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.
After All That Our Anatomy Test Grades Won't Be Recorded - Monday, May 7, 1962
French test tomorrow and a music test Wednesday. Ugh! And Mr. Hearson isn't going to record our anatomy test grades because he gave it (different and harder at that) to two of the Parchie Varsity kids a day late and got the idea we might get to thinking he was showing some kind of favoritism! After all that studying and concern. It was hot today. I got awfully tired of working in the library. I'm proud of myself that I got "Youth, Beautiful Youth" read for world lit.
The LLCs Have a Steak Fry at the Careys' House in Parkville - Sunday, May 6, 1962
This afternoon was the choir concert and for supper the LLCs had a steak fry at the Careys' house. We played badminton before we ate. Tonight Carlyn and I went to the Sunday night discussion group. The leader was rather long winded. Oh help, why am I letting my studies fall behind now, of all times? Right now my mood is not real pleasant.
Seven of Us Freshman Girls Go on Our Canoe Trip With Two Professors - Saturday, May 5, 1962
We took our canoe trip today. We were only sorry that Judy X couldn't get out of choir rehearsal to go along. Barb Page went in her place, and Becky, Flo, Judy Cox, Nancy, Marge and I. We went up to the Platte River to "put in," came down that and into the Missouri - about 15 or 18 miles till we got to the White Aloe below campus. We had a wiener roast on the shore and stopped in Kansas for a rest. Judy and I took turns paddling in Dr. Gaeddert's canoe. It was pretty windy and choppy at first (we almost turned back) but the last hour was beautiful. We were gone from 11:00 to 6:45. Marge and I about died laughing tonight at Parchie Varsity.
An Easy Day of Classes, a Snake, Tennis, Mackay Steps, and a Pizza - Friday, May 4, 1962
After supper I played tennis with Leila and Bonnie. Then Bonnie and I sat on Mackay steps, then came back and made pizza for ourselves, Judy Jones and Carolyn Frobig. I'm afraid another week has passed. I didn't have a lot in the way of classes today with the anatomy test, Dr.Hampl not there for French (she had done a recording for us), and a short music class. I saw a great big snake beside the Meetin' House steps. Mickey, Ed and Marge were down there waiting for poli sci and came to my "rescue" when I said, "Is this snake real?" It was so still.
The Nice Thing About College is Having Everyone Smart - Thursday, March 3, 1962
Luckily for me Dr. Hampl won't be here tomorrow so I was able to spend all evening studying for the anatomy test tomorrow. We had an LLC meeting tonight. I had a terrible time getting through Dick and Dave's heads what a relish plate was. Today I followed my typical Tuesday-Thursday schedule including assembly, phys ed and lab. The nice thing about college is having everyone smart and no one look at you funny as if they're better than you (a lot of this may be just Park) - this type thing began last year at Mid-Prairie. Brad Kiesey won the Quill and Scroll national feature writing contest!
A Six or Twelve Hour Job as a Reporter For the Park Stylus Next Year - Wednesday, May 2, 1962
Tonight I went to vespers. Five other people besides the speaker (Doug Meng) were there. The music class did a "grand march" through the chapel today trying to figure out what Mr. Larson wanted us to do. We never did figure out how the whole class was supposed to listen to records in two little listening rooms. I can't get down to studying anatomy. Oh, I got my job as a reporter for the Stylus next year. I'll have to find out if it's a six or twelve hour job.
A "Happy May Day From 207" Basket For Our Counselor - Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Oh, where does the time go every night? I have done my French and a report for music and now it's 11:00 again already. I had better start studying anatomy. It was so pretty out at noon that I thought I'd go out and take some pictures. By the time I got up here it was cloudy and at 1:00 it was pouring rain so we didn't go out for field hockey. We've had severe weather warnings near here several days. Vivien and I fixed Merry Lee a tiny little May basket that said "Happy May Day From 207."
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