An illustrated biography of the life of Edith Renfrow Smith is now available for purchase from the Pioneer Bookstore (first edition, higher print quality) and from major retailers like Amazon (print on demand edition). Remarkable at age 111 as of July 14, 2025, she is an inspiration to many. She was born in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1914 to one of the few Black families in the area. Her grandparents were born into slavery. Her grandfather escaped via the Underground Railroad, traveling through Grinnell with John Brown in 1859. Her mother’s passion for education inspired all six of the Renfrow children to go to college. In 1937, Edith Renfrow became the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College. In September 2024, the college named their newest building Renfrow Hall in her honor. She was 110 years old at the time of the building dedication. She flew from Chicago to Grinnell in a private jet, was greeted by the community with a parade, and participated in the weekend of celebration in her honor.
This website documents the process of writing the book which was published in January 2024. It includes the ways that Mrs. Renfrow Smith and her daughter, Alice Smith, were involved every step of they way. You can order your copy from the Pioneer Bookstore in Grinnell.
Read about me and why I did this on the About the Author page.
Read about the journey of publishing this book
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Entrusted with her gift to share
Yesterday I once again had the pleasure of sitting beside Edith and soaking in her charm and wisdom. I travelled to Chicago along with Tamara and three of the Grinnell College students who are doing Renfrow related research this summer. It was a belated celebration of Edith’s 109th birthday. Each of us had prepared something…
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Birthday time!
Edith will turn 109 on July 14th!!! I don’t know about you, but I’ve never sent a card for a 109th birthday before so I don’t want to miss this chance. If you’re like me and want to drop her a card, we are organizing a card shower and will deliver the cards in bulk…
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One by one…
Beautiful things take time and it’s always worth the wait. Illustrations are progressing at a rate of 1-2 per week and are about 20% done at this point. Erica is using historic photos for reference, like the Renfrow home in the background of this illustration. We also have decided to use flowers and other natural…
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Her voice! Sharing her mother’s wisdom
There is a small group of students doing Renfrow related research with Professor Tamara Beauboeuf at Grinnell College this summer. Part of the project has involved digging into an amazing piece of research done by Stuart Yeager, class of 1982, that resulted in a thesis, “The Black Experience at Grinnell College through collected oral history…
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GC Alumni love
On Saturday I had the great privilege of sharing my passion for Edith and her story with fellow alumni of Grinnell College in person for the first time. They had come from all over the country and world back to this special place that sits at the center of everywhere (as Grinnellians like to say).…
Pictures with Edith Renfrow Smith 2015-2023
No One is Better than You: Edith Renfrow Smith and the Power of a Mother’s Words
An illustrated biography for all ages.
Description
This illustrated biography is targeted at upper elementary readers but will be enjoyed by all ages. It has a strong message of empowerment. The text is by Monique McLay Shore, a friend of Mrs. Renfrow Smith who has spent several years researching her life. Illustrations are by Erica L. Butler, a Seattle based African American artist. Edith Renfrow Smith and her daughter, Alice Frances Smith, have been involved in the process from the very beginning. The posts on this website document the process of writing the book.
“No one is better than you. They may have more money. They may be more beautiful. But no one is any better than you.”
This wisdom learned from her mother has been a guiding message for Edith and one she shares frequently with others. It is fitting that this message is the cornerstone of the book about her life.
The Renfrow Story 