San Angelo in Tom Green County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Guadalupe Elementary School
Photographed By Brian Anderson, November 22, 2020
1. Guadalupe Elementary School Marker
Inscription.
Guadalupe Elementary School. . From its inception, San Angelo, like most Texas towns, struggled with "separate but equal" schools for its citizens. Separate public education began in San Angelo in 1895. By 1906 the small school for Mexican American students was filled to capacity in deteriorating conditions. Parents hired legal counsel in 1910 to request that the school board integrate the Mexican and Anglo schools. The board refused but did open an additional Mexican American school. From 1911 through the 1915 school year, the Mexican American community boycotted the public schools. By 1916 many had returned to the single remaining segregated school, but conditions again deteriorated., In 1923, due to the cooperative efforts of Mexican American parents and Mrs. Ginevra Wood Carson (1872-1958), the district opened a new brick building with four classrooms and modern facilities later known as Guadalupe Elementary School. During the Depression, Mrs. Josefa Camuñez (1884-1972) opened her closed grocery store as a temporary cafeteria for Guadalupe students. In 1938 a clinic, an office and two more classrooms were added. By 1940 a kitchen was in operation at the school with meals funded by the Works Progress Administration., The San Angelo Independent School District was integrated in 1955 and Guadalupe School closed in 1959. Since that time, the structure has housed several community and civic programs such as "Head Start" and adult education. The Guadalupe Alumni(ae) Association was formed in 1992., Supplemental Plate: Roberta Parks (1892 - 1988) was Guadalupe School's first teacher and principal from 1923 to 1943 . Lulac Chapter # 637 sponsored the above marker.
From its inception, San Angelo, like most Texas towns, struggled with "separate but equal" schools for its citizens. Separate public education began in San Angelo in 1895. By 1906 the small school for Mexican American students was filled to capacity in deteriorating conditions. Parents hired legal counsel in 1910 to request that the school board integrate the Mexican and Anglo schools. The board refused but did open an additional Mexican American school. From 1911 through the 1915 school year, the Mexican American community boycotted the public schools. By 1916 many had returned to the single remaining segregated school, but conditions again deteriorated.
In 1923, due to the cooperative efforts of Mexican American parents and Mrs. Ginevra Wood Carson (1872-1958), the district opened a new brick building with four classrooms and modern facilities later known as Guadalupe Elementary School. During the Depression, Mrs. Josefa Camuñez (1884-1972) opened her closed grocery store as a temporary cafeteria for Guadalupe students. In 1938 a clinic, an office and two more classrooms were added. By 1940 a kitchen was in operation at the school with meals funded by the Works Progress Administration.
The San Angelo Independent School District was integrated in 1955 and Guadalupe School closed in 1959. Since that time, the structure
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has housed several community and civic programs such as "Head Start" and adult education. The Guadalupe Alumni(ae) Association was formed in 1992.
Supplemental Plate: Roberta Parks (1892 - 1988) was Guadalupe School's first teacher and principal from 1923 to 1943 . Lulac Chapter # 637 sponsored the above marker.
Erected 1998 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12230.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Hispanic Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 31° 28.264′ N, 100° 26.824′ W. Marker is in San Angelo, Texas, in Tom Green County. Marker is at the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and West 11th Street, on the right when traveling north on Martin Luther King Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Martin Luther King Drive, San Angelo TX 76903, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2020, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas. This page has been viewed 236 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 25, 2020, by Brian Anderson of Humble, Texas.