Edith Renfrow Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edith Renfrow Smith
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Renfrow Smith in her cap and gown the day she graduated from Grinnell College in 1937
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| Born |
Edith Renfrow
July 14, 1914 (age 110 years, 348 days) Grinnell, Iowa, U.S.
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| Spouse(s) |
Henry T. Smith
(m. 1940) |
| Children | 2 |
Edith Renfrow Smith (born July 14, 1914) is an amazing American woman. She has lived for over 100 years! She was the first African American woman to graduate from Grinnell College in Iowa. Her grandparents were born into slavery.
When she was 108 years old, Edith was called a "superager" by Northwestern University. This means she had a fantastic memory, even at her age. In 2019, when she was 105, Grinnell College gave her a special honorary degree. In 2022, the college decided to name a new building after her. This building, called Renfrow Hall, opened in 2024. As of April 2023, Edith is still living in Chicago.
Contents
Edith's Early Life and Family
Edith Renfrow was born on July 14, 1914. She was the fifth of six children. Her parents were Eva Craig and Lee Augustus Renfrow. The Renfrows were one of the few African American families in Grinnell, a small town in Iowa.
Both of Edith's grandmothers and grandfathers were born into slavery. Lee's father, Perry Renfrow, was born into slavery in North Carolina. His mother, Elia Anderson, was born in The Gambia. She was brought to America as a slave.
A Story from the Past
The story of Edith's grandmother, Eliza Jane, was shared in a 1937 article. It was in a magazine called The Crisis, published by the NAACP. This article came out when Edith was graduating from college.
Edith shared how her grandmother, Eliza Jane, was treated kindly by her enslaver. He even planned for her children to get a full education in his will. But after he passed away, his brothers destroyed Eliza Jane's freedom papers. They forced her back into slavery.
Later, Eliza Jane was raised by Quakers in Ohio and then Iowa. There, she met and married George Craig. Their daughter, Eva Pearl Craig, became Edith's mother.
Edith's Talented Siblings
Education was very important in the Renfrow family. All of Edith's brothers and sisters went to college and had successful careers.
- Helen Renfrow Lemme (1904–1968) became a famous teacher and fought for civil rights in Iowa. A school is named after her.
- Alice Renfrow (1906–1997) worked at the Library of Congress.
- Rudolph Renfrow (1907–1972) was a top student at Hampton University. He was part of a group working for civil rights in Washington, D.C.
- Evanel Renfrow (1908–1994) earned two degrees in nutrition. She became a professor at Savannah State University.
- Paul Renfrow (1916–1974) was the youngest. He served in the US Army during World War II. He was part of the D-Day invasion.
Edith's College Years
Edith completed her public school education in Grinnell. She was the only one of her siblings to stay in town for college. She went to Grinnell College and graduated in 1937. She studied psychology and economics. She made history as the first African American woman to graduate from Grinnell College.
During the Great Depression, money was tight. Edith worked several jobs on campus. She lived and ate at home to save money. Even so, she was an active part of college life. She said, "That was a wonderful experience." She enjoyed group activities, dances, and dinners. She also played sports like basketball and field hockey.
Her Career and Family
After college, Edith moved to Chicago to find work. She worked at the YWCA and later at the University of Chicago. In Chicago, she met Henry T. Smith. They got married on May 25, 1940, at her family home in Grinnell.
Edith and Henry had two daughters, Virginia and Alice. Edith later earned her teaching license. She taught in the Chicago school system for 21 years. She is even a member of the Black Educator Hall of Fame. After she retired in 1976, she volunteered at Goodwill and the Art Institute of Chicago. She continued volunteering into her nineties!
Later Life and Special Honors
Edith has received many honors for her long life and contributions.
In 2009, at age 94, she was added to the Chicago Senior Citizen Hall of Fame. She also won an award for her community work.
The "Superager" Study
Because of her amazing memory and energy, Edith joined a "superager" study. This study was done by Northwestern University. To be a "superager," a person must be 80 or older. Their memory must be as good as or even better than people in their 50s or 60s. It's a very tough test! Less than 10% of people who think they are superagers actually qualify.
In 2018, Edith was on the Today Show as part of their series about superagers. In 2021, she was in a PBS show called "Build a Better Memory through Science."
College Honors and More
In 2019, when she was 104, Grinnell College gave Edith an honorary degree. Earlier that year, the Edith Renfrow Smith Black Women's Library opened at the college. In 2006, a gallery at the college was named the Smith Gallery in her honor.
The Chicago Sun-Times newspaper wrote about Edith when she turned 107 and 108. In 2022, Grinnell College announced a new residence hall would be named Renfrow Hall for her.
Edith has been featured in many news stories. In February 2023, NBC News wrote about her life lessons. She was also interviewed on NPR's Weekend Edition. In April 2023, she received the DAR's Women in American History award. This award honors women who have made a difference in their communities.
For her 109th birthday in July 2023, she was featured in the Chicago Sun-Times and on WGN Channel 9. In January 2024, a book about her life was published. It's called "No One is Better than You: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of a Mother's Words."
She was interviewed online in March 2024. For her 110th birthday, she was featured again in the Chicago Sun Times. On September 21, 2024, she was inducted into the Iowa African American Hall of Fame. A week later, she was present when Renfrow Hall was officially named at Grinnell College.
Images for kids
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Renfrow Smith in her cap and gown the day she graduated from Grinnell College in 1937
