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.
Non-Rotation Volleyball Server - Thursday, April 7, 1960
I got up this morning and wrote a skit for the freshman girls for Library Week. They'll give it tomorrow. Mrs. Fisher didn't ask Mr. Elder till yesterday if he'd speak - too short a notice. My team chose me me as their server for the two non-rotation games! These beautiful spring days!
University of Iowa Library Tour - Wednesday, April 6, 1960
This afternoon the library club toured the university library in Iowa City. Mrs. Kephart and Mr. Fudge went along. It fascinated me. They have telephone books for England, Scotland, Miami, etc., a room of old books and original manuscripts of Iowa authors, microfilm reading, all old magazines bound. They get 5,000 regular magazines. I wrote my column. We're at the point of half and half for spring and winter clothes.
FHA Council Meeting - Tuesday, April 5, 1960
Tonight I babysat for Cuddebacks' neighbors while they went roller skating with Cuddebacks. She paid me $1.55 - heavens! They have two little boys and a girl. They're so cute. This afternoon Mrs. Small, Gerry, Sheryl and I went to Wellman for an FHA Council meeting for next year's FHA. We got a lot accomplished. Phyllis's class went skating tonight, too.
A Speaker for Library Week - Monday, April 4, 1960
I finished my English project to meet tomorrow's deadline, shortened the skirt I think I'll wear (it's been too long - I wear it when we wear our matching shirts), and polished my shoes. I'll have to get up and do geometry in the morning. After school I went to see Mrs. Fisher. She's going to try to get Dave Elder to speak to us for Library Week.
A Drive to Fairfield - Sunday, April 3, 1960
This afternoon Mr. Peters and Betty, Sharon, Martha and Mary, and Phyllis, Virginia and I drove down to Fairfield only to find they had called the youth rally off. We didn't want to go very bad anyway. We had so much homework. I got most of it done, but I know I should have done some yesterday. But I deserve a break!
A Temperature on a Saturday - Saturday, April 2, 1960
It isn't fair! I've had a 100 degree temperature all day. Consequently, I got very little done, and no homework done. Virginia had a basketball girls party at Miss Flake's tonight. Mom and Ann did the washing before they brought home a car load of girls. Marion and Larry and Janet came up. I'm supposed to babysit for their neighbors Tuesday night.
Seven Times for Seven Points - Friday, April 1, 1960
I'm suffering a bruised hand and stiff arm from our third day of volleyball this week. I served seven times in a row for seven points - I think that's a record for me. Well, we got my beloved school paper given out - April Fools stories and all. Mrs. Smith gave us a chapter geometry test without warning. Ugh!
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