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.
President Eisenhower's Farewell Speech - Monday, November 7, 1960
President Eisenhower gave the final political speech of his presidency tonight. This is the last night he'll go to bed without there being a president-elect or a new president. It is my sincere hope that Nixon wins tomorrow, the election day of a presidential election year. I wrote letters to Grandma Kay and Schwrtzes and Mrs.Cowan. I traded Carolyn Hole so that I can have my picture taken Wednesday.
Senior Picture Hair - Sunday, November 6,1960
I slept all last night on my stomach with my head turned sideways to keep from messing my hair up. I've got to keep from worrying about it all the time. If it doesn't look okay Thursday, it doesn't. Anyway it's a nice birthday present and will be nice for career day. I had a birthday dinner today. All afternoon I worked on and finished, thankfully, my research paper. Mom and Dad went to Mrs.Wells' funeral.
ACT Test on Birthday - Saturday, November 5, 1960
I spent the morning of my 18th birthday taking the ACT College Entrance Test. It was "murder". I'm having my scores sent to Park, Sterling and Jamestown. This afternoon I got my hair set and eyebrows arched at Robertsons'. I've had some nice compliments on my (birthday) hair-do. I picked out a new skirt and two sweaters, and Phyllis and Viginia gave me a popular "Binky" doll and Ann gave me some nail clippers for my "long" finger nails.
Major Campaign Issues - Friday, November 4, 1960
I didn't even go to the last home game of my high school days--with Tipton. I'm going to bed so I can at least have a chance to do my best on the ACT College Entrance Test tomorrow, my 18th birthday. Phyllis and Virginia went. I sure wish we wouldn't have lost to Regina! I started typing my paper on presidential candidates' positions on major campaign issues.
School Election - Thursday, November 3, 1960
A year ago this Thursday night we were giving Down to Earth, our junior class play. It would have been about time for our only major "goof". Then I had the class party afterwards. It was my 17th birthday. The government class conducted the school election today. I acted as "judge" third period and gave out ballots.The sun finally shown again today.
$10.00 Missing - Wednesday, November 2, 1960
Tonight we had choir practice so I didn't get much else done. I did take my French along. Phyl's purse was found in the restroom, but the $10.00 was missing. We've always been told never to take money to school. I keep my purse with me over there. I'm so afraid Kennedy's going to win the election. That would be as bad as losing the football game to Regina.
Purse Is Missing -Tuesday, November 1, 1960
Phyllis and I went to town and did the washing after school. Mom was having teachers' conferences. I came home with some white things pink and some colored things partly bleached. Oh, murder! We get our 60 passenger bus to eliminate over crowding. Now we bring the basketball girls over! Stuffed! Phyllis has lost her purse (including $10.00) at school! I'm supposed to get my senior picture taken at 10:00 next Thursday.
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