Photo Essay: Celebrating Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith

Covering the events from Renfrow Hall Dedication weekend.

Published:

October 03, 2024

Yesenia Mozo

Renfrow Smith holds hands and talks to two young Black singers from the choir.

On September 27 and 28, Grinnell College hosted a series of special weekend events in culmination to the dedication of Renfrow Hall, named after Edith Renfrow Smith ’37, DHL ’19. Born in 1914, Edith Renfrow Smith grew up in one of the oldest Black families in the town of Grinnell. The College’s first Black alumna, and its oldest living graduate, this special weekend was in celebration of Renfrow Smith’s life and legacy, as well as her commitment to education, community, and equality.

Edith Renfrow Smith Arrives at the Airport

Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith lands at the local Grinnell airport and is greeted by members of Team Renfrow, including Professor Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Louise R. Noun Chair in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Valeriya Woodard ’25.

An excited older Black woman waves from the inside of a private airplane.

An older Black woman is helped up from her airplane seat by a young student. — **Valeriya Woodard ’25** helps Renfrow Smith out of the small plane.

A group of students hold signs and donuts to welcome Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith. — *Team Renfrow greets Renfrow Smith with donuts and “Welcome Home” signs.*

Off to the Welcome Parade! Celebrating Renfrow Smith Around Town

Community members around Grinnell had the chance to welcome Renfrow Smith back to her hometown. Throughout her route, she was cheered on by elementary and middle school students, Grinnell College students, staff, and faculty, and local Grinnell town members. The event kicked off the Renfrow Hall Dedication Weekend of events.

Through the car mirror, we see Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith smile.

President Anne Harris grabs Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s hand in the middle of a parade. — *Renfrow Smith is greeted by President **Anne F. Harris** at the end of the parade.*

Horses trail the car that Mrs. Renfrow Smith is riding in. — *Horses carrying Team Renfrow trail Renfrow Smith in the red car.*

Elementary school children cheer at a parade. — *Excited middle schoolers cheer on Renfrow Smith.*

Elementary school children hold signs welcoming back Mrs. Renfrow Smith.

A marching band plays instruments during the parade. — *Members of the the Grinnell High School marching band made a debut in the parade.*

A team of students and a squirrel mascot cheer on a cart wagon during the parade.

The Black Experience at Grinnell College, 1863-1954

In this Community Friday event, faculty and staff enjoyed lunch while listening to a conversation between Stuart Yeager ’82, DHL ’24 and Professor Beauboeuf-Lafontant.

A young Black professor welcomes speaker Stuart Yeager ’82.

Copies of a book titled, “The Black Experience at Grinnell College Through Collected Oral History and Documents, 1863-1954.” — *Yeager’s book, “The Black Experience at Grinnell College Through Collected Oral History and Documents, 1863-1954.”*

Wheat Paste Mural Live Installation at First Interstate Bank

In collaboration with Iowa artist Isaac Campbell, the Grinnell Area Arts Council and Monique Shore ’90 coordinated a temporary mural installation honoring the Renfrow sisters. Explore more wheat paste mural installations all over downtown Grinnell, celebrating additional members of the Renfrow family and other Grinnellians who lived during the Renfrow family’s years of residence in Grinnell (1890-1950).

People paint a wheat paste mural of four Renfrow sisters onto the side of the Interstate Bank.

People watch as workers install the wheat paste mural.

A white man poses with Mrs. Renfrow Smith in front of the wheat paste installation. — *Iowa artist Issac Campbell and Renfrow Smith pose for a picture in front of the Interstate Bank’s wheat paste installation.*

Renfrow Hall Dedication Dinner

Renfrow Smith enjoyed dinner with her family and special guests at the Hotel Grinnell Ballroom, with special remarks from President Harris, Professor Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Valeriya Woodard ’25, and others.

A student from Team Renfrow gives a speech to a dark ballroom of people illuminated with red lights.

Renfrow Smith, in a sparkly blue dress, smiles to someone above her.

