ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Dr. William Montague Cobb Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting students in the District of Columbia as they prepare for success. Our foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, comprised of area professionals and community leaders, who are committed to guiding and supporting students pursuing higher education
DR. WILLIAM MONTAGUE COBB HISTORY
The Dr. William Montague Cobb Foundation, named in honor of Dr. Cobb, is dedicated to fostering strong relationships with our sponsors and addressing inquiries from the public. Dr. Cobb, born in Washington, D.C., attended Dunbar High School, an academically rigorous but segregated school for black students. He earned a B.A. from Amherst College in 1925, a medical degree from Howard University in 1929, and a Ph.D. in biological anthropology from Western Reserve University in 1932, becoming the first African American to earn a doctorate in this emerging field. His thesis was a comprehensive survey of skeletal materials available for research in the United States.
Dr. Cobb was renowned for his research in physical anthropology, the growth and development of African Americans, and aging in the adult skeleton. He received over 100 honors and citations, including many of paramount distinction. He served as president of the NAACP (1976-1982), the American Association of Physical Anthropologists (1957-1959), and the Anthropological Society of Washington (1949-1951). Additionally, he was the editor of the Journal of the National Medical Association for 28 years (1949-1977) and chaired the Department of Anatomy at Howard University College of Medicine from 1947-1969. Dr. Cobb authored 1,100 publications on diverse topics and taught over 6,000 anatomy students. His influence as an organizer and advocate for health improvements and civil rights was widely acknowledged by leaders in government, the military, medicine, and the general public. He was a firm believer in raising the bar and helping individuals achieve their goals through education.
The Foundation, chartered as a 501(c)(3) organization in the District of Columbia in 2014, is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and community leaders. They lead the Foundation in supporting students pursuing higher education, particularly those enrolled in accredited Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs.