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.

Six Went with Dr. Johnson to RLDS Church - Sunday, March 31, 1963

Six of us (Vicky, Dave, Gary, Danny, Nick and I) went with Dr. Johnson to Independence to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We left at 7:15. After the service we were given a tour of the auditorium (assembly room seats 5,800) which is the headquarters for their biennial world conference. We saw the council room, seat of government for the world organization, museum, kitchen and living room. We also had a discussion with colored slides. The guide also gave us (free) $1.00 copies of the Book of Mormon and view folders. I've spent the rest of the day on my religion term paper.

Many Worked on Papers Due on Monday - Saturday, March 30, 1963

Well, my paper's coming, it's coming, it's coming! I have nine pages so far. Kathy Butler finally talked me into leaving it to go to the 9:00 show with her. It was Tony Curtis in "The Great Impostor." Phyllis or Virginia, maybe both, saw it two years ago in Des Moines at the state tournament. This was rather a quiet Saturday. Too many term papers are due on Monday. Gee, 15-week terms - I don't know. Dr. Hampl is going to Monmouth next year.

No Classes for "Spring at Park" - Friday, March 29, 1963

Classes were called off today for a stop day and "Spring at Park." It sure seemed like Saturday. Well, I didn't accomplish much on my paper but took in most of the festivities instead. This morning there was a student-faculty breakfast and then a student-faculty softball game (I did work on my paper during that time). This afternoon I went to the Nickel-Chestnut soccer game (they tied 1-1) with Carolyn Reed. Then we went bowling (Brig was open free) and Chris Hayward went along. We also went to the street dance tonight. From 5:00 to 6:00 I helped with Hawley's booth (ring toss and coin toss) at the carnival. I got a care package - cookies and candy.

Was Elected Lucerne Vice President - Thursday, March 28, 1963

Today in the Lucerne election for next term's officers I was elected vice president. In the run-off between Carole Demort and me for Lucerne Best Athlete, Carole won. I'm glad, because she really did deserve it. We had a game tonight with the PCCs. We actually led 7-5 at the end of the first quarter, but the final score was 47-14. I was really proud of Chris, Kathy and Patsy's guarding - Patsy reminds me of Donna Statler. We were supposed to have the Stylus staff picture taken tonight, but no one was showing up for the pictures, so they're being rescheduled. The pictures all should have been taken "years" ago. Ed psych tonight, but all we did was go over the test.

Elected Stephens Officers, Chose Rooms - Wednesday, March 27, 1963

Tonight the new members of Stephens went up from 10:00 to 11:30 to elect officers and choose rooms. I am the new secretary. Kathy Gillespie will be treasurer, Diane Porter, president, Karen Garner, vice president, Cheryl Wiley, IDC representative, and Ellen Guild, house council member. Evelyn and I got the last choice room, light blue (actually gray) on the front side next to the lounge. It's going to be fun. I got a D on one of my French tests (horrors! but lots of other kids did badly), and a B on the other. Student council inauguration was this afternoon.

Applied to be Narva Editor - Tuesday, March 26, 1963

I went early to the library tonight but didn't feel like studying so took a 15 minute walk with Shari, came back and still didn't feel like studying. So I came back to Hawley and wrote my letter of application for Narva editor. Linda also called me to do another stencil for the tie between Pat Swinney and Kathy Old for WRA secretary. So, now I've still got history and poli sci to do, but at least I'm in a little better mood now. Karen Lewis and I refereed the ACC-PCC game. The ACCs won 27-17. We were not the world's best referees, but at least we were able to get away with our lives!

Typed WRA Ballots - Monday, March 25, 1963

The LLCs lost to the ACCs in basketball. The score was only about 78-5. We had a WRA meeting to draw up the slate for next trimester and I typed it up for the ballots tonight. I also wrote Stylus news (my eighth subject!). Well, actually, only my sixth, since elementary phys ed and swimming don't count that much. I got a C+ on the ed psych test. Spring has sprung!