Graves, Henry Lee, 1813-1884.

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Henry Lee Graves was born in Yanceyville, North Carolina on 1813 February 22. He married Rebecca Williams Graves on 1836 February 3. Rebecca, who lived in Caswell County, North Carolina, was Henry Lee's first cousin once-removed. Henry Lee and Rebecca had four daughters (Mary Anna, Bettie Williams, Ophelia Florine, and Willie Ruby) as well as two sons (Charles Henry and Henry Lee). Rebecca passed away in 1865. Seven years later, Dr. Graves married Myra Lusk Crumpler, a wealthy widow who survived him twenty-one years.

It was Henry Lee's academic pursuits that made him known among schools and educators in the United States. He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1833, served as the chair of mathematics at Wake Forest College, and taught at a Baptist high school in Georgia in 1838. In 1841, Henry Lee attended the Hamilton Theological Seminary in New York. He returned to Georgia for five years, until he decided to pursue work in Texas in 1846. In 1847, Graves became the first president of Baylor University in Independence while simultaneously serving as the pastor of the Baptist congregation in Independence. Graves resigned his position as president in June 1851 after years of hard work establishing a firm academic foundation for the school. From 1859 to 1868, Graves served as the head of Fairfield Female Academy. He later returned to the Baylor community when he was appointed president of Baylor Female College during the 1871-1872 academic year. He died on 1884 November 4, due to a carbuncle near his spinal column. He was buried in Brenham, Texas.

Louise Graves, the compiler of this particular collection, was a great-granddaughter of Baylor's first president. Louise was born in Corsicana, Texas, on 1905 August 11. She moved to Dallas in 1929 where she worked as the secretary of a large bank. From 1936 to 1938, she lived in Los Angeles where she worked for a large oil company. In 1938, Louise moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the newly created Library Service Division of the United States Office of Education. She soon returned to Dallas and became secretary to the Executive Director of public housing in Dallas. She started to explore her genealogical history in 1959. The efforts of her research can be found in her book, Graves: Twelve Generations, Some Descendants and Kin.

From the description of Henry Lee Graves collection, 1841-1881, undated 1841-1881. (Baylor University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 773299830

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Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Graves, Henry Lee, 1813-1884. Henry Lee Graves collection, 1841-1881, undated 1841-1881. Baylor University Libraries, Moody Memorial Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Baylor University corporateBody
associatedWith Baylor University (Independence, Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Graves, Louise, 1905-1994. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Independence (Tex.)
Texas
Subject
Education, Higher
Occupation
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Person

Birth 1813

Death 1884

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