Helen Renfrow Lemme was born on February 25, 1904, in Grinnell, Iowa. She was born Frances Helen Renfrow to Eva Craig and Lee Augustus Renfrow. She was the oldest of six children and helped take care of her brothers and sisters. To help with expenses she kept house for several families in Grinnell.
She graduated from Grinnell High School and received a $5.00 gold piece for scholarship. In 1928 she graduated from the State University of Iowa, supporting herself by cooking, sewing and tutoring. She worked as a research technician in the Department of Internal Medicine. In 1929 she married Allyn Lemme. They had two sons named Paul and Lawrence.
Helen Lemme did community volunteering for the rest of her life. She devoted her life to the rights of African Americans and women, and she was an active member of the Democratic Party. She served as a precinct committeewoman, a delegate at state and county conventions, and member of the Democratic Party Black Caucus. She also advocated for greater representation of Black voters at the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Locally, she was involved in the Human Rights Commission and the Iowa City Area Council of Churches. She served as secretary of the Johnson County Advisory Board of the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. She also held seats on the board of the Iowa City League of Women's Voters, the YMCA and the Girl Scouts. She was elected President of the Iowa City League of Women Voters in 1946 and Iowa City Woman of the Year in 1955. A few years later, she was the first Black woman in Iowa City to be awarded the Best Citizen of the Year.
At a time when there was reluctant acceptance of black students in the University of Iowa dormitories, Mr. and Mrs. Lemme provided room and board for numerous black students and athletes who came to Iowa City from nearly everywhere in the United States. Some of the students lived in the upstairs of the Lemme's huge five bedroom house which was located at 603 South Capitol Street. In addition, there were approximately a dozen students who lived in an adjoining structure called the Annex.
Helen Renfrow Lemme died on December 15, 1968, from inhaling smoke during a fire in her home. She died at the age of 64.
In 1970, a new elementary school was named after Helen Lemme for her outstanding achievements.
Adapted from: www.iccsd.k12.ia.us and wikipedia
[Thanks to contributor #46479097 for the parent links, and to contributor #47603085 for the death location.]
She graduated from Grinnell High School and received a $5.00 gold piece for scholarship. In 1928 she graduated from the State University of Iowa, supporting herself by cooking, sewing and tutoring. She worked as a research technician in the Department of Internal Medicine. In 1929 she married Allyn Lemme. They had two sons named Paul and Lawrence.
Helen Lemme did community volunteering for the rest of her life. She devoted her life to the rights of African Americans and women, and she was an active member of the Democratic Party. She served as a precinct committeewoman, a delegate at state and county conventions, and member of the Democratic Party Black Caucus. She also advocated for greater representation of Black voters at the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Locally, she was involved in the Human Rights Commission and the Iowa City Area Council of Churches. She served as secretary of the Johnson County Advisory Board of the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. She also held seats on the board of the Iowa City League of Women's Voters, the YMCA and the Girl Scouts. She was elected President of the Iowa City League of Women Voters in 1946 and Iowa City Woman of the Year in 1955. A few years later, she was the first Black woman in Iowa City to be awarded the Best Citizen of the Year.
At a time when there was reluctant acceptance of black students in the University of Iowa dormitories, Mr. and Mrs. Lemme provided room and board for numerous black students and athletes who came to Iowa City from nearly everywhere in the United States. Some of the students lived in the upstairs of the Lemme's huge five bedroom house which was located at 603 South Capitol Street. In addition, there were approximately a dozen students who lived in an adjoining structure called the Annex.
Helen Renfrow Lemme died on December 15, 1968, from inhaling smoke during a fire in her home. She died at the age of 64.
In 1970, a new elementary school was named after Helen Lemme for her outstanding achievements.
Adapted from: www.iccsd.k12.ia.us and wikipedia
[Thanks to contributor #46479097 for the parent links, and to contributor #47603085 for the death location.]
