoon of fun. As if it should matter. I wish I had the nerve to flirt with all the campus gods who have ever eyed me - including "the most huggable man on campus." My, I sound bad off. This is my prose for unrequited love.
Attending a Discussion About the Baha'i Religion in the Meetin' House - Sunday, May 13, 1962
Tonight some of us went to the discussion on the Baha'i religion in the Meetin' House. At first I wondered if they weren't propagating a Jehovah's Witness type religion, but they seem to be an intelligent, well-informed, and energetic group, and have some real good points. Well, I accomplished a little homework this weekend but not as much as I should have. I wrote home to inform them I'm supposed to be out of here 24 hours after my last final (Tuesday at 12:15). They weren't going to come until at least Thursday evening and maybe not until the weekend. Maybe I can get a job for a couple of days.
Pictures at Heart of America Alumni Association Meeting - Saturday, May 12, 1962
Now I have not only taken pictures for the view book but for the July Alumniad as well - if they turn out. Both Tom and Kathy went to Council Bluffs today so they had me take pictures at the Heart of America Alumni Association meeting tonight in the Meetin' House. Tom showed me how to work the press camera this morning and Mr. Edwards was there tonight to tell me what to take (one was of the audience - and he even introduced me!). I went to the library for a while this afternoon. Marge and I fixed up a note in a bottle commemorating our canoe trip to drop in the Missouri. The finders we hope will notify us.
Looking at Old Congressional Globes and Records in the Library Attic - Friday, May 11, 1962
Four more prospective students have arrived. We have them from time to time. Some of us went swimming tonight. The pool was crowded but refreshing. Marge was at the library this afternoon so I took her up to the attic. We looked at old Congressional Records (and Globes), Park class pictures, old Narvas and Styluses. It's so interesting up there. I was looking at a Ladies' Home Journal for 1898. It was full of corset advertisements. Yesterday the temperature (92 degrees) was the hottest for the day since 1911 (88 degrees). It must have been as hot today.
A Copy of Finals Schedule Brought Back From Mackay is a Popular Possession - Thursday, May 10, 1962
Boy, tonight went fast. It's bad enough when the days go fast, but when the nights slip away, too --! I guess we don't have anatomy class tomorrow so I'll be able to sleep later. The finals schedule came out today. Since I brought a mail box copy back I had the most popular piece of mail for the day in my possession. I have French and anatomy the first day, world lit on Monday, and music Tuesday. In anatomy we had the fun of looking at both the male and female pig reproductive systems - it proved interesting to say the least.
A Kansas City Rabbi Was Vespers Speaker Tonight - Wednesday, May 9, 1962
Miss Hampl has taken too much of my time again tonight. We had an hour and a half of slides and an Air France film in French Circle. I must go to France some day. I'm still doing French. I went to vespers tonight. A Jewish rabbi from Kansas City gave a real good speech. He gave the benediction in Hebrew and translated each line into English. I don't know how I did on the music test. I missed an A by three points on my French test.
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