Born in 1914, Edith Renfrow Smith grew up in one of the oldest Black families in the town of Grinnell. The fifth of six children, she attended the local public schools. The Renfrow family held 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. She 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 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 to a standing ovation from the graduates and all assembled.
Edith Renfrow Smith’s remarkable story will be shared with Renfrow Hall residents and visitors alike 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 perpetuate them through their own contributions to the world.
Learn More
New Residence Hall Naming Honors Edith Renfrow Smith (Grinnell Magazine)
Through the Eyes of a Groundbreaker
Public History With Team Renfrow