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In 1841, he helped form one of the few schools for free blacks, the "Sunday
Evening School", in the Wesley Church, now the Metropolitan A.M.E.Z. Church on D Street SW. There such citizens could learn the Bible, reading, writing, arithmetic, and spelling. For some time, the school met in his home, and
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In 1861, he assisted in the formation of a
Colored Building Association to assist freed slaves in obtaining homes. During the Civil War, Bowen encouraged President Abraham Lincoln to enlist African-American soldiers. He led the advocacy for local and federal governments to fund public education for
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in 1868, the first free public school for black children in
Southwest Washington, the E Street School. Just prior to his death, Bowen was elected to the 68th Common Council of Washington from 1870-1871. Bowen, an active member of the church, eventually became a reverend.
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Born a slave on
October 8, 1809, in Prince George's County, MD, on the estate of William Bradley, he was one of four children of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bowen. In 1826, he bought his freedom and started the first black YMCA. He moved to the Southwest Section of Washington.
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In addition to his work, Bowen was a leader of the community. His home in the 900 block of E Street SW was an underground railroad station, and he is said to have built an extra attic in which to hide runaway slaves.
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In 1839, he helped set up a meeting house for free blacks at 7th and D Streets SW, and in 1840 he won a contract making and filling seed packets, allowing him to hire many freed blacks to well-paying jobs.
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Upon his death, the E Street School was renamed the
Anthony Bowen School, the name carrying on in the new Amidon-Bowen Elementary School, the combination of Bowen with Margaret Amidon Elementary.
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172:. The structure was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994 (the new Anthony Bowen YMCA facility is located at 1325 W Street NW).
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The YMCA chapter for
African-Americans he founded eventually constructed the
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Despite having no formal education, Bowen was able to become a clerk in the
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In 1856, he helped establish the St. Paul A.M.E. Church on
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In 1853, he organized and became first president of a
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He died in July 1871, his funeral attended by many.
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16:African-American civic leader in Washington, D.C.
99:in Washington, D.C., are named in his honor.
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282:People from Prince George's County, Maryland
143:black children, prompting Congress to fund,
35:Portrait of Anthony Bowen taken in the 1860s
132:he served as secretary and superintendent.
79:(1809—1871), was a civic leader among the
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287:United States Patent and Trademark Office
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307:19th-century American philanthropists
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227:"The Funeral of Rev. Anthony Bowen"
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168:in 1908 and later renamed it the
137:Young Men's Christian Association
70:United States government employee
48:Prince George's County, Maryland
201:"For Whom is Your School Named"
97:Anthony Bowen Elementary School
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272:19th-century American slaves
166:Twelfth Street YMCA Building
58:1871 (aged 61–62)
312:People enslaved in Maryland
292:Underground Railroad people
118:United States Patent Office
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199:Turner, Geneva C. (1958).
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158:and a house of worship.
139:for Colored in America.
91:Patent Office. Both the
205:Negro History Bulletin
170:Anthony Bowen YMCA
93:Anthony Bowen YMCA
77:Rev. Anthony Bowen
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238:. Retrieved
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209:. Retrieved
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267:1871 deaths
262:1809 births
152:E Street SW
256:Categories
179:References
103:Early life
85:Washington
67:Occupation
240:21 July
211:21 July
112:Career
230:(PDF)
302:YMCA
242:2016
213:2016
95:and
55:Died
41:Born
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187:^
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