Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Arrangement
Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives
Title: Jewel Plummer Cobb Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS.2015.012
Physical Description:
16.25 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1964-1995
Abstract: Jewel Plummer Cobb (1924- ), a
distinguished African American biologist and academic administrator, is widely credited for
her contributions to the scientific community, both through her cancer research and her
commitment to equal access to educational and professional opportunities for women and
minorities.
Language of Material:
English .
Conditions Governing Use
The Cobb Collection is the physical property of California State University, Los Angeles,
John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
Folder title, Series, Box number, Collection tile, followed by Special Collections and
Archives, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, California State University, Los Angeles
Arrangement
The collection is organized into seven series: I. Publications; II. Writings and Research;
III. Conferences, Meetings, Seminars and Workshops; IV. Topical Files; IV. Clippings; VI.
Legislation Related Documents Acts; VII. Biographical
Biographical / Historical
Jewel Plummer Cobb (1924- ), a distinguished African American biologist and academic
administrator, is widely credited for her contributions to the scientific community, both
through her cancer research and her commitment to equal access to educational and
professional opportunities for women and minorities.
The daughter of a physician and school teacher, Cobb developed interested in a science
career as a high school student. She began her undergraduate career at University of
Michigan but transferred to a historically black college after encountering a campus climate
plagued by racial discrimination. After earning a PhD in Cell Physiology from NYU in 1950,
she became a fellow at the National Cancer Institute. After directing the Tissue Culture
Laboratory at the University of Illinois, in 1967 she was appointed Dean and Professor of
Zoology at Connecticut College. There she instituted and funded recruitment and retention
programs for women and under-represented minorities who sought to enter traditionally white
male-dominated fields. When she left Connecticut College in 1975 to become Dean at Douglass
College, the women's division within Rutgers University, she continued her work to improve
the access of women and minorities to science and mathematics fields. She worked to attract
more women to the sciences with new programs. Her 1979, publication "Filters for Women in
Science," is included in this collection. In this article, she exposed how educational
systems and other "filters" discouraged women from careers in science and math, ultimately
affecting their university tenure and equal pay.
In 1981, she was appointed president of California State University, Fullerton, becoming
the first black president of a major public university in the western United States. During
her tenure, the university grew in enrollment, prestige and recognition. There she developed
both a president's opportunity and mathematics tutoring program for minority students.
She retired in 1991 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of
Science. The Center for Excellence selected her to receive the Achievement in Excellence
Award in 1999 and, in 2001, she was the first recipient of the Reginald Wilson Award for
noteworthy accomplishments in diversifying higher education.
Throughout her career, Jewel Plummer Cobb worked to promote opportunities for young women
and minorities in the sciences and other traditionally white male-dominated fields. When
faced with a shortage of public funds, she turned to private sources and remained committed
to her belief that education was the key to a life of success and independence.
Scope and Contents
Our collection contains a wide variety of publications, pamphlets, newsletters, research
reports, program proposals, newspaper and magazine clippings, conference materials and a
series of academic articles. The collection includes Dr. Jewel Plummer Cobb's personal notes
and speech transcripts.
Series I: Publications Inclusive Dates: 1964-1995 Arrangement: Alphabetical order
This series consists of a variety of published research reports, academic journal articles,
informational brochures and pamphlets, newsletters, book reviews, magazines and
journals.
Series II: Writings and Research Inclusive Dates: 1969-1995 Arrangement: Alphabetical
order
This series consists of research papers, conference papers, program proposals, and
documents for minority support programs in the sciences and Dean Cobb's personal notes and
speech materials.
Series III: Conferences, Meetings, Seminars and Workshop Inclusive Dates: 1972-1991
Arrangement: Alphabetical order
This series consists of a series of conference pamphlets and materials and meeting, seminar
and workshop notes.
Series IV: Topical Files Inclusive Dates: 1971-1991 Arrangement: Alphabetical order
This series consists of a series of bibliographies, correspondence, directories, rosters,
surveys, syllabi, press releases and other miscellaneous documents related to minorities and
women in the sciences.
Series V: Clippings Inclusive Dates: 1961-1991 Arrangement: By date
This series consists of newspaper, magazine and academic article clippings.
Series VI: Legislation Related Documents Inclusive Dates: 1971-1983 Arrangement:
Alphabetical order
This series consists of a variety of documents on Affirmative Action, Title IX, Title X and
summaries, reports and correspondence reporting on legislation and executive orders.
Series VII: Biographical Inclusive Dates: u.d. Arrangement: Alphabetical order
This series consists of Jewel Plummer Cobb's Curriculum Vitaes and a set of interview
questions.