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.

Once in a Lifetime - Friday, September 23, 1960

It was a close one, but we beat Williamsburg there tonight, 8-6! Phyllis, Virginia and I went on the student bus. We were going to take advantage of a "once in a lifetime opportunity" and go to the Iowa-Oregon game, but they aren't taking the bus after all. I'm chairman of the senior float committee and also chairman of a committee for an English bulletin board. I changed at least one right answer to wrong on the government test.

Bee Line for the Bus - Thursday, Setember 22, 1960

I've felt nauseated all day, ever since this morning in chemistry class when our sulphur-iron-hydrachloric acid mixture smelled like rotten eggs or worse. Ugh! Shirley Slaubaugh didn't tell me I didn't have to stay after school tonight, and I thought I did. I really made a bee line for the bus! Gee, I got an A- on my whole French test! Now then, a government test tomorrow.

All-State Music Auditions - Wednesday, September 21, 1960

I spent this evening doing chemistry. I got an A- on the speaking part of the French test. I'm very thankful and won't complain! It seems like there is so much to remember. Mr. Eddy wants me and some others to try out for All-State music auditions, but I'm going to tell him it's a waste of time for me. I've got to get my news story written. I do believe last year's (and before) column writing about got me down!?!

Roll, Slip and Slide - Tuesday, September 20, 1960

A time for studying has come. We have a French test tomorrow. She said it will be mainly on pronouncing. I'm saying my words too carefully. I'll have to let the words roll, slip and slide. I have to give a two-minute English speech on "truculent." Shirley Slaubaugh was back (after having a side ache yesterday), so we got the newspaper assignment sheet made out.

The Only Girls Left - Monday, September 19, 1960

It's slightly cool. I might as well complete all my talk about the speech I gave by saying I got an A-. Virginia, Ann and Mom went in to wash. I typed up the "Gold Feather" staff tonight. I must say that we sure aren't having too much homework yet. I probably never should have said that! Helen Rich moved to Brighton. Colleen, Jerolyn, and I are the only girls from West Chester left in our "class" now.

Polaroid Land Camera - Sunday, September 18, 1960

This afternoon we drove to Hedrick to visit Martins. Some Koehlers from Ainsworth were also there. Carol showed us the town. She is going steady and she also talked to several kids (mostly boys) that we saw. We went up to the school and Carol took our picture with the Polaroid Land Camera. I had a headache all afternoon. I didn't get too much visiting done with Carol. It's been a rainy, cloudy day.

To "Make Us Beautiful" - Saturday, September 17, 1960

I was dizzy last night when I was helping serve, and I woke up this morning still dizzy. It went away though. I've been sleepy all day. Mrs. Klein finally came back with the stuff Mom ordered to "make us beautiful." She has about $15.00 invested in things to get rid of pimples and blackheads. I don't know where my day went--I must have fallen asleep for part of it! Mid-Prairie is having the "Golden Feather" in the Journal.