Grinnell in Poweshiek County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Notable Grinnellians
Town and College
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 2025
1. Notable Grinnellians Marker
Gary Cooper 1901-1961
Actor
Gary Cooper's film career spanned more than 30 years and 100 movies. Cooper was born Frank James Cooper in Helena, Montana. He attended Grinnell College for three semesters. When his family moved to Los Angeles, he went along and began work as an extra in western films. In an effort to improve his casting, he changed his legal name. He hit his stride in 1929 with The Virginian, the first picture he did in sound. His first big hit came in 1941 with Sergeant York, for which he won an Academy Award. He earned a second Oscar in 1952 for his performance in High Noon. He received an award for lifetime achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1961, the year of his death. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Helen Renfrow Lemme 1904-1960
Activist
A native Grinnelllan, Helen Renfrow Lemme was a member of one of the few black families in Grinnell in the early 1900s. She graduated from Grinnell High School and earned a degree in biology from the University of Iowa. She took a job as a laboratory research technician for the university's Department of Internal Medicine.
She
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Civil Rights • Women.
Location. 41° 44.518′ N, 92° 43.365′ W. Marker is in Grinnell, Iowa, in Poweshiek County. It is at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Park Street, on the left when traveling east on 3rd Avenue. The marker is beside the diagonal walkway near the southeast corner of Central Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 925 3rd Avenue, Grinnell IA 50112, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American
2. Marker detail: Gary Cooper
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Notable Grinnellians (here, next to this marker); Founding of Grinnell (here, next to this marker); J. B. Grinnell (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Notable Grinnellians (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Notable Grinnellians (a few steps from this marker); Grinnell College (a few steps from this marker); First Businesses (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Notable Grinnellians (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grinnell.
Also see . . .
1. Gary Cooper (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: American actor known for his strong, silent screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and(Submitted on February 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)had a further three nominations, as well as an Academy Honorary Award in 1961 for his career achievements. He was one of the top 10 film personalities for 23 consecutive years and one of the top money-making stars for 18 years. The American Film Institute (AFI) ranked Cooper at number 11 on its list of the 50 greatest screen legends.
3. Marker detail: Helen Renfrow Lemme
Cooper's career spanned 36 years, from 1925 to 1961, and included leading roles in 84 feature films. He was a major movie star from the end of the silent film era through almost the end of the golden age of classical Hollywood. His screen persona appealed strongly to both men and women, and his range included roles in most major film genres. His ability to project his own personality onto the characters he played contributed to his natural and authentic appearance on screen. Throughout his career, he sustained a screen persona that represented the ideal American hero.
2. Helen Renfrow Lemme (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Lemme graduated from Grinnell High School, receiving a $5 gold coin scholarship. She began her university(Submitted on February 21, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)studies in 1923 at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, but in 1925 moved to the University of Iowa, a state university, in Iowa City, where she studied science and biology and served as the president of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Her first position after graduation was as a teacher at Lander College in Greenwood, South Carolina. After one year she returned to Iowa City and on August 26, 1929, she married Allyn Lemme. She then accepted a teaching position at Alabama State Teachers College located in Montgomery, Alabama, which later became Alabama State College for Negroes, and is now Alabama State University.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 19, 20254. Notable Grinnellians MarkerLooking southeast through Central Park. Park Street (left) and 3rd Avenue (right) intersect in the background.
The Lemmes used their Iowa City home to provide room and board to African-American students at University of Iowa, who were not allowed to live in dormitories until 1946. Lemme 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, Lemme was involved in the Human Rights Commission and the Iowa City Area Council of Churches. She was elected President of the Iowa City League of Women Voters in 1946 and Iowa City Woman of the Year in 1955.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 63 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 20, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
