Celebrate Renfrow Hall Dedication and Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith

Dear Grinnellians,

It is my honor to invite you to a very special weekend of activities on September 27 and 28, which will culminate in the dedication of Renfrow Hall, named in honor of beloved alumna, Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith ’37 and DHL ‘19. Renfrow Hall, located at 1033 Broad Street in downtown Grinnell, will serve as a new home for students committed to building a stronger, more engaged community. The dedication ceremony will honor the remarkable legacy of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith as well as celebrate this unique space.

We’re delighted to share that Mrs. Renfrow Smith is scheduled to join us in Grinnell for this celebration, allowing us to express to her in person the pride, affection, and respect we hold for her as a lifelong practitioner of community and civic engagement. These events reflect a celebration of Grinnell College’s values of excellence, diversity, and social responsibility, which are expressed in the lives of Grinnellians and the ongoing history of the College.

A True Grinnellian

It is our great honor to join with the entire community to recognize Mrs. Renfrow Smith, whose 110-year life (so far!) embodies the close connections between the town and the College.

A Grinnell native, Mrs. Renfrow Smith knew from the time she was a young girl that Grinnell College was her choice for college. When Mrs. Renfrow Smith earned her degree from Grinnell College in 1937, she became the College’s first Black woman graduate. The mother of two daughters, she became an elementary school teacher who served in the Chicago public schools for 22 years. She rose to the level of head teacher before her retirement in 1976. After retiring, Mrs. Renfrow Smith continued to give back to others through her volunteer work.

Event Schedule

Please join us at these events as your schedule will allow, all events listed are open to the public.

Friday, September 27

8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (This exhibition is available to view all week)

Rooted in Resilience: Celebrating the Legacy of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith
Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, Smith Gallery, 1115 Eighth Avenue
A photo timeline of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith’s life and achievements. Curated by Valeriya Woodard ‘25 and Feven Getachew ‘24.

Welcome to Grinnell Parade

10 a.m., traveling south to north through Grinnell; depending on traffic, the parade is expected to finish at the JRC around 11 a.m.

Welcome Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith home to Grinnell via a parade that will pass Davis Elementary, the Mayflower, and Renfrow Hall, ending in front of the JRC. Join in the fun by lining up on Broad Street or in front of the JRC to greet Mrs. Renfrow Smith!

Noon

Grinnell College Community Friday Lunch: The Black Experience at Grinnell, 1863 – 1954
Humanities and Social Studies Center, Multipurpose Room (A1231)
A conversation between Stuart Yeager ’82, DHL ’24 and Professor Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Louise R. Noun ’29 Chair in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies. RSVPs are required for this lunch event, coordinated in partnership with the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment.

 

This event will be available to view on Webex
Meeting number: 2633 912 2112

Meeting password: Grinnell24

Noon–4 p.m.

Wheat Paste Mural Live Installation

First Interstate Bank, 1030 Broad Street
Come and help install a temporary mural honoring the Renfrow Sisters, created by Iowa artist Isaac Campbell. The Grinnell Area Arts Council, in collaboration with Monique Shore ’90, is coordinating this vibrant addition to our community. Learn more about the murals Mr. Campbell will be installing across Grinnell.

7:30 p.m.

Celebrating Renfrow Hall Dedication Dessert and Dance Reception
Sponsored by JELDWEN Window and Doors
Central Park, downtown Grinnell
Open to the full campus and town community. Come for dancing and dessert! Ride the Local Shuttle from campus to the Art Center downtown, just a block south of the Park.
Rain Location: Herrick Chapel, 1128 Park Street

Saturday, September 28

8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Rooted in Resilience: Celebrating the Legacy of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith
Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, Smith Gallery
A photo timeline of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith’s life and achievements.

9a.m - 2p.m.

Pioneer Bookshop Open Extended Hours

10 a.m. – Noon
Explore Renfrow Hall and the Renfrow Smith Family Legacy
Before the dedication ceremony, check out these special spaces that celebrate Mrs. Renfrow Smith, her family, and her legacy at Grinnell College:

• A morning mixer and open house at the Edith Renfrow Smith ’37 Black Women’s Library at the Conney M. Kimbo Black Cultural Center, 1003 10th Avenue

• Select areas of the first floor of Renfrow Hall’s south tower will be open to visitors. Stop by to see the Weingart Civic Innovation Pavilion and select other spaces.

Noon

Dedication Ceremony
Renfrow Hall, 1033 Broad Street
The official Renfrow Hall dedication ceremony will include remarks from Trustee Julie Gosselink, President Anne F. Harris, Vice President of Student Affairs JC Lopez, and Feven Getachew ’24, along with a performance by the Young, Gifted, and Black Gospel Choir. Come early to explore a visual installation honoring Black alumnae who have followed in Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s footsteps.

Rain Location: Herrick Chapel, 1128 Park Street

2 p.m.

Book Reading
Drake Community Library, 930 Park Street
Join author Monique Shore ’90 for a reading of No One is Better Than You: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of a Mother’s Words (2024), a children’s book. Complimentary signed copies will be provided for our first 100 guests.

3 p.m.

Hazelwood Cemetery Walks: African Americans of Early Grinnell
Join Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Noun Professor of Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies, along with Evie Caperton ’25, Libby Eggert ’25, and Hemlock Stanier ’25, and Valeriya Woodward '25 at Hazelwood Cemetery for a cemetery walk focused on the stories of African Americans of early Grinnell, including four with direct ties to Mrs. Renfrow Smith. A shuttle to the cemetery will be available from the Drake Community Library.

6:30 p.m.

Walk A Mile in Her Shoes
Departs from the Joe Rosenfield ’25 Center, Smith Gallery
Designed by Team Renfrow member Valeriya Woodard '25, this guided walk will trace the historic route from the JRC to 411 1st Ave—the Renfrow Home—giving our community a chance to honor Mrs. Edith Renfrow’s daily journey to and from school.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the many partners across campus who have dedicated their time, energy, and passion to make this weekend’s events a reality. Their commitment to honoring Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith’s legacy is truly inspiring. Special thanks to Team Renfrow, led by Professor Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, whose partnership with many of Grinnell’s outstanding students has sought, since 2021, to bring visibility to Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s remarkable life and the rich history of the Renfrow family in Grinnell and beyond. This celebration would not have been possible without their dedication and advocacy.

We look forward to celebrating with you on this happiest of occasion!

With joy and gratitude,

Anne F. Harris

President, Grinnell College