Helen Renfrow Lemme was born on February 25, 1904, in Grinnell, Iowa. She was born Frances Helen Renfrow to Eva Craig and Lee Augustus Renfrow. She was the oldest of six children and helped take care of her brothers and sisters. To help with expenses she kept house for several families in Grinnell.
She graduated from Grinnell High School and received a $5.00 gold piece for scholarship. In 1928 she graduated from the State University of Iowa, supporting herself by cooking, sewing and tutoring. She worked as a research technician in the Department of Internal Medicine. In 1929 she married Allyn Lemme. They had two sons named Paul and Lawrence.
Helen Lemme did community volunteering for the rest of her life. She devoted her life to the rights of African Americans and women, and she was an active member of the Democratic Party. She served as a precinct committeewoman, a delegate at state and county conventions, and member of the Democratic Party Black Caucus. She also advocated for greater representation of Black voters at the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Locally, she was involved in the Human Rights Commission and the Iowa City Area Council of Churches. She served as secretary of the Johnson County Advisory Board of the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. She also held seats on the board of the Iowa City League of Women's Voters, the YMCA and the Girl Scouts. She was elected President of the Iowa City League of Women Voters in 1946 and Iowa City Woman of the Year in 1955. A few years later, she was the first Black woman in Iowa City to be awarded the Best Citizen of the Year.
At a time when there was reluctant acceptance of black students in the University of Iowa dormitories, Mr. and Mrs. Lemme provided room and board for numerous black students and athletes who came to Iowa City from nearly everywhere in the United States. Some of the students lived in the upstairs of the Lemme's huge five bedroom house which was located at 603 South Capitol Street. In addition, there were approximately a dozen students who lived in an adjoining structure called the Annex.
Helen Renfrow Lemme died on December 15, 1968, from inhaling smoke during a fire in her home. She died at the age of 64.
In 1970, a new elementary school was named after Helen Lemme for her outstanding achievements.
Adapted from: www.iccsd.k12.ia.us and wikipedia
[Thanks to contributor #46479097 for the parent links, and to contributor #47603085 for the death location.]
She graduated from Grinnell High School and received a $5.00 gold piece for scholarship. In 1928 she graduated from the State University of Iowa, supporting herself by cooking, sewing and tutoring. She worked as a research technician in the Department of Internal Medicine. In 1929 she married Allyn Lemme. They had two sons named Paul and Lawrence.
Helen Lemme did community volunteering for the rest of her life. She devoted her life to the rights of African Americans and women, and she was an active member of the Democratic Party. She served as a precinct committeewoman, a delegate at state and county conventions, and member of the Democratic Party Black Caucus. She also advocated for greater representation of Black voters at the 1944 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Locally, she was involved in the Human Rights Commission and the Iowa City Area Council of Churches. She served as secretary of the Johnson County Advisory Board of the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program. She also held seats on the board of the Iowa City League of Women's Voters, the YMCA and the Girl Scouts. She was elected President of the Iowa City League of Women Voters in 1946 and Iowa City Woman of the Year in 1955. A few years later, she was the first Black woman in Iowa City to be awarded the Best Citizen of the Year.
At a time when there was reluctant acceptance of black students in the University of Iowa dormitories, Mr. and Mrs. Lemme provided room and board for numerous black students and athletes who came to Iowa City from nearly everywhere in the United States. Some of the students lived in the upstairs of the Lemme's huge five bedroom house which was located at 603 South Capitol Street. In addition, there were approximately a dozen students who lived in an adjoining structure called the Annex.
Helen Renfrow Lemme died on December 15, 1968, from inhaling smoke during a fire in her home. She died at the age of 64.
In 1970, a new elementary school was named after Helen Lemme for her outstanding achievements.
Adapted from: www.iccsd.k12.ia.us and wikipedia
[Thanks to contributor #46479097 for the parent links, and to contributor #47603085 for the death location.]
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