Career
From 1826 until his death. After earning his freedom in 1830, Bowen became the first African-American employee of the United States Patent Office. He was an abolitionist who harbored runaway slaves at his home on the 900 block of East Street Southwest, a stop on the Underground Railroad (the site is now covered by the Southeast-Southwest Freeway).
In 1853, he founded the first Young Men’s Christian Association chapter for African-Americans.
That organization constructed the Twelfth Street Young Men’s Christian Association Building in 1908, later renamed the Anthony Bowen Young Men’s Christian Association and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994 (the new Anthony Bowen Young Men’s Christian Association facility is located at 1325 West Street Northwest). Bowen assisted in founding the Saint Paul AME Church and a Sunday Evening School in 1856, allowing both groups to meet in his home.
During the Civil War, Bowen encouraged President Abraham Lincoln to enlist African-American soldiers. Bowen Elementary School in Washington, District of Columbia was named for him and that name was carried over to the new Amidon-Bowen elementary School when Bowen was combined with Margaret Amidon elementary.
