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.
That's Hard to Beat - Monday, October 21, 1963
Evelyn got an orchid from Jim on Saturday (no special occasion) and today she got a dozen roses. That's hard to beat. Hans teases Evelyn and says a vicious rumor has it that they're about to become engaged. Margie has mono, they found out, although it's not in the contagious stage. She dropped seven hours (social problems and both education courses) and will have to commute from the health center, staying there at night for the next three weeks. I wrote to Phyl. Mine to Mrs. Cowan was 45 cents airmail! I should write to Marilyn and Grandma and Grandpa.
Ellen's First Birthday Party - Sunday, October 20, 1963
This afternoon Evelyn and I went down to Brisch's in Parkville for Ellen's first birthday party. The rest of the Gattons from Parlville were there, too. Bobo, as they call Ellen, is so cute. I can remember a year ago at the Sadie Hawkins party when Hans was telling about the new baby. (Evelyn was the one who drove Margaret to the hospital.) I went to the library tonight and made something of a start on my "homicide" paper. We have a 1913 Park graduate, Mrs. Cassat, in our guest room for two weeks. She and Miss Fishburn are going through old pictures and records in the Park House to try to get them in order.
Another Saturday in Kansas City - Saturday, October 19, 1963
Well, I spent another Saturday in Kansas City. Two in succession is really unusual for me. Charlie took Carol Patterson, Karen Garner and me in at 10:00 this morning. The girls had their pictures taken and I returned Evelyn's and my proofs and finished the yearbook contract, more or less. They still have to make it out and send it to us. Carol and I ate lunch at the cafeteria. I shopped some, then met Viv and Charlie and went with Viv to pick out head pieces for the wedding. I never did get to the library, but came back with them. I got some cranberry culottes and a striped blouse for an outfit on sale. I went to the show, "My Six Loves," with Ev.
Hearing Peter, Paul and Mary - Friday, October 18, 1963
The LLCs took a bus in to hear Peter, Paul and Mary at the Municipal Auditorium Arena tonight. Mrs. Flaherty and Mrs. Lippincott agreed that I could have the time off from the health center. We really had a nice time. Eight of us - the "junior girls," Rog and Ed - went to a hotel coffee shop with Rog leading the way as if it were New York. Some of us got our Stephens proofs back today. I guess I've decided on the one I want. Nancy got back from the health center this evening. Oh, lovely Park College! Phyllis and some of the Tarkio kids heard Peter, Paul and Mary at Nebraska University in Lincoln last Saturday.
Some Old Pictures of Park - Thursday, October 17, 1963
Gloria and I were going to referee the ACC-PCC speedball game this afternoon (as awful as the job would have been) but it was too wet to play. We walked up to visit Nancy. On our way back we stopped and talked to Miss Fishburn about some old pictures of Park and she gave us a duplicate of the old LLC club room in Mackay. There's a lady staying in Stephens for two weeks who is here to help sort out old things in the Park House. Miss Fishburn wishes more kids would have our interest in Park and more school spirit. Kathy, Wayne and Art got every bit of the bank's float from Mr. Blaschke, whom I called.
A Party for Nickel - Wednesday, October 16, 1963
Stephens went down to Nickel at 10:30 tonight to surprise them with a party. Liz, Ellen and I went down to Parkville this evening to get six gingerbread mixes, Lucky Whip and apple cider. We took them a banner that says "Nickel" for their lounge. It was so much fun. We all nearly died laughing several times. I guess I finally accomplished most of what I wanted to tonight, although I didn't know if I would be able to. Remarkably, things turn out beautifully, and people are always letting me know that something they've done, which maybe I should have but didn't, is all okay.
Peter, Paul and Mary Tickets - Tuesday, October 15, 1963
It's blowing up a cool rain, it sounds like. It has really been a nice, hot fall. I finished the Peter, Paul and Mary ticket rigamarole , I hope, at least for the present. I sent in an LLC check for $87.50 worth of tickets. Poor Flo had to write the check and is running around with that much cash. At supper I discussed yearbook pictures with Karen and then the float color scheme with Kathy. Ruth, Evelyn's oldest sister, from St. Louis, and her little girl were here tonight.
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