Anthony Bowen
| Anthony Bowen | |
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| File:Anthony Bowen.jpg
Portrait of Anthony Bowen taken in the 1860s
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| Born | 1805 Prince George's County, Maryland |
| Died | 1872 (aged 66–67) Washington, DC |
| Occupation | United States government employee |
Anthony Bowen (1805-1872), born enslaved in Prince George's County, Maryland, was a resident of Washington, D.C. 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 E Street SW, a stop on the Underground Railroad (the site is now covered by the Southeast-Southwest Freeway). In 1853, he founded the first YMCA chapter for African-Americans. That organization constructed the Twelfth Street YMCA Building in 1908, later renamed the Anthony Bowen YMCA and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1994 (the new Anthony Bowen YMCA facility is located at 1325 W Street NW). Bowen assisted in founding the St. 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, DC 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.