A Black professor with a floral pink dress speaks into the podium. — *Professor Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Louise R. Noun Chair in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.*

Mrs. Renfrow Smith, in a blue dress, smiles and talks with a young Black student. — *Renfrow Smith and **Feven Getachew ’24**.*

Celebrating Renfrow Hall Dedication Dessert and Dance Reception

The band FunkDaddies, who specializes in soul and R&B dance music, performed for the local town and campus community at Central Park in downtown Grinnell. The band is inspired by Tower of Power, Earth, Wind and Fire, and other Motown artists. For dessert, people enjoyed the Renfrow Family’s signature Texas Sheet cake.

On a park stage, performers play their instruments.

Two little Black children smile at the camera. The little Black boy hugs the girl Black girl tightly in his arms. — *Children from Renfrow Smith’s extended family pose for a picture.*

Exploring Renfrow Hall and Smith Gallery

Before the dedication ceremony on Saturday afternoon, Renfrow Smith and the general public were invited to stop inside Renfrow Hall and witness the spaces celebrating Renfrow Smith, her family, and her legacy.

Mrs. Renfrow Smith speaks to somebody at the entrance of Renfrow Hall.

A group of people stand at the entrance of Renfrow Hall.

A picture of Renfrow Smith next to some paper with handwritten words. — *Exhibits displayed at the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, Smith Gallery*

A display of Edith Renfrow Smith in her graduation cap in 2019 and her family. — *Photos within the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, Smith Gallery*

The Dedication of Renfrow Hall

The dedication of Renfrow Hall honored the life and legacy of Renfrow Smith, acknowledging her legacy and family history in Grinnell. Members of the Grinnell community gathered to listen to remarks from various members of Grinnell College, enjoy music from the Young, Gifted, and Black Choir, and celebrate Renfrow Smith.

A large crowd of people gathered for the dedication of Renfrow Smith.

A Black woman speaks at the podium next to the Young, Gifted, and Black Choir.

A smiling Mrs. Renfrow Smith joins an older Black woman for a selfie.

A bag of cookies next to more bags of cookies. Some of the bags include typed information about Renfrow Smith. — *As a thank you, Grinnell College baked cookies from treasured recipes in Renfrow Smith’s family cookbook.*

Renfrow Smith Family Lunch

After the dedication ceremony, Renfrow Smith and her family enjoyed lunch at the Mayflower Community Buckley Dining Hall.

Renfrow Smith and her extended family of over 20 people pose for a photo. — *A photo of Renfrow Smith and her family.*

A young Black man poses with Mrs. Renfrow Smith as someone takes a picture.

Hazelwood Cemetery Walk: African Americans of Early Grinnell

One of the events offered after the dedication ceremony was a Hazelwood Cemetery walk with Professor Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Evie Caperton ’25, Libby Eggert ’25, and Hemlock Stanier ’25. The cemetery walk focused on the stories of African Americans of early Grinnell. The stories told included four direct ties to Renfrow Smith.

A student from Team Renfrow leads a group of people into a cementary.

A group of people stand around tombstones.

A group of people stand as they listen to a speaker at the cementary.

A Black professor in a bucket hat and orange purse speaks to a group of people.

About Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith

Edith Renfrow Smith and her family cherished values of education, community, and equality in the highest regard. Drawing on these family values, Renfrow Smith worked her way through college, participated in a range of intramural sports and activities, and majored in psychology with minors in economics and sociology. In June 1937, she became the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College. After graduation, Renfrow Smith moved to Chicago, married Henry T. Smith, and raised two daughters — Edith Virginia and Alice Frances. There, she quickly became a pillar of her community.

In 1954, she began her career as a public school elementary teacher. Upon retiring in 1976 as a deeply loved and respected teacher, Renfrow Smith began a 40-year second career as a volunteer at Goodwill and the Art Institute of Chicago. In recognition of her service to others, she was inducted into the Chicago Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2019, Grinnell College awarded Renfrow Smith an honorary doctorate.

Edith Renfrow Smith’s remarkable story will continue to be shared with Renfrow Hall residents and visitors through a permanent display in the building. Current and future generations of Grinnellians, community members, and visitors will know her name, understand her values, and practice them through their own contributions to the world.