Original Site of
St. Phillip's College
B
E X A R C O U N T Y |
Marker Text: Opening at this site in 1898 as "St. Phillips Saturday evening sewing classes for black girls", this college was founded by the Rt. Rev. James Steptoe Johnson (1843-1924), Episcopal bishop of western Texas, who considered education a tool, toward solving race problems. Soon coeducational and in a brick building of its own, it was renamed St. Phillip's Industrial School, and was taught by Mrs. Alice G. Cowan. A white missionary with prior service in Mexico. In 1902, Miss Artemisia Bowden (1879-19690, a black lady from Georgia, assumed administrative and teaching duties, serving for 52 ensuing years, broadened by literary courses in 1903 and with teacher training added, the facility in 1906 became the St. Phillips normal, grammar, and industrial school.
A new expandable site was bought in 1917, and St. Phillips moved to Dakota Street, 2 miles east of this site. Elevated to a junior college 1927, and in public control since 1942, it is now a part of San Antonio Union Junior College District. In 1955, it became racially integrated. The enrollment has risen from 21 in 1899 to more than 8,000 today. (1976) |
Marker No: 5079
Geographic: 29.421862,-98.488800
Location: 502 Villita Street, San Antonio
Aluminum 27 x 42 Subject Marker
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