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.
National Honor Society Initiation - Tuesday, May 31, 1960
Tonight I became a member of the Mid-Prairie chapter of the National Honor Society. The initiation was held at Wellman. It was a very impressive ceremony. Membership is based on scholarship, character, leadership and service. There are twelve senior members, nine juniors, and eight sophomores. Grandma and Grandpa left for Ohio for his 50th high school class reunion.
A High Score Among Juniors - Monday, May 30, 1960
I'm dog tired! The school paper came back today. Mrs. Small was a little disappointed in the pictures, but I was pleased. I wasn't expecting too much. Mrs. Kephart said I had the highest score on the English tests among West Chester and Kalona juniors. I'm not getting excited, but Wellman's aren't back yet.
In Case of Fallout - Sunday, May 29, 1960
This was Phyllis's 15th birthday. I gave her a pair of "kloppers" - beach sandals. We had supper at Grandma's. Cuddebacks were there for a little while. Marion said she's boiling water and storing it and groceries in case of fallout! Maybe she's right! This afternoon the WCHS band appeared for the last time at the Memorial Day services. It rained at West Chester so we had it at the church.
From Short Cut to Permanent - Saturday, May 28, 1960
Mom gave me a permanent today - my hair has been a plain short cut for two years. It will seem different! Don Bishop stopped to talk for awhile. We went to town this morning. I bought a pair of beige shorts and two pairs of socks - to help out at Iowa City. I had a good hour's visit with Marilyn and her yearbook.
West Chester's Last School Party - Friday, May 27, 1960
The sophomore party, West Chester High School's last school party, was tonight. Actually, it was almost boring - especially compared to the freshman party. They served pizza and root beer. I still taste mine. We finished up our beloved school paper - with the pictures of the seniors and faculty.
New Members of Honor Society - Thursday, May 26, 1960
I found out by reading the Wellman paper today that I'm now a member of the National Honor Society. Also from this school are Gerry, Beth, Sheryl, Tom Bauer and Ronnie Bombei. I was "shocked" to see in the paper that Karen Baker is getting married July 1. The kids had said she was, but I couldn't make myself believe it. She's just 16--heavens! I guess we've about got the paper under control.
Cooperative English Tests - Wednesday, May 25, 1960
I have my column in the rough draft, but I"ll have to retype it. I've been working every spare minute on the paper. We finished our Cooperative English Tests. Mrs. Kephart told Mom I ranked very high on the percentiles.
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