La Villita in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Original Site of St. Philip's College

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 7, 2024

1. Original Site of St. Philip's College Marker

Inscription. Opening at this site in 1898 as "St. Philip's Saturday evening sewing class for black girls", this college was found by the Rt. Rev. James Steptoe Johnston (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. Philip's Industrial School, and was taught by Mrs. Alice G. Cowan, a white missionary with prior service in Mexico. In 1902, Miss Artemisia Bowden (1879-1969), 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. Philip's Normal, Grammar, and Industrial School.

A new, expandable site was bought in 1917, and St. Philip's moved to Dakota Street, 2 miles east of this site. Elevated to a junior college in 1927, and in public control since 1942, it is now a part of the 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.

Erected 1976 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 5079.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

• Education. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 29° 25.305′ N, 98° 29.327′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in La Villita. It is at the intersection of Villita Street and King Philip Alley, on the left when traveling west on Villita Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 502 Villita Street, San Antonio TX 78205, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Texas.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Articles of Capitulation (a few steps from this marker); Losana House (a few steps from this marker); Little Church of La Villita (a few steps from this marker); St. Philip's College (a few steps from this marker); Kitchen (within shouting distance of this marker); Bowen-Kirchner House (within shouting distance of this marker); Florian House (within shouting distance of this marker); Simon Bolivar (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 2, 2015

2. Original Site of St. Philip's College Marker

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 2, 2015

3. Original Site of St. Philip's College Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,144 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 13, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 2, 3. submitted on May 3, 2015, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.