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.
A Picture From Fred - Monday, December 16, 1963
I'm afraid I'm going to have to risk a late paper for Mr. Carey - I'm just getting started on the "developing the unit" part of my resource unit outline. Except for going to class and some time with Fred, I spent the entire day working on it. Fred Alexander Haenisch gave me a picture tonight. We've been having fun teasing Evelyn by calling her Edna (her first name), so we decided Jim, Fred and I could be called by our middle names! What fun we don't have - at the same time, I'm still worried about everything I have to do.
Christmas Presents For Each Other - Sunday, December 15, 1963
Fred gave me my Christmas present tonight and I gave him his. He gave me a pretty cultured pearl and diamond set pendant on a sterling silver chain. I gave him a slide viewer. Between devoting time to Fred and and working on my resource unit, I passed the day in a hurry. I called Phyllis about going home, but she had to call back since the Tarkio switchboard was out of order and I couldn't get through. Nickel and Stephens went Christmas caroling tonight - Hawley, Herr House and the President's House. It was real nice - but cold!
More Library Gems - Saturday, December 14, 1963
I went back to Kansas City and got some stuff at the library. Some children's books about Kansas City will be gems - now to put it all together. I can't believe what I have to do in less than a week. Oh well, so we live or die. I picked up the shoes I had dyed for Vivien's wedding. I got Fred a slide viewer for Christmas. It was so crowded in the city - yet I ran into Vivien and Charlie, Sharon MacEachern and Janet Eger within 15 minutes. I guess Varners are going to Iowa on Wednesday or Thursday rather than stopping here as they thought they might be able to do.
"Steady" Boyfriends and Studies - Friday, December 13, 1963
I've still got some things to learn - like how to make a graceful leave-taking - if I was tired before Fred came at 11:00, then I'm bound to be dead by morning (12:45 now). He's wonderful. I always wondered how girls found time for both "steady" boyfriends and studies. It's not hard! I only wish finals weren't this week. I've never seen time go so fast. I worked for an hour tonight, then came back for our nice Stephens party with our stockings. The Morrills and Mr. Gibson were here. I got a B+ on the personality paper I threw together in such a hurry.
Two Gems in the Library - Thursday, December 12, 1963
I got up at 5:30 (first attempt was 5:00) to read phys psych. I also studied it tonight at the library. We didn't have statistics so I spent the afternoon reading existential psychology. We had an LLC meeting at 6:15 - Fred walked me over. Evelyn knows what my Christmas present is. I must get Fred something. I can't believe the speed at which these days are passing. I found two gems in the library - one of sample units and one of books for children in social studies.
"Happy First Snowfall" - Wednesday, December 11, 1963
I practically threw together the paper for personality. I hope it passes. I couldn't believe that Mr. Colliver would actually not hold class - he even came in and told us there wouldn't be any. I think everyone is operating in a trance of some kind. Right now I'm literally tired and hungry, but also more determined than I've been for a while. Hope that's a good sign. Tonight was "Happy First Snowfall." It began last evening. I first saw it when I left the library. Fred and I didn't go traying [sliding down Mackay hill on cafeteria trays], but we did go to the J. R. for cocoa and doughnuts for a study break.
To Kansas City by Bus - Tuesday, December 10, 1963
It's getting worse. I wasted most of a good evening when I could have been writing my paper on the control of human behavior. Here's hoping in the morning _____. I made use of the 3:30 and 6:00 buses to spend an hour and 45 minutes at the library in Kansas City getting information. I don't know if it was really worth my time (may have gotten the same here) but as it was, it felt "constructive." It was snowing when I left the library to come back to the bus station. I got word that Fred wanted me to call him tonight so I did. He sounds so nice on the phone. But then he is nice all the time.
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