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.
Remaining Second Floor Gang Had a Party - Tuesday, September 4, 1962
The entire remaining second floor gang got together tonight down in Carolyn and Karen's room for the neatest party - decorations and food (simple) included. After several of them left Judy and Jan came over from Hawley. We left finally at 1:30. Registration was today. I'm taking French, religion, psychology, sociology and American history. Oh yes, and modern dance and bowling for gym. There was a square dance tonight and "booths" for the freshmen sponsored by the social clubs. Oh, life! College - the greatest!
Feeling Rushed About Requirements - Monday, September 3, 1962
During the summer of 1962 the Park College administration made the decision to change the academic calendar from two 18-week semesters to three 15-week trimesters per year. The summer trimester will be optional rather than required. This seems like a Saturday night the way everyone is carrying on. We're going to feel rushed to get in upperclass program requirements the way it sounds. We learned a few thoughts from Dean Hulbert at the upperclass meeting this afternoon.
Our Room is a Pretty Shade of Green - Sunday, September 2, 1962
Things look pretty pretty good at Park this year. It's so much fun to "invade" Herr House as sophomores. (The upperclass girls probably think we're a pretty chattery bunch!) The folks got me here at 10:00 and left to go home by way of Tarkio College at 10:45. Our room was painted a lovely shade of green (it had been a drab beige). My pole lamp room divider, bulletin board, Marge's cafe curtains and our room arrangement look good. I got "into things" right away - Becky and I stapled papers in the registrar's office for an hour and a half this afternoon. Vivien is rooming with Janet - Marge's original roommate!
We Are Staying in Waverly, Missouri Tonight - Saturday, September 1, 1962
We have a nice motel in Waverly, Missouri overlooking the good old Missouri River tonight. We're about 50 miles east of Independence. It will be fun to come in to Kansas City from this side. We came down through Marshall so Phyllis could see Missouri Valley College. She seems to like it pretty well. Maybe she'll decide to come and we'll be 80 miles apart next year. We left home at 11:30 this morning after packing the trunk of the car once again - we always manage somehow to get all my junk in!
Ready to Return to Park - Friday, August 31, 1962
This is my last night in this house. This afternoon I packed for college. It seems easier when you pack at college to go home - I guess everything is in a compact place and not scattered all over the house. I wonder what all I'll forget. Mom and Dad and Stouts went to the Mid-Prairie picnic at Wellman tonight. Kent and Robbie stayed here. Virginia went swimming. Grandma and the Schroeder kids stopped this afternoon. This vacation began June 1st and ended the last day of August! Usually one has some days in May or September or both.
Hem Lengths: 23 Inches or 24 Inches - Thursday, August 30, 1962
This morning I fixed up several things - buttons, tucks and a hem. I guess I'll leave my 24 inch hems the way they are, though one inch can really make a difference and I like 23 inches better. There's argument in the fashion world this year as to whether or not the hemline should be lowered a speck. Our water isn't working. It keeps shocking us when it's turned on and today Ann and I even got shocked when it was off. We keep it off except to run enough water to use. So we girls went out to Grandma's to wash our hair. Schroeders' kids are there. Virginia and Phyllis helped Isabelle serve lunch at the church to the West Chester teachers.
Three Dresses Are Too Tight - Wednesday, August 29, 1962
Tonight I realized that I had an acute problem: that I don't have anything to wear (for everyday classes). It's my own fault. I should have discovered long ago that three of my dresses were too tight. Mom gave me two skirt and blouse outfits and kept the dresses. I didn't feel justified in taking them but she said I'd get more use out of them than she would. We washed this afternoon. I was about broke but I got a pair of blue earrings on sale for 25 cents. I talked to Jim Orr and Billie Embree.
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