REMEMBERING EDITH RENFROW SMITH, July 14, 1914—January 2, 2026

Edith Renfrow Smith, age 110

Edith Renfrow Smith, the first black graduate of Grinnell College, lived a life devoted to her family and community. After graduation she moved from Iowa to Chicago but always maintained close family ties to the town of Grinnell where she had grown up. She has died at the age of 111. I first learned about Edith when I was involved in the production of the children’s book about her life, NO ONE IS BETTER THAN YOU: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of aMother’s Words, written by Monique Shore. (I provided editorial advice.) In the book I learned about Edith's childhood in one of the few Black families in Grinnell and about her later life in Chicago, where she married and raised her children, became a teacher, and then, after retirement, spent many years as a volunteer in the community.

In September 2024 I was honored to meet Edith and talk with her about her memories of Grinnell during the time that my husband Art’s father and his siblings were also growing up in Grinnell. (Edith was a classmate of Art’s uncle Don.) Edith was a living, breathing link to the past, and I was impressed that her mind at 110 was still so sharp. Her key to a long life? A positive outlook and joy for life. When asked about her secret she said:

“The Lord gives you the birthdays, and you take ‘em,” says Edith. “You have no choice. Take what you have, make use of it, and be thankful for what you have. Don’t let life pass you by. Remember, this is your life. It’s wonderful to live long enough to enjoy just being here.”

Edith will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Her memory will live on.

You can read her obituary in the Chicago Sun Times.

Edith in her graduation robe and as a young child with a ribbon in her hair. (Temporary wheat paste murals in Grinnell, created for the dedication of Renfrow Hall, 2024.)  

ESPRESSO MACHINE ETCHING FROM 1965: Memories from My Years at Grinnell College

Coffee House in the Forum, Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa 1965.

In the spring of 1965 there was a new student center on the campus of Grinnell College--the Forum, a modern steel and glass structure designed by architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Among its features was a coffee shop built around a shiny Italian espresso machine—something that felt very modern and sophisticated in the middle of Iowa. On weekends, poetry readings and stand-up performances were held in the coffee house.

Espresso Machine, etching by Caroline Scheaffer Arnold, 1965

I was an art student at Grinnell and made an etching of the coffee shop for one of my classes. My friends Dottie and Dick Metzler have had a copy of that print ever since we were fellow students at Grinnell. None of us can remember whether they bought the print at the annual student art sale or if I gave it to them as a wedding present. In any case, they have recently donated it to the college as both a piece of art and a record of college history. When they first proposed to donate the print several years ago, they contacted me. Here’s what I wrote back:

Your picture of my print of the espresso machine in the old Forum coffee house brought back memories. I would be pleased to have you offer the print to Grinnell. The print is an etching that I made in a prints class taught by Richard Cervene. I do have a confession to make. The name of the espresso machine is not Campanelli. I made the sketch for the print in the coffee house (the setting and various objects are correct) but I didn't put the name of the machine in my sketch. Back in the art building later, when I was transferring my drawing to the etching plate I added the name but misremembered it. (I should have gone back to check.) So, as far as historical interest is concerned, everything is accurate except the name of the machine!

The plan is for my espresso machine etching to be hung in the new Alumni House in a room honoring Dottie Metzler, who passed away in 2020.

The espresso machine in one of its later locations.

Note: The coffee shop in the Forum is long gone and the building is no longer a student center. (It is used for offices.)  But the espresso machine lived on for many more years at other campus locations. And it will be remembered forever in photos and in my etching. 

SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL and BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6 at the Pioneer Bookshop, Grinnell, Iowa

At the Pioneer Bookshop, Grinnell Iowa, with my book SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL.

I was pleased to be one of more than a dozen Grinnell College alumni with books on display (and for sale) at the Pioneer Bookshop, Grinnell, Iowa, during the recent Alumni Reunion weekend. 

My memoir, SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up inthe 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota was there as well as BUTTERFLIES IN ROOM 6, one of my recent books for children. SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL ends with my graduation from Grinnell, which coincided with my family’s move to California. 

Although I had majored in art at Grinnell, I didn’t know then that my eventual career would be as a children’s book writer and illustrator. A complete collection of my published books is in the Grinnell College Library.

GRINNELL COLLEGE LIBRARY--A Complete Collection of My Books

Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa.

I am proud that Burling Library, the Grinnell College library in Grinnell, Iowa, has all of my books in its collection. To my knowledge, it is the only institution that has copies of every one of my published books. (Note: the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota, one of the few national archives of children's books, has many of my books, as well as the accompanying manuscripts and correspondence. They also have my original art used for the books I illustrated.)

Five Nests (1980), my first published book.

I graduated from Grinnell College in 1966 with a B.A. in Art. My first book for children, Five Nests (E.P. Dutton) was published in 1980 and the publisher sent a copy of the book to the college library. Since then I have been sending copies of my books as they have come out. The books are kept in the Special Collections Room of Burling Library on the ground floor of the library along with books by other Grinnell College graduates.

Burling Library, Grinnell College.

I am the author of 170 books for children. Most are illustrated by other people. But between 2006 and 2015 I illustrated 16 of my books published by PictureWindow Books (Capstone). On my recent trip to Grinnell I brought 16 giclee prints of illustrations from those books--one from each book--and donated them to the library. (See list below.) I am glad to have them become part of the Grinnell Library collection. I thank Christopher Jones, the librarian in charge of Special Collections, for making my books and art available to students and users of the college library.

