Rachel Jenkins’ friends call her a true Renaissance woman as her broad range of interests include people, community affairs, history, genealogy, environmental issues and politics. Rachel Jenkins These interests, in concert with her natural bent to be a mover-and-shaker, mean Rachel Jenkins has made an indelible mark, in her Greentown community ... and beyond.

Possibly, Rachel is best known through Jenkins Studio, a photography business that she and husband Fred operated out of their home-studio for 50 years. Having met during their undergrad years at Purdue University, the two were married for more than 50 years, partners in many community endeavors and parents of three children, Mark, Sarah and Heather. Rachel kept the photography business going after Fred’s death in 2012 but retired it in 2015. Customers still express their appreciation of the memories that the Jenkins’ photographs inspire.

The many who enjoyed The Greentown Grapevine for nearly 20 years (1994-2013) have Rachel to thank. In collaboration with Fred, Rachel manually assembled the publication, usually 16 pages, each month on the kitchen table and then drove the paste-up to a printer. Through the Grapevine, readers learned of the happenings of the town council and the results of local sports teams. They read of engagements, weddings and deaths. The flashback section, documenting events 10 and 20 years prior, was a hit. Income came from ads, classified and business, plus out-of-town subscriptions. (Greentown residents could receive a free copy.) Rachel was reporter and editor, tracking down verification of all news that she received, guarding against The Grapevine becoming a rumor mill. The issues are being preserved digitally by the Indiana State Library.

Another mark Rachel made came in 1998 when Greentown celebrated its 150th birthday. The event grew from a comment Rachel made: “Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a celebration?” and was three years in the making. The Sesquicentennial celebration culminated in a three-day event that involved displays, re-enactments and music.

The joy for Rachel came from seeing the original committee of six grow to involve dozens of people from local schools and the surrounding community. One can read about the event, which was troubled by a tornado, in The Greentown Grapevine, Volume 5, Issue 7. In that issue, Rachel states the event’s purpose: “To remind people, young and old, of their unique heritage in this spot on earth and to look forward to the future.” During the cleanup of the celebration, people expressed a desire to preserve the artifacts collected, inspiring the formation of the Greentown Historical Society. Rachel was one of its founding members and the spark of its growth. The Historical Society building, located at 101 and 103 E. Main St., contains 1,040 artifacts, the oldest dating to 1849. Fred Jenkins’ camera is among them.

Rachel believes her zeal for community stems from her parents during her growing-up years on the family farm in Johnson County. Her parents and grandmother made world affairs a topic of conversation, a conversation she now continues as an active member of the League of Women Voters and various environmental organizations. Rachel also credits her involvement in 4-H, which bred self-growth but also the desire for service that has animated her life.