Grinnell College dedicates Renfrow Hall in honor of 1937 graduate, Edith Renfrow Smith

​       Edith Renfrow Smith, the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College, is welcomed to Grinnell for the dedication ceremony of the newly constructed Renfrow Hall and related activities held in her honor on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27 – 28. The building dedication was part of a two-day event honoring Renfrow Smith that included a parade and the installation of a mural of her and her sisters. Renfrow Smith grew up in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1932. After taking a year off, she attended and graduated from Grinnell College in 1937 where she majored in psychology. Following her graduation, Renfrow Smith moved to Chicago, where she became a pillar of her community, raised two daughters, and enjoyed a distinguished career as a public-school elementary teacher and volunteer. Submitted photo.

      Grinnell College dedicated Renfrow Hall in honor of 1937 Grinnell graduate Edith Renfrow Smith, honoring her inspiring life of achievement, service, and generosity in a special ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 28. Renfrow Hall, located at 1033 Broad St. in downtown Grinnell, will serve as a home for students committed to building a stronger, more engaged community.
     The dedication ceremony not only celebrated this unique space, but also paid tribute to the remarkable legacy of Renfrow Smith, who also received an honorary doctorate from Grinnell College in 2019. 
    Grinnell College President Anne F. Harris, shared, “If you’ve joined us this morning, sharing in this monumental occasion for our College community, and for the centrality of Black Grinnellian experience to Grinnell history, and in the joy of recognizing our beloved alumna, Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith, you know that what happens here matters.” 
     “The idea for Renfrow Hall came to life by aiming to create spaces where college and community connect, where coalition can be built, where individuals can come to find a place of agency and belonging,” said Harris. 
Renfrow Smith, who celebrated her 110th birthday in July, is Grinnell College’s first Black woman graduate, its oldest living alum, an Iowa African American Hall of Fame member, and a Grinnell High School Hall of Fame inductee. Her legacy of service, coalition-building, advocacy, and aspiration has inspired generations. The dedication weekend offered an opportunity to uplift and celebrate her lifelong commitment to community and equality. 
      The weekend-long celebration honoring Renfrow Smith began on Friday, Sept. 27, with the unveiling of the Rooted in Resilience exhibit, a photo timeline at the Smith Gallery chronicling her life and legacy. Later that morning, the streets of Grinnell were lined with community members for a heartfelt Welcome Parade, celebrating Renfrow Smith’s return to her hometown. The afternoon saw the live installation of a stunning wheat paste mural of the Renfrow sisters, led by artist Isaac Campbell. The day closed with a vibrant dessert and dance reception in Grinnell’s Central Park. 
     On Saturday, visitors explored Renfrow Hall, the Katherine Howell Weingart ’61 Civics Innovation Pavilion and many exhibits celebrating the Renfrow family legacy, culminating in a powerful dedication ceremony at noon.
 
About Edith Renfrow Smith
     Born in 1914, Edith Renfrow Smith grew up in one of the oldest Black families in Grinnell. As the fifth of six children, she was instilled with a deep commitment to education, community, and equality. These values guided her through Grinnell College, where she majored in psychology and became the first Black woman to graduate from the College in 1937. 
     Following her graduation, Renfrow Smith moved to Chicago, where she became a pillar of her community, raised two daughters, and enjoyed a distinguished career as a public-school elementary teacher. Even after her retirement in 1976, she continued to serve others through volunteer work, earning induction into the Chicago Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2009. Grinnell College recognized her lifetime of service with an honorary doctorate in 2019, awarded to a standing ovation. 
     Renfrow Hall will feature a permanent display honoring Renfrow Smith’s life and contributions. This tribute will ensure that current and future generations of Grinnellians, community members, and visitors will be inspired by her story and continue to uphold her values. 

       A large gathering of Grinnell College students, facility and dignitaries, along with family of Edith Renfrow Smith, gather at the newly constructed Renfrow Hall, located at 1033 Broad St. in downtown Grinnell, for a building dedication ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 28. The building is named after Renfrow Smith, a long-time teacher and volunteer who lives in Chicago. Renfrow Smith, who celebrated her 110th birthday in July, grew up in Grinnell. She is the first Black woman to graduate from the college in 1937. Submitted photo.