Mary & Mac Private School

In 1954, Lucille Graves established Mary & Mac Private School as a preschool for African-American students. Named for a version of the hand-clapping song “Mary Mack,” emphasizing aspirations for the students to become contributing members of society, the institution offered an alternative to local public schools in a time when private schools for African Americans were rare. Teachers received permission from the Rev. A.L. Dunn to hold their first classes in the auditorium of New Hope Baptist Church, before soon moving to two small frame houses on the 1300 block of East 24th Street. Lucille Graves taught classes along with her husband, Caesar; other family members later joined as faculty, as Graves expanded school services. To meet the needs of the growing school, Caesar Graves and the Mary & Mac Parent-Teacher Association began to raise funds for a new building, and in 1961, the school moved to a newly constructed structure at 902 East 28th Street. Here, Mary & Mac began offering junior high and high school courses. The faculty often worked multiple positions to meet the expanding activities offered at the school. At its peak, Mary & Mac Private School served a student population of approximately 120 students. Mary & Mac closed in 1993, shortly after Lucille Graves passed away. Besides her work with the school, Graves was noted for being the first African American accepted into Texas Tech; she later earned a doctorate from the Inter-Baptist Theological Center of Houston. Today, Dr. Graves is remembered for her activism and for Mary & Mac Private School, whose graduates have made significant contributions locally, regionally and throughout the nation. (2010)

Mary & Mac Private School is a historical marker in Lubbock, Lubbock County, dedicated in 2010. It is one of 35 historical markers documented in Lubbock County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 51 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.5684, -101.8264 near Lubbock. The nearest cataloged historic site is Mount Gilead Baptist Church (historical marker), about 0.4 miles away. Others within a short drive include City of Lubbock Cemetery, Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railway Depot, and Cactus Theater.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016689. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.