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.

Attempting to Appear More Glamorous - Thursday, July 5, 1962

I went along to town with Mom early this morning to help her do the wash. This afternoon we kids went in to go swimming. Ann met Denise, and Jim and Larry were there with Tracy Janacek. I bought an eyeliner and shadow, a lipstick brush and powder in an attempt to make myself more glamorous. I just haven't done one constructive thing all summer.

We Went to the Circus in Washington - Wednesday, July 4, 1962

We celebrated the Fourth of July by going to the circus in town this afternoon. It was a pretty good circus, even if I went with what I thought was a grown-up if not pessimistic view of what I thought it would probably be like. I don't see how all those trained animals know just what to do next. Tonight we lit our sparklers. It was a foggy and rainy day.

Saw "Rome Adventure" Tonight - Tuesday, July 3, 1962

Phyllis, Virginia and I decided to go to the show, "Rome Adventure," tonight. We took Linda and Abbie with us. Troy Donahue (from "Parrish") was in it. By the time Phyllis and I waited around this afternoon until they had the hay baled (and then they didn't need us to help them unload it after all) the afternoon was gone. We have a little puppy here that someone evidently dropped off beside the road.

Burned Nearly 1000 Letters - Monday, July 2, 1962

Today I continued going through my stuff and this evening spent two hours going through most of it for the last time as I burned old letters and papers. I've had nearly 1000 letters (more than 890 from pen pals) that I'd always kept, but now they are carbon. Ann has Sheryl and Darlene home with her for a going away party for Sheryl who is moving to California.

Throwing Out Pen Pal Letters with Phyllis's Help - Sunday, July 1, 1962

It was a cool and rainy Sunday. This morning I taught the juniors class and will for the rest of the summer. This afternoon Phyllis helped me go through my high school things again and I threw away a lot more - including all of my pen pal letters (finally) except those from Mrs. Cowan. Now to get what I want to into a photograph album and scrapbook. I shouldn't have too much left in the closet that is in Phyllis's way.

Opened Jerolyn's Gifts at Her Wedding - Saturday, June 30, 1962

Jerolyn's wedding was this afternoon at the Christian Church in Keota. It was real nice. I helped with the gifts along with three of her friends from Commercial College. She got about five white bedspreads and three toasters but aside from that a pretty nice variety. Linda Timmins went along with me. I have a bruise on my left arm which is so dumb of me - from shooting the bow and arrows yesterday.

Phyllis was a Young Republican Delegate - Friday, June 29, 1962

Betty, Carmen, Phyllis and I went to the Washington-Mid-Prairie baseball game at Kalona tonight. Betty drove. We lost 13-1 and forfeited before the game was over. Betty and Phyllis went to the Republican County Convention as Young Republican delegates from West Chester and now they get to go to the state convention on July 20th. I baled one load of hay (haven't done that in ages) and Virginia the rest while Phyllis was in town this morning.