Alice Bowman, 1845-1929
Continued from entry of people to whom JLN wrote
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Alice Bowman was the Lady-in-Charge of the Josephine Louise House, the College’s first dormitory, located on Third Street (now Washington Avenue). She was hired in 1894, at the age of 49, with the endorsement of Mrs. Richardson (Ida) and Mrs. Johnston (Margaret). While her family may have been known to Mrs. Newcomb, Miss Bowman first met JLN in the parlor of the Josephine Louise House on March 23rd, 1895. That spring, JLN spent six weeks living in the suite of rooms prepared for her at the JL House. During each of the next three years, JLN lived from five to six winter months at the JL House. At Mrs. Newcomb’s invitation, Miss Bowman spent several weeks each summer from 1896 to 1900, visiting JLN at the summer resorts where she was staying, primarily at Richfield Springs, New York, with JLN paying all expenses.
During these times together, the two built a very close relationship. At the JL House, an electric bell went from Mrs. Newcomb’s bedroom into Miss Bowman’s so that JLN could call her if need arose. After Mrs. Newcomb purchased her house at 1224 Fourth Street in 1899, Alice Bowman and Mrs. Dixon were charged with getting the house repaired and decorated for JLN’s arrival that winter. For example, Miss Bowman was trusted with selecting the wallpaper and color for the walls; Mrs. Dixon selected most of the furniture. The Newcomb House was behind the JL House, and once Mrs. Newcomb moved into the house, Miss Bowman would walk out her backdoor and into Mrs. Newcomb’s back door visiting several times a day. Miss Bowman states in her affidavit that no one knew Mrs. Newcomb better than she: “we were on the most intimate terms. My relations were very intimate with her. They could scarcely have been more so.”
Miss Bowman was likely an interesting and intelligent companion. She was born in St. Francisville, LA, (June, 1845) where her father, a graduate of Bowdoin College, was a lawyer. However, her father died in 1847 at the age of 30, when Alice was just four years old, and her brother Maurice, two. The family moved to Baltimore, Maryland for several years where Miss Bowman was educated at the academy of Mr. Morrison, graduating in 1864. She then was instructed at home in German, Latin, and music. The 1860 U.S. Census shows Alice, Maurice and their mother living with her mother’s sister, Elizabeth Harrison (apparently also a widow), and her two sons in Baltimore. Quite possibly, Miss Bowman and JLN shared stories of their lives when each had lived in Baltimore, JLN as a child and also in 1867 when Sophie attended school there. However, by 1880, the Bowmans and Harrisons were living together in New Orleans with the first five of Maurice and his wife Emma’s six children—the sixth not yet born. Maurice was a stock broker in the city, but also died quite young, at age 40 in 1886.
The position of Lady-in-Charge is the only known paid position Alice Bowman held. She held the position until her retirement in 1904, and died in New Orleans in 1929, at the age of 85.