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From its inception, San Angelo, like most Texas towns, struggled with "separate but equal" schools for its citizens. Separate public education began in San Angelo in 1895. By 1906 the small school for Mexican American students was filled to capacity in deteriorating conditions. Parents hired legal counsel in 1910 to request that the school board integrate the Mexican and Anglo schools. The board refused but did open an additional Mexican American school. From 1911 through the 1915 school year, the Mexican American community boycotted the public schools. By 1916 many had returned to the single remaining segregated school, but conditions again deteriorated. In 1923, due to the cooperative efforts of Mexican American parents and Mrs. Ginevra Wood Carson (1872-1958), the district opened a new brick building with four classrooms and modern facilities later known as Guadalupe Elementary School. During the Depression, Mrs. Josefa Camunez (1884-1972) opened her closed grocery store as a temporary cafeteria for Guadalupe students.In 1938 a clinic, an office and two more classrooms were added. By 1940 a kitchen was in operation at the school with meals funded by the Works Progress Administration. The San Angelo Independent School District was integrated in 1955 and Guadalupe school closed in 1959. Since that time, the structure has housed several community and civic programs such as "Head Start" and adult education. The Guadalupe Alumni(ae) Association was formed in 1992. (1998) |
