Mamie McKnight (’70 Ph.D.), Dallas :: She worked as a teacher and educator throughout Texas, teaching mathematics, science and black history, and dedicated her life to preserving and educating others about the past. She was known as the “historian of black Dallas” and, in 1983, she founded Black Dallas Remembered, a local heritage and historic preservation nonprofit. She also preserved Freedman’s Cemetery, a Dallas cemetery named for former slaves, and her efforts to archive and relocate lost graves in one of the nation’s largest cemetery excavation projects led her to be known as the “Cemetery Lady.” She was one of the first black faculty members at Southern Methodist University, and she was an assistant professor and chair of the communications, mathematics and developmental studies department at El Centro College. She later became community development consultant at Dallas County Community College District. She was an adjunct professor at several colleges, including UNT. She served in numerous positions in organizations, including as basileus of the Dallas Alpha Xi Omega chapter; member of the Texas Historical Commission Review Board; chairwoman of the Dallas Landmark Commission; member of the Texas Historical Commission; charter member of the Trinity chapter of The Links, Inc.; and member of the Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was named to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2000. She received the UNT President’s Citation in 2001.
Mamie McKnight (’70 Ph.D.), Dallas :: She worked as a teacher and educator throughout Texas, teaching mathematics, science and black history, and dedicated her life to preserving and educating others about the past. She was known as the “historian of black Dallas” and, in 1983, she founded Black Dallas Remembered, a local heritage and historic preservation nonprofit. She also preserved Freedman’s Cemetery, a Dallas cemetery named for former slaves, and her efforts to archive and relocate lost graves in one of the nation’s largest cemetery excavation projects led her to be known as the “Cemetery Lady.” She was one of the first black faculty members at Southern Methodist University, and she was an assistant professor and chair of the communications, mathematics and developmental studies department at El Centro College. She later became community development consultant at Dallas County Community College District. She was an adjunct professor at several colleges, including UNT. She served in numerous positions in organizations, including as basileus of the Dallas Alpha Xi Omega chapter; member of the Texas Historical Commission Review Board; chairwoman of the Dallas Landmark Commission; member of the Texas Historical Commission; charter member of the Trinity chapter of The Links, Inc.; and member of the Phi chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was named to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 2000. She received the UNT President’s Citation in 2001.
