**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.
Went to See Karen and Her Baby - Saturday, December 29, 1962
I got a good start on my dress, though I didn't work too hard on it. I'd like to get it done in time for Mary Ellen's party. This afternoon I went to see Karen Baker Speas. They live where Karen used to live now and have a baby girl, Tammy Lynn, born a week ago yesterday. She's real cute. Except for the chance meeting last summer, I haven't talked to Karen since the day of her wedding. It was sort of interesting catching up on the West Chester segment of the class and recalling old times, but it makes me feel rather old! Yesterday I went to Advance Ross Manufacturing and to the Journal office to see about the possibility of a job starting the last week in April. Maybe I can get one or the other.
First A in a College Course is in Psychology - Friday, December 28, 1962
My grades came this morning. I finally got an A in a college course - psychology! Thank heavens, I got a C in religion. I was sort of sweating that one out. I got a B in French and phys ed, and C in history and sociology. It comes out to a 1.6 average [on a 3.0 scale] - not quite as good as my planned B average. Oh dear. We went to town this afternoon. I exchanged the brown skirt for a pink wool sweater with hood and two print blouses. I also got a cute print dress on sale at Penney's for $3.00 and my pattern. I cut the dress out tonight. I called Helen and then she called me back tonight about going to Mary Ellen's New Year's Eve party. They wanted me to call Bob Parcell and tell him about it, but he already had plans made (he may see about going, though).
Bought Material For a Red Cocktail Dress - Thursday, December 27, 1962
I have a headache, but I guess I should be glad I don't get them in college (can only remember having one) like Gloria, I think it was, who said she had had one for the last year. We went down to Parcells for dinner. It was the New Year's dinner early. We stopped in Fairfield on our way down and I got three yards of a pretty red material to make a cocktail dress. It's going to be stunning! Mrs. Kline was here tonight. She's selling Minnesota Woolens now and I ordered a knit (cotton) shift dress in a green and white stripe with a green tie. It's real cute. Phyllis is getting a tan one.
Made Cookies For Children's Home - Wednesday, December 26, 1962
This afternoon Phyllis, Virginia and I and the rest of the girls in the Sunday School class went out to Grandma's to bake Christmas cookies for the children's home in Ottumwa. Jeff was so cute and "helpful" rolling out cookie dough with his own little rolling pin and so forth. These days seem to go so fast. I wrote a few more Christmas cards. It doesn't seem to me like Christmas should be past already, I guess because it was so late in the season before I could even think about it. I patched my blue slacks where I caught them on a nail down at the gym, but I see it didn't hold.
Christmas 1962 Was Truly a White One - Tuesday, December 25, 1962
Christmas 1962 was very nice. It snowed here last night for the first time this winter. It won't happen that way very often, that you get the first snow of the year right on the day for a truly "White Christmas." I got a new tan sweater, brown skirt (that I'll probably exchange), Laura Ingalls Wilder's new book, On the Way Home, red knee socks, billfold, diary, post-a-notes, silk blouse, and girdle from Santa Claus, necklace from Ann, magic mascara from Virginia, circle pin from Phyllis, note papers and star fish pin from Schwartzes, and $3.00 from Grandma Kay. We all got the game of Troke from Schwartzes. Cuddebacks, Grandma and Grandpa, and Varners were here for dinner. This seemed like a fast Christmas. But it was really a nice one.
Ann Helped Virginia Make Christmas Cookies - Monday, December 24, 1962
Christmas eve once again. The years go by so fast. I wrote a few Christmas cards this evening. I'm really late getting mine sent out this year. I got Margie's package ready and mailed it to her. This afternoon Mom and I drove to Wellman. Phyllis's colored picture was supposed to be ready, but we found out it wasn't after all. She got Ann a few more presents and we got some groceries. It seems like I'm wasting my time, but maybe a few days of doing nothing is good for me. At least I don't need to feel guilty about not getting any homework done. Virginia made Christmas cookies almost all day. Ann helped her some.
Luggage and a Card Table and Chairs - Sunday, December 23, 1962
Today we had the annual dinner and gift exchange at Grandma's. I got a pretty little brown coin purse from Grandma. All of the families together got Grandma and Grandpa a set of luggage for Christmas. This evening I helped Mom wrap up the card table and chairs she bought as the church's gift to Peterses. The Sunday School program was tonight. For once I just sat in the audience (what there was of it) and enjoyed the whole thing. The college didn't even let us out in time to send Christmas cards to get there on time hardly, so since I haven't gotten around to mine, I guess they'll really be late.
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