**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.
Took Our Time on the Scavenger Hunt - Saturday, January 19, 1963
We had our third floor scavenger hunt and party tonight. John and Phil each won a dollar since our group, which came in last, had the hardest list. We had just taken our time since we figured we had lost anyway and even took time out to watch the last 15 minutes of the basketball game (which we lost to National). Our list was: an empty chicken noodle soup can, bottle of Vicks VapoRub, one One-a-Day brand multiple vitamin, a Tetrex, a thimble full of gasoline, an earring, a flashing red light, a broken guitar string, an ice cube, and a garbage can lid. We had lots of fun. Early this morning from 1:30 to 3:00 we had a surprise student union party in the J.R. Read psych this afternoon.
Another B on a History Quiz - Friday, January 18, 1963
Some of us saw the show, "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation," tonight. It was pretty good. I got another B on a history quiz - highest grade I saw of those I sneaked a look at in the boxes - except for one other B. Again I think I was lucky. This weekend I have to catch up on my studies. Bluffing has too many close calls and the lucky breaks aren't really justifiable. I swam the free style in our medley against the LECs today as a last minute substitute when Nancy Neill couldn't swim. We got twelve points altogether today. I went down to Parkville to get Ann a birthday present - a manicure set.
Swam with the LLC Freestyle Team - Thursday, January 17, 1963
I have had quite a day. We learned how to "swim" today just in time for me to put it into practice for the third heat of the 20 yard freestyle for the LLCs this afternoon. There were only three in the heat, so I got three points for third place. Now I've just spent an hour getting tomorrow's teams lined up. Ed psych tonight. Thankfully, we didn't have a test. We had a six page Stylus tonight so I helped stuff center pages and fold this afternoon. Now I have to go outside and get four bottles of pop some of the freshman girls are keeping cold since they can't go out after closing hours. I serve humanity well, n'est-ce pas?
Will Take John on Scavenger Hunt - Wednesday, January 16, 1963
I'm writing my own death notice again getting involved in too many things. Tonight I went to the Cosmopolitan Club meeting that we had under the east balcony while we ate dinner, went to vespers, wrote a letter home, and got our club's roster for the free style events and medley tomorrow. I guess I'll try swimming one of the twenty yard heats. Shirley Conner asked me if I was on an Olympic swimming team, the way I was "doing all this organizing" over in Herr House. John was very nice about accepting the invitation - we'll go on the scavenger hunt with Phil and Margie. I only got four and a half hours of sleep last night. Ed psych - have a lot to read - help!
Waiting to Make a Phone Call - Tuesday, January 15, 1963
If the crazy phone would ever get unoccupied, I could call Copley and ask John Sojay to the scavenger hunt. I've had a time deciding who to ask - I've gotten countless suggestions from understanding girlfriends. I spent the evening in the library reading history and "enduring" the competition of a talkative bunch - "I've read three lines since we got here _____" etc. type of goofing off. We had a big time playing three original games in elementary physical education. I took notes on Sidney Lens, the labor leader's lecture this morning. He was pretty interesting. Maybe I saw a little improvement in beginning swimming. I need to hurry and do poli sci. I'll see how John's coming with his.
In the J. R. the Timing Was Perfect - Monday, January 14, 1963
Oh boy, what a lucky break! I didn't have my French lesson done, and then Dr. Hampl wasn't there. We'll have to go tomorrow though. Well, I did it! The timing was perfect. During an ad on the Ben Casey show, I sat down beside Jim and asked him if they have a game Saturday night - they do, and a Chestnut stag party the same night. He said, "thank you anyway," - gee, he seemed so easy to talk to. Now I'll have to decide who to ask instead. The girls on this floor are so nice - we've just had another floor meeting about the party. I wrote news tonight. I've got to read ed psych. Gosh, these busy days. I daily grow wiser - even socially!
Heard Wareheim from Louisville Seminary - Sunday, January 13, 1963
Tonight has been nicely interrupted a number of times. I'm still as far behind as ever with my homework. I must have been about the only one who got a B on the history quiz. Carolyn and Nancy have both wanted to know what I wrote. We had a guest speaker this morning - Harold Wareheim from Louisville Theological Seminary. He was good. The afternoon went fast as I read history. Now I still have a lot of poli sci to read. And so it goes, around and around.
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