**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.
Saw Lake Superior and Hibbing Iron Ore Mine - Saturday, July 28, 1962
We're just about at the top of the United States - near International Falls in Minnesota. After we crossed into Duluth this morning we drove along the North Shore of Lake Superior as far as Two Harbors. Then we went west 80 miles to visit the two Laddehoff families and Crawfords who moved up here from West Chester. Coming on up through north central Minnesota we saw birch trees and iron ore, pine trees and lakes. At Hibbing we stopped to see the world's largest open pit iron ore mine, three miles long and a mile wide. Something! It's so pretty up here.
We Saw Effigy Mounds National Monument - Friday, July 27, 1962
We are in northwest Wisconsin tonight. We had a nice drive up through northeast Iowa and into Wisconsin. We stopped at Pike's Peak near McGregor, a gorgeous view of the Mississippi, similar to Alfalfa Point, and Effigy Mounds National Monument. We didn't know Iowa had a national monument. The place is fixed up real nice with a trail winding a bluff up to the Indian mounds. Northeast Iowa is really picturesque.
Volunteered to Drive the Tractor - Thursday, July 26, 1962
We're leaving on our trip in the morning. I'm still trying to think of things to take. I drove the tractor here today for unloading straw. It didn't seem like a bad job today. I even volunteered my services. Mom gave me a permanent this afternoon. The state broke 1911 records for coolness - the 40's today.
Completed Scrapbook for First Year of College - Wednesday, July 25, 1962
We went to town this afternoon. I got some new white tennis shoes, nail polish and remover, some tan suiting and matching blouse material and a pattern. I was talking to two guys selling some hope chest or something to working girls. They seemed real nice. They didn't try to sell me any since I wasn't making my own income. (Incidentally, I'm trying to go to the end of September on money I've earned; then I'll have some more.) I'm coming along on my suit. I hope I didn't goof on one of the collar corners. I'll press it out in the morning and see. I fixed up my scrapbook for my first year of college.
Thinking About a Trip North - Tuesday, July 24, 1962
I had an eye appointment this afternoon. Dr. Smith said my nearsightedness is weakening and I didn't need new lenses. If anything, I would get weaker ones. Mom got me two skirt lengths, a green and a gold. My suit is coming along alright. Daddy went up to get the pony tonight but they couldn't get him to go in the truck. We're thinking some about a trip toward the end of this week, or next. North, I guess.
Planning to Get a Brown Horse - Monday, July 23, 1962
Tonight we went up to a place near Sigourney to look at a horse they had. I guess we're going to get it. He's brown and alright except sort of a fat stomach. (That, by the way, is one of my problems!) Then, too, like me, his hair (mane) sort of sticks up! Ann is at Darlene's. Merl and Jim stopped after they finished up their detasseling - for good, they hope. Merl has to leave tomorrow. Roberta Hess stopped with Jerolyn's present to me that I never got for helping with the gifts - a pretty bracelet.
We Had Steaks on Our New Barbecue Grill - Sunday, July 22, 1962
Daddy had a touch of flu or something this morning so didn't go to church. We used our new barbecue grill for steaks for dinner. This afternoon I didn't do much though I made attempts at letter writing and reading Gone With the Wind. We filled out my financial agreement for next year at Park and sent them the 10 cents (at first I thought it was $10) we owe them. Maybe the trimester program won't be too bad. Daddy had a church board meeting tonight.
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