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.

Working on Freshman Seminar Scores for Dr. Pai - Monday, March 15, 1965

I am no longer WJC chairman. The new members of the student council were installed at tonight's meeting. It has been a fast year, although we were installed a few weeks later. Mr. Colliver came to the library tonight (after calling the dorm) to get my help with the freshman seminar correlations he is working on for Dr. Pai. Seth helped me change the x and y variables to consistent scores before they can coded by machine. I hope to get a little reviewing done this week for GREs on Thursday. We had a birthday party for Winnie and Linda.

We Took Phyllis and Rich to the Municipal Auditorium - Sunday, March 14, 1965

Vivien and Charlie, Seth and I took Phyllis and Rich to the Municipal Auditorium where they were to meet the McGeehes at 6:00. We all crowded into the Volkswagen. I assume they made their connections. The Armentrouts didn't want to wait, so we just dropped them off. We went to chapel this morning, and this afternoon walked down to the river. Seth really thinks Phyllis is great. Mom Hawkins told me I have a cute sister. And I was proud to have her on campus this weekend. For an unserious relationship, Seth and I sure have enough serious talks.

Phyllis and Steve Shugart's Brother Rich are Here - Saturday, March 13, 1965

Phyllis and Steve Shugart's brother Rich got here about 11:00. Seth showed them the science hall and I got to see the work he is doing in the physics department. After lunch I talked with Phyllis and washed my hair. Then the four of us went up to the observatory and walked around campus some. I think Mr. McGehee brought a popular little "couple for the weekend" to Park. Both Steve and Dee are in Chicago this weekend. Rich is certainly making himself at home. We went to the movie tonight, then Phyl and Rich went to the Parchie Varsity Playboy Club and Seth and I went to the Armentrouts. Seth and Charlie made fudge while Vivien taught me how to play chess.

Statement on the Mind was Basis for One Hour Discussion - Friday, March 12, 1965

Between 7:00 and 8:30 I took a bath and did an arithmetic assignment for Jeri. Then I went out with Seth for an enjoyable evening on campus and up at the observatory. By 12:00 I was so tired I could hardly see straight , so he brought me back. Evelyn is still babysitting at Chronisters. Holly forgot to bring back the library book that I'm supposed to return by Monday to avoid suspension of borrowing privileges. I had to re-read my statement on the mind I had conjured up for philosophy - it provided the basis for the whole hour's discussion. I also talked with Dr. Pai and Mr. Carey about my philosophy term paper on a phase of semantics.

The UN Model Assembly was Held at Park Today - Thursday, March 11, 1965

Phyllis called this evening about her plans for coming this weekend. Mr. McGehee, her biology professor, is going to bring her and Steve Shugart's brother Rick to Park while he attends a dog show in Kansas City. I watched the student council polls from 8:00 to 9:00. The P.R.s next year will be Jim Hunter, Kathy Amayo, Bill Perry, Bill Schubert and Tom Mooney. The UN Model Assembly was today. Seth helped with the public address system. I'm still seeing him - he won't know what to think. I'm having a time deciding what to do.

Have Told Seth it's Time to go Separate Ways - Wednesday, March 10, 1965

I didn't study at all tonight. Jim and Chuck took Evelyn and me to the health center to get TB skin tests since one of the foreign students has come down with it. Rosemary and I talked to _____ and told her the house council had decided to revoke her punishment since there was a lack of understanding about lounge hours. Then the dorm decided at a house meeting to set 2:30 AM as lounge closing time. I'm in the process of sending Seth on his separate way and me on mine with the exception of a few dinners and a dance this month.

Student Council Election Results were as Predicted - Tuesday, March 9, 1965

I almost find it hard to believe that the results of the student council election were exactly as I had predicted: Walt Black, president; Winnie Fleming, vice president; Terri Osuga, WJC chairman; and Bob Theis, MJC chairman. It was a close election, however. I'm glad I had at least something to do with Terri's and Winnie's running. I came back to the dorm at 10:00 after studying with Seth, and then Kathy and Carol, Randy and Bill, and Shelly Teale and her father wanted to go up to the observatory to see Mars at its closest point to Earth in fifteen years. I went, too - it had been cloudy earlier.