乐播传媒入口

Photo Essay: Celebrating Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith

Alumni News
Oct 3, 2024

On Sept. 27 and 28, 乐播传媒入口 hosted a series of special weekend events in culmination to the dedication of Renfrow Hall, named after Edith Renfrow Smith 鈥37, DHL 鈥19. Born in 1914, Edith Renfrow Smith grew up in one of the oldest Black families in the town of 乐播传媒入口. The College鈥檚 first Black alumna, and its oldest living graduate, this special weekend was in celebration of Renfrow Smith鈥檚 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 乐播传媒入口 airport and is greeted by members of Team Renfrow, including Professor Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, Louise R. Noun Chair in Women鈥檚, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Valeriya Woodard 鈥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 鈥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 鈥淲elcome Home鈥 signs.

Off to the Welcome Parade! Celebrating Renfrow Smith Around Town

Community members around 乐播传媒入口 had the chance to welcome Renfrow Smith back to her hometown. Throughout her route, she was cheered on by elementary and middle school students, 乐播传媒入口 students, staff, and faculty, and local 乐播传媒入口 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鈥檚 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 乐播传媒入口 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 乐播传媒入口, 1863-1954

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

A young Black professor welcomes speaker Stuart Yeager 鈥82.
Copies of a book titled, 鈥淭he Black Experience at 乐播传媒入口 Through Collected Oral History and Documents, 1863-1954.鈥
Yeager鈥檚 book, 鈥淭he Black Experience at 乐播传媒入口 Through Collected Oral History and Documents, 1863-1954.鈥

Wheat Paste Mural Live Installation at First Interstate Bank 

In collaboration with Iowa artist Isaac Campbell, the 乐播传媒入口 Area Arts Council and Monique Shore 鈥90 coordinated a . Explore more , celebrating additional members of the Renfrow family and other 乐播传媒入口ians who lived during the Renfrow family鈥檚 years of residence in 乐播传媒入口 (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鈥檚 wheat paste installation.

Renfrow Hall Dedication Dinner

Renfrow Smith enjoyed dinner with her family and special guests at the Hotel 乐播传媒入口 Ballroom, with special remarks from President Harris, Professor Beauboeuf-LafontantValeriya Woodard 鈥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鈥檚, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
Mrs. Renfrow Smith, in a blue dress, smiles and talks with a young Black student.
Renfrow Smith and Feven Getachew 鈥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 乐播传媒入口. The band is inspired by Tower of Power, Earth, Wind and Fire, and other Motown artists. For dessert, people enjoyed the Renfrow Family鈥檚 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鈥檚 extended family pose for a picture.

Exploring Renfrow Hall and Edith Renfrow Smith '37 Student Art 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.
"Rooted in Resilience" exhibit by Valeriya Woodard '25 displayed at the Edith Renfrow Smith '37 Student Art Gallery in the Joe Rosenfield 鈥25 Center
A display of Edith Renfrow Smith in her graduation cap in 2019 and her family.
Renfrow Family Photos from Valeriya Woodard's "Rooted in Resilience" exhibit in the Edith Renfrow Smith '37 Student Art 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 乐播传媒入口. Members of the 乐播传媒入口 community gathered to listen to remarks from various members of 乐播传媒入口, 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, 乐播传媒入口 baked cookies from treasured recipes in Renfrow Smith鈥檚 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 乐播传媒入口

One of the events offered after the dedication ceremony was a Hazelwood Cemetery walk with Professor Beauboeuf-LafontantMonique Shore '90Evie Caperton 鈥25Libby Eggert 鈥25,  Hemlock Stanier 鈥25, and Valeriya Woodard '25. The cemetery walk focused on the stories of African Americans of early 乐播传媒入口. 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

A seated Mrs. Renfrow Smith smiles.

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 乐播传媒入口. After graduation, Renfrow Smith moved to Chicago, married Henry T. Smith, and raised two daughters 鈥 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, 乐播传媒入口 awarded Renfrow Smith an honorary doctorate.

Edith Renfrow Smith鈥檚 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 乐播传媒入口ians, community members, and visitors will know her name, understand her values, and practice them through their own contributions to the world.


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