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.
Interesting Classes, Good Professors - Friday, September 7, 1962
Our room here is so nice. It's so much more homey and conducive to study than Hawley was. I will have a heavy schedule this semester, but I certainly have some interesting classes. Good professors, too. I'm glad to have Dr. Johnson's religion course. Margie, Nancy and I went to the free movie, "The Mark," an English film about a mental patient, tonight. Margie had Phil come along. This afternoon I covered my Stylus "beat" and got a little news. I had to go to the registrar's, public relations and president's offices and get the library and Commons hours.
470 Are Here This Fall - Thursday, September 6, 1962
My sociology class and modern dance sound real good. I also had French class today. I was doing French tonight (could surprisingly remember a little bit) when Nancy came in - later Judy, and later Marge, so the rest of the evening centered around a discussion about Park College and "sophomore slump." I'm feeling pretty good but it was interesting to get some gripes off our chests anyway. Nancy was really feeling in the dumps. Sociology is with Mr. Gibson, modern dance with Mrs. Dorsey who has studied it under one of New York's leading teachers. We only have about 470 here this year. Opening convocation was this morning.
Arranging for Book Purchases - Wednesday, September 5, 1962
There wasn't anything going on for upperclassmen today. We slept till 9:30 when Karen Bentson woke us up to ask me if I'd like to go together with her to buy the religion book. I guess I will since we're not supposed to have to use it much. I got one of the sociology books secondhand and have the other books I need spoken for. This afternoon Nancy, Margie and I walked around Parkville and had Cokes at the drug store. The Beers folksinging team that was here last year was in the Meetin' House tonight.
Remaining Second Floor Gang Had a Party - Tuesday, September 4, 1962
The entire remaining second floor gang got together tonight down in Carolyn and Karen's room for the neatest party - decorations and food (simple) included. After several of them left Judy and Jan came over from Hawley. We left finally at 1:30. Registration was today. I'm taking French, religion, psychology, sociology and American history. Oh yes, and modern dance and bowling for gym. There was a square dance tonight and "booths" for the freshmen sponsored by the social clubs. Oh, life! College - the greatest!
Feeling Rushed About Requirements - Monday, September 3, 1962
During the summer of 1962 the Park College administration made the decision to change the academic calendar from two 18-week semesters to three 15-week trimesters per year. The summer trimester will be optional rather than required. This seems like a Saturday night the way everyone is carrying on. We're going to feel rushed to get in upperclass program requirements the way it sounds. We learned a few thoughts from Dean Hulbert at the upperclass meeting this afternoon.
Our Room is a Pretty Shade of Green - Sunday, September 2, 1962
Things look pretty pretty good at Park this year. It's so much fun to "invade" Herr House as sophomores. (The upperclass girls probably think we're a pretty chattery bunch!) The folks got me here at 10:00 and left to go home by way of Tarkio College at 10:45. Our room was painted a lovely shade of green (it had been a drab beige). My pole lamp room divider, bulletin board, Marge's cafe curtains and our room arrangement look good. I got "into things" right away - Becky and I stapled papers in the registrar's office for an hour and a half this afternoon. Vivien is rooming with Janet - Marge's original roommate!
We Are Staying in Waverly, Missouri Tonight - Saturday, September 1, 1962
We have a nice motel in Waverly, Missouri overlooking the good old Missouri River tonight. We're about 50 miles east of Independence. It will be fun to come in to Kansas City from this side. We came down through Marshall so Phyllis could see Missouri Valley College. She seems to like it pretty well. Maybe she'll decide to come and we'll be 80 miles apart next year. We left home at 11:30 this morning after packing the trunk of the car once again - we always manage somehow to get all my junk in!
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