School History
Opened in 1971 on the site of Robert E. Lee Elementary School, which had been razed because of its deteriorating condition.
Artemisia Bowden, was an African American school administrator and civic leader, born in 1879 in Albany, Georgia, the daughter of Milas and Mary Bowden. She graduated from St. Augustine's Normal School in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1900. After teaching for two years in North Carolina, she moved to San Antonio, Texas, in 1902 to take over as principal of St. Philip's Normal and Industrial School, an Episcopal day school for black girls. Under her leadership and guidance the school achieved private junior college status in 1926, with Ms. Bowden as president. That school is now called St. Philip's College. Bowden gave her time outside work to civic and welfare projects for the blacks of San Antonio. She was primarily responsible for the introduction of a black nursing unit at Robert B. Green hospital, for securing black residents of Lindbergh Park and for establishing the East End Settlement House. The National Council of Negro Women cited Artemisia Bowden as one of the most outstanding women educators in the country. Bowden Elementary School in SAISD and Bowden Administration Building at St. Philip's College are named in her honor. Artemisia Bowden died in San Antonio, Texas on August 18, 1969.