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.

Dress-Up Clothes - Tuesday, January 31, 1961

The first month of the year is gone already. They took more yearbook pictures again with our dress-up clothes on. Junean, Shirley Bush, Curt, Tom Bauer and Bob Wetrich are new Quill and Scroll members. This time I got in the annual staff picture. Our senior pictures are finally done at Driscoll's. Maybe I can get mine tomorrow night. I'm going to have to buckle down harder on my school work. Start reading harder, longer, faster, with more meaning. I must choose a sociology research topic.

School Paper - Monday, January 30, 1961

I really have myself a cold. I'd rather not speak, I sound so funny. We were able to get the school paper out the last period today. I was late as it was when Mrs. Fordyce gave me the West Chester junior high and grade school papers. I ran out with an arm load. It looked like I was stealing things. At least I never had to stay after school with this paper--seven pages. For awhile we thought we had a "non-existent" person on the honor roll!

Mitten at Laundromat - Sunday, January 29, 1961

We went in to see Van Winkles tonight. Marilyn came to the door in her bathrobe, and as she was the only one home, we didn't stay. The rest of them were visiting Ralstons. We did stop at the laundromat to see if Ann's new white mitten was there, and it was, so our efforts weren't clear futile. I didn't get much studying done this weekend. I'll be glad when these awful chemistry tests are over.

I Rating on Original Oratory - Saturday, January 28, 1961

I got a I (two I's and a II) this afternoon on my original oratory. However, talk about people's minds going blank--mine sure did. I sure felt dumb. But I guess they liked the way I kept my poise. Jerolyn, Shirley and Lillian also got I's. Just after I got home Phyllis Crone called up and wanted me to go to the show with her. We stopped to see Marilyn, thinking she might like to go, but she and Ruth Norton ended up driving around. Anyway, Phyllis and I had fun, too.

Mimeograph Paper Evaluation - Friday, January 27, 1961

For some reason (and I wonder why!) Fridays are my most relaxing school day. Except for when I gave my declam speech. I gave it for the English class, but if I do like that tomorrow, I'll be lucky to get a III. Then the kids in French class wanted to hear it, too, so I said it again. We finally received word from Iowa City about our newspaper evaluation. They gave a few suggestions (all of which I could have "helped") and said with these improvements this could be the top mimeograph paper in the state! Phyllis, Linda Timmins and I went to the North English game at Kalona. We won.

Pinocchio in French - Thursday, January 26, 1961

I've had a slight headache all day. I wonder if it's from stove fumes in my room or something. I didn't get quite done with our first chemistry test. I wish I had an optimistic attitude about that subject. Mom is at a Sunday School teachers meeting at Mrs. Woodford's. Daddy didn't go. I must start reading Pinocchio in French. We also have to read Alice in Wonderland and Babar.

Slide Rules - Wednesday, January 25, 1961

We had a class meeting today. We decided our class colors would be red and white and the flower the red rose. We haven't picked the motto yet. Marilyn sent me one of her senior pictures. It's real nice. I sure wish we wouldn't have to use the slide rule on our chemistry tests. I fear the consequences! The school paper is coming fine for as little time I've spent on it. I had 99% in English on the National Merit Scholarship Test we took last March.