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.

Being Open Minded About Democratic Convention - Monday, August 24, 1964

It seemed strange not to go to work today. The Journal was late coming - guess they couldn't get along without my help! Mom, Dad and I went in to see Miss Margaret at the hospital tonight. The Claude Thomases from near Dayton, Ohio, stopped here this morning. Daddy taught him at Frenchburg. They also stopped past the school to see Daddy. I began going through some of my boxes and drawers. I shouldn't have much trouble at all getting ready to go this time. The Democratic National Convention is this week. It's nice not to feel prejudiced against them and to be really open minded for once.

In Addition to Welfare Must Think About Car Business - Sunday, August 23, 1964

Esteps, Grandma and Grandpa, Rikki and Shawn were here for dinner. I slept till 9:30 and didn't know until then that we were having company for dinner. Sometimes I fail to hear things around here. My permanent turned out well with a lot of body and not too much curl at all. Doug Hough was my only pupil on my last Sunday of teaching. I've really enjoyed the class this summer. I must think about car business now in addition to my personal welfare at college - oil changes and so forth.

Walked Out the Door as Usual After Last Day of Work - Saturday, August 22, 1964

This was my last day of work. No one mentioned the fact. I did talk to Dorothy about it on the phone. I just walked out the door as usual. I can't believe how fast this summer disappeared. A week from tonight I'll be back at Park. Daddy wrote each of us girls another $25 check for helping with the hay to use for school, so I went on another shopping spree - gray jumper, red plaid slim skirt, dark brown polished cotton skirt, black flats, hose, bras, girdle, white blouse, and orange shoe color kit. Virginia gave me my roller perm. It seems to be a good "take." Mary and Rhoda were here.

Went to Dog 'N Suds for Mom and Dad's Anniversary - Friday, August 21, 1964

We went to the Dog 'N Suds for supper for Mom and Dad's anniversary. It's been quite a while since we've gotten around to doing that. The suit I ordered from Yonkers came today. It's a pretty pinkish red color. I have an ear ache. It's bothered me several times this summer but hardly ever did that before that. I had Mr. Jarvis put a new rivet in my typewriter case with a gadget they have in the store. I was stopped by the "Man on the Street" again - he started by asking me what I liked best about the State Fair.

Spoke to David About Vanderbilts Article in Life - Thursday, August 20, 1964

We're finally getting a little bit of rain. It's been so dry all summer that we haven't mowed the grass more than six times. Dallas was doing a story for the Journal and said the county's loss due to the drought will be several million dollars. I bought a roller perm to try before I go back to school, and a new night shirt. I got Mom and Dad a set of drinking glasses for us to give to them for their anniversary. David Vanderbilt is still my friend. I called his attention to the article in this week's Life magazine about the Vanderbilt family fortune. He said someone else had mentioned it to him, too.

Stephens Will Have 18 Women in Hawley - Wednesday, August 19, 1964

Finally I received the final word on Stephens. We will have the east end of Hawley's fourth floor plus Room 405 and 407 on the west end. The remainder of the floor will be occupied by freshman girls. Stephens will have 18 - two in each room. I made a few roommate switches - the Dean of Women said I could - from those "singles" they had put together. I hope things work out! Personally, I'd rather make our one extra room a private lounge and entertain guests (guys) in Hawley lounge. Two men were here to sell us a water conditioner - I and my signing cards at the fair!

Calling Students for Journal's College Page News - Tuesday, August 18, 1964

We went out to Grandma's tonight for ice cream and cake for Edna's birthday and to show movies and slides. I finished my plaid dress this morning and wore it to work with the red leather tie belt from my blue dress that I bought at Bridges. I started my second annual task of calling people who haven't called in their news for the college page. I think we've had somewhat better response this year than last though. I'm such a sentimentalist that I'm forever recalling "a week ago today" or "a year ago today" and remembering events of last year as if they were yesterday.