Giclee prints of cut-paper illustrations by Caroline Arnold for the following books are in the Grinnell College Library:

DAY AND NIGHT SERIES (2015)

Illustration from A Day and Night in the Desert 

A DAY AND NIGHT IN THE DESERT, pp 16-17 (PictureWindow Books, 2015)

 A DAY AND NIGHT ON THE PRAIRIE, pp 12-13 (PictureWindow Books, 2015)

 A DAY AND NIGHT IN THE RAIN FOREST, pp 6-7  (PictureWindow Books, 2015)

 A DAY AND NIGHT IN THE FOREST pp 16-17 (PictureWindow Books, 2015)

BLACK AND WHITE ANIMALS SERIES (2006)

Illustration from A Panda's World

A PANDA’S WORLD, pp. 4-5 and 20-21, (PictureWindow Books, 2006)

 A PENGUIN’S WORLD, pp. 20-21, (PictureWindow Books, 2006)

 A KILLER WHALE’S WORLD, pp. 8-9, (PictureWindow Books, 2006)

 A ZEBRA’S WORLD, pp. 18-19 and 20-21, (PictureWindow Books, 2006)

AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS SERIES (2008)

Illustration from A Kangaroo's World

A KANGAROO’S WORLD, pp. 18-19 and  20-21, (PictureWindow Books, 2008)

 A KOALA’S WORLD, pp. 12-13,  PictureWindow Books, 2008)

 A PLATYPUS’ WORLD, pp. 14-15, (PictureWindow Books, 2008)

 A WOMBAT’S WORLD, pp. 16-17, (PictureWindow Books, 2008)

ARCTIC ANIMAL SERIES (2010)

Illustration from A Bald Eagle's World

A BALD EAGLE’S WORLD, pp. 10-11,  (PictureWindow Books, 2010)

 A MOOSE’S WORLD, pp. 6-7,  (PictureWindow Books, 2010)

 A POLAR BEAR’S WORLD, pp. 18-19, (PictureWindow Books, 2010)

 A WALRUS’  WORLD, pp. 8-9 and 18-19 , (PictureWindow Books, 2010)

 

AUTHOR VISIT AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY, Grinnell, Iowa

I enjoyed my visit with the third and fourth graders at Davis School very much. Many thanks to librarian Allison Pease for arranging it! I was impressed by how well the students paid attention and by their enthusiastic response to my presentation. Before my visit they all got a handout, "Fun Facts about Caroline Arnold", which was a good way to get them prepared.

My visit to Grinnell was organized around the celebration of Edith Renfrow Smith and her family and the dedication of a new building named after her. Edith Renfrow Smith was the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College (1937) and at the sprightly age of 110, is the oldest living graduate. It was meaningful to me to know that Davis School is the same school that Edith Renfrow attended as a child. It was thrilling for me to get a chance to meet her at the celebration around the dedication of Renfrow Hall. I'm sure the kids at Davis enjoyed cheering for her as she passed by in the parade on Friday. My husband and I watched with a crowd of people downtown.

Last spring author Monique Shore read her book about Edith Renfrow, No One is Better Than You, to the students at Davis Elementary. I played a small part in the creation of the book, giving advice to Monique based on my experience as a children's book writer. I am honored to be acknowledged in the credits of the book. The book is available from the Pioneer Bookshop in Grinnell and from Amazon.

With thanks to Librarian Allison Pease for sharing these photos of "Measuring Your Wingspan," a favorite activity in which students can find out what bird they could be if they could fly. Most third graders are red tailed hawks.

SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL at the PIONEER BOOKSTORE, Grinnell, Iowa

On my recent visit to Grinnell, Iowa, I was pleased to discover SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL prominently displayed at the Pioneer Bookstore, along with books by other Grinnell alumni authors.

Grinnell College, founded in 1846, is the oldest college west of the Mississippi. Its teams and students have always been known as the "Pioneers" reflecting the early days of the town and college. But, recently, a new mascot has appeared--the Grinnell Squirrel--reflecting the numerous small furry residents that scurry around on the tree lined campus. Hence, all the images of squirrels and toy stuffed squirrels alongside the books at the bookstore.

SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL in the Grinnell Magazine

I am pleased to have my book SETTLEMENT HOUSE GIRL: Growing Up in the 1950s at North East Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota, included in the Authors and Artists section (p. 28) of the Summer 2024 issue of the Grinnell Magazine. I was in the Grinnell College Class of 1966. I am glad to have the news of my book shared with other alums. 

Arnold's book "chronicles my childhood as I interacted and shared meals with other settlement house residents, participated in clubs, sports and community activities, and observed the roles of the staff and my social worker parents. Few other families lived at a settlement house as ours did. The book ends with my graduation from Grinnell." Settlement House Girl captures a time when settlement houses were in transition from their root in immigrant communities at the turn of the 20th century to becoming today's modern social service agencies.

REVIEW of MY FRIEND FROM OUTER SPACE in Fall 2023 Issue of The Grinnell Magazine

I am pleased to have MY FRIEND FROM OUTER SPACE included in the Authors and Artists section of the fall issue of the Grinnell Magazine.

Caroline Scheaffer Arnold ’66, DHL ’01, Amazon, July 2023

A graphic picture book for young readers illustrated with colorful, anime-style art, My Friend From Outer Space follows Sherry as she tries to convince her best friend that she comes from outer space. Arnold, who majored in art and literature at Grinnell, is the author of more than 170 books for children. Her work has received awards from the American Library Association, and the National Science Teachers Association, among others, and she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the College in 2001.

Issue: 

Fall 2023