Cal State LA Special Collections & Archives Jewel Plummer Cobb Collection Title: Jewel Plummer Cobb Collection Collection Number: 2015.012 Creator: Cobb Plummer, Jewel Dates: 1964-1995 Extent: 16.25 linear ft. Repository: California State University, Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Special Collections and Archives Location: Special Collections & Archives, Palmer, 4th floor Room 4048 - A Provenance: Donated by Jewel Plummer Cobb Processing Information: Processed by Amalia Castañeda 2015 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 Copyright: 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 Historical/Biographical Note 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 1 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 Content 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 Description Series I: Publications Inclusive Dates: 1964-1995 Arrangement: Alphabetical order 2 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 3 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. Container List Box 1 Series I: Publications, 1964-1995 Subseries a: Reports and Studies, 1965-1995 1.1 A National Assessment of Performance and Participation of Women in Mathematics, 1979 1.2 A Study of the Learning Environment at Women’s Colleges, 1981 1.3 A Survey of Black American Doctorates, 1968 1.4 A Survey of the Current Status and Plans of Colleges Traditionally for Women Only, 1972 1.5 A Survey of Research Concerns on Women’s Issues, 1975 1.6 Academic Challenges, 1990 1.7 Access and Power for Blacks in Higher Education, 1972 1.8 Advancing Women’s Leadership in Science, 1995 1.9 An Assessment of Factors Affecting Female Participation in Advanced Placement Programs in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics, 1975 1.10 An Impact Analysis of Sponsored Projects to Increase the Participation of Women in Careers in Science and Technology, 1977 4 1.11 And Pleasantly Ignore my Sex, 1974 1.12 Annual Report of the National Science Foundation Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Technology, 1982 1.13 Black Initiative and Governmental Responsibility, 1987 1.14 Campus 1970, Where do Women Stand? Research Report of a Survey on Women in Academe, 1970 1.15 Careers in Science and Engineering for Black Americans, 1972 1.16 Catalyst Annual Report, 1978-1979 1.17 Changing America: The New Face of Science and Engineering, 1989 1.18 College Resource Council—Study on Seniors and Freshman of a Number of Colleges Within the Member Group, u.d. 1.19 Committee on the Education and Employment of Women in Science and Engineering (CEEWISE), 1977-1979 1.20 Data on Women in Scientific Research, 1977 1.21 Degree Awards to Women: An Update, 1979 1.22 Degrees Granted and Enrollment Trends in Historically Black Colleges: An Eight-Year Study, 1965 1.23 Department of Health, Education and Welfare- Statement by the Director, National Cancer Program, National Cancer Institute, 1975 Box 2 2.1 Issues for Consideration in Establishing a Commission to Foster Increased Minority Participation in the Sciences and Engineering, 1972 2.2 Major Themes, u.d. 2.3 Minorities in White Colleges, 1974 2.4 Minority Groups- Among United States Doctorate Level Scientists, Engineers, and Scholars, 1973 5 2.5 National Association for Women Deans, Administrators and Counselors, 1977 2.6 National Cancer Institute—Progress Report by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, 1975 2.7 National Science Foundation—Studies, 1974-1980 2.8 Negroes in Science: Natural Science Doctorates, 1876-1969 2.9 Oversight and Evaluation of the Resource Centers for Science and Engineering Program, 1980 2.10 PIMIB, u.d. 2.11 Problems and Issues Relating to Women PhD’s, 1978 2.12 Research Issues in the Employment of Women: Proceedings of a Workshop, 1974 2.13 Responsiveness Vs. Resources: The Implementation and Impact of Affirmative Action Programs for Women Scientists in Postsecondary Education, 1978 2.14 Science and Engineering Personnel: A National Overview, 1980 2.15 Scientific Manpower Commission, 1977-1979 2.16 Study of Women Directors, 1977 2.17 Summary Report 1976- Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities, 1977 2.18 The 1972 Virginia Slims American Women’s Opinion Poll, 1972 2.19 The Employment of Women in the Federal Government by Bureau of Management Services, Civil Rights Commission, 1967 2.20 The Higher, the Fewer, 1974 2.21 The Participation of Women in Scientific Research, 1978 Box 3 3.1 The Problem of Women and Mathematics and Women and the 6 Mathematical Mystique (Concluding Chapter), 1980 3.2 The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, Program and Financial Reports for the 1970-80 Fiscal Year, u.d. 3.3 Toward Equal Opportunity for Higher Education, 1973 3.4 Towards a National Policy for Undergraduate Science Education: with the Recommendation of The National