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.

Went on a Shopping Spree - Saturday, May 25, 1963

I treated myself to a shopping spree this afternoon. I got a tan, yellow and blue striped dress with straw belt, tan pleated skirt and tan print blouse, four Advance patterns that Penney's was selling for one-fourth price, a gold belt to replace the one I ruined from my aqua dress, flowers for a basket purse. The nice thing of it was, my check for the yearbook work came today so I made an even exchange, including the fact that Mom gave me my allowance this morning. I went out to Grandma's to get some gas for the lawnmower and some other "business." I mowed with our new mower tonight, Daddy with the old.  

Charles and Bob Have Fun Joking - Friday, May 24, 1963

This was pay day again. It only amounts to $41.39 a week by the time taxes are deducted from my $50 total. Charles and Bob are forever joking around. Today after a lady brought in the First Presbyterian Church notice, Mr. Morris said, "If the First Presbyterians are as slow getting to the pearly gates as they are bringing in their church news, they'll never make it!" Well, I certainly will have a lot of locals for a Saturday tomorrow. I've had quite a few all week. There were three more engagement pictures and announcements today, one announcement without a picture - three on Wednesday, too.

Went With Mom to Teachers' Picnic - Thursday, May 23, 1963

I went with Mom to a teachers' picnic down at Miksch's tonight. We took Miss Asby along. We went out to their pond for a wiener roast. I enjoyed talking to Mrs. Kephart and Mrs. Leary was also glad to see me again. I talked with Mrs. Carris at the Selective Service office about interviewing Mr. Carris for a feature about his old musical instruments. Mr. Morris suggested I could interview Judy Roland who is a member of the United States High School Band. Her mother works at the Y but I wasn't able to contact her this afternoon.

Helped Stuff Advertising Inserts - Wednesday, May 22, 1963

Today I helped stuff Journal inserts. The advertising sections have to be put in by hand every Wednesday. Just like stuffing inside pages for six-page Styluses. This was a busier morning again. Yesterday there was hardly anything. I called Oneita tonight to see if she had any ideas for some feature stories. She suggested any interesting hobbies. (I'd already thought of Mrs. Bauer's cruets and Mr. Griffith's shells.) She mentioned a man's old musical instruments and another man's museum. We had choir practice tonight.

We Saw "To Kill a Mocking Bird" - Tuesday, May 21, 1963

We all went in to see "To Kill a Mocking Bird" tonight. It was good. Gregory Peck got the Best Actor Academy Award for it. The three little kids did well with their parts, too. I finally got a letter written to Nancy. Have some others to write, too! I've been out of school a month now. At least my job is keeping me occupied, but lately I haven't been getting much else done.

Charles and Dave Liked My Feature Story - Monday, May 20, 1963

Virginia cut my hair for me tonight. I wrote to the business office to notify them of my acceptance of the financial aid the college is giving me for next year - $500 ($200 grant-in-aid and $300 student employment) and to ask them about the money I never got for my 18 hours of yearbook work. Charles and Dave both said they liked my feature story. Now to think of some other ones to do. I have the nicest job. I'm lucky to have it. Charley was asking me today if I'd had a quiet weekend and saying if I had he and Bob would take off for a few days and let me take over.

Marilyn Has a Red MG Convertible - Sunday, May 19, 1963

By the time I left at 3:10, I doubt if Marilyn got much more done than if she'd come up here. Hope she gets her tests studied for and papers written. She's changed her major from biology to elementary education. We went to the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church this morning. I drove and Marilyn's nice roommate Sue Brown and another girl went along. Marilyn's folks probably won't let her come back up here to school next year. But they bought her a red MG convertible with spoke wheels! It must be the life!