Discovered something unexpected
- Avery Brown Renfro
- Jun 7
- 1 min read
We recently discovered something unexpected while going through my grandfather Professor Leon Renfro’s personal belongings: more than 40 of these vintage gold-plated money clips, each engraved with his name.
These weren’t created for the exhibition. They weren’t reproduction pieces. These are original items that he personally purchased and owned during his lifetime.
For many professionals, educators, executives, and businessmen of his era, personalized money clips were often given as gifts, exchanged among colleagues, presented as tokens of appreciation, or simply carried as a reflection of personal style and professional success. Before business branding became what it is today, items like these were often part of a professional’s everyday accessories.
Holding them feels a little like holding a piece of history. They are small objects, but they offer a glimpse into the life of the man beyond the artwork, the classroom, and the legacy.
Now we find ourselves wondering what to do with them.
We already have a few ideas, but before we share them, we’d love to hear yours.
If you discovered more than 40 vintage money clips belonging to your grandfather, what would you do with them?
Would you:
• Preserve them as part of the Brown Renfro archive?
• Display them in the exhibition?
• Gift them to family members?
• Reserve them as commemorative collector’s pieces for significant exhibition supporters and sponsors?
• Something else entirely?
We’re excited to hear your thoughts.
We don’t just hang the art.
We carry it on.
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