St. Philip's College: A Point of Pride on San Antonio's Eastside

Introduction

1 gations for St. Philip’s, including management of its finances, occurred. They added to her already overburdened responsibilities by handing everything over to her, including finding funds to cover day-to-day expenses and for anything else that required an outlay of monies. The search was never-ending. These were the times when she, after doing all that she could, leaned on her faith in God, her family, and her friends to see her through. Even then, despite her best efforts, there were times when there was simply no money to pay the teachers or to cover any other expense. Those moments came all too often, but she always found a way. Having to make do with less than adequate facilities, few supplies, and secondhand materials might at times have been a distraction, but having to make do was never a deterrent. The administrators, faculty, and staff, who always wore multiple hats, were creative and became masters at substitution. Through it all, the St. Philip’s story became a true love story. Witness in this book the fact that for more than fifty years after many of those interviewed attended St. Philip’s, whether they graduated or not, their love for the school was still strong. Their memories of the halcyon days they spent at the school were vivid and they spoke, often in glowing terms, of how meaningful that time was to them. Or, just as important, read testimonies from the faculty and those in the community who fiercely defended and supported St. Philip’s, Miss Bowden, and its worth to the community, the city, and the nation. Because of their devotion, and that of the community, faculty, staff, and students, St. Philip’s came to be known by many as “The School That Love Built.” Bowden, who gave her life to St. Philip’s, is reputed to have spurned a suitor, indicating that she was wed to her school. Miss Bowden led the school for over half a century and St. Philip’s College stands as a beacon, a point of pride on San Antonio’s Eastside. For  years St. Philip’s has offered education and technical training to the community that surrounds it, and that means it has offered light and hope. Within the community, it has been a rallying point for support of the way forward. There were happy and fulfilling moments in the school’s history, such as when Bishop James Steptoe Johnston answered in the affirmative the request from the Negro parents for a school in San Antonio for their children that would provide them an opportunity to receive an education. But when the students excelled, even as their teachers made do with few resources, all too often with reduced or little pay and even at times with no pay, those were the shining moments. There were also glorious times, such as when accreditation was received, marking another important milestone accomplished and affirming that the teachers were doing the right things. These events made their sacrifices worthwhile. At times in the life of St. Philip’s, it appeared that the school would not survive, but Artemisia Bowden and others would not have that happen. They were determined that St. Philip’s would succeed. There were times when events of tragic proportions occurred, bringing in their wake discouragement to everyone, such as when Bowden’s sister Mary died. Mary Bowden came from Georgia to San Antonio to offer her assistance as a teacher and to help Bowden manage the school. Following a brief illness, she passed away. In dealing with the feelings of helplessness brought on by Mary’s death, Bowden experienced many moments of despair; but as time passed, these moments healed. One can only imagine the stark terror and feelings of abandonment that Bowden must have felt when events such as the diocese relieving itself of all obliIntroduction 2 • Introduction they could only access the balcony by using the elevator used to transport freight. Nonetheless, Hinton and others felt that their lives were full and satisfying where they lived, especially since this law-enforced separation was one of those things that came into their lives intermittently. She described growing up black in her community as “not a real world experience ,” because she lived in a closed community that provided her and the neighbors most of what was needed. Teachers in the black schools in San Antonio described by Hinton did not have the most up-to-date textbooks, nor were the science...