Dr. William Montague Cobb (1904–1990)
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Dr. William Montague Cobb was a pioneering physician, physical anthropologist, educator, and civil rights advocate whose career spanned over fifty years, leaving a significant impact on both science and social justice. Born on October 12, 1904, in Washington, D.C., Dr. Cobb became the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in anthropology, positioning him as a leading figure in challenging scientific racism and promoting equity in health and education.
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Dr. Cobb completed his undergraduate studies at Amherst College in 1925, followed by a medical degree from Howard University in 1929. He later earned his Ph.D. in anthropology from Case Western Reserve University. His academic work focused on debunking pseudoscientific theories of race and advocating for the health and advancement of African American communities. He was also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated in the Fall of 1922.
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A cornerstone of Dr. Cobb’s legacy was his long association with Howard University. He chartered the Kappa Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated as an intermediate chapter for professional students at Howard University in 1926. At Howard, he served as a professor, mentor, and leader. From 1947 to 1969, he chaired the Department of Anatomy at the Howard University College of Medicine, teaching over 6,000 students and authoring more than 1,100 scholarly publications. In 1969, he was named the university’s first Distinguished Professor of Anatomy, a title he held until becoming Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1973, a role he maintained until his passing in 1990.
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Dr. Cobb’s influence at Howard extended beyond the classroom. He played a key role in shaping the university’s medical curriculum and mentoring generations of African American physicians and scientists. His leadership helped establish Howard as a leading institution for medical education and research within the African American community.
Beyond academia, Dr. Cobb was a dedicated civil rights advocate. He served as President of the NAACP from 1976 to 1982 and held leadership roles in numerous scientific organizations, including the American Association of Physical Anthropologists and the Anthropological Society of Washington. He also served as editor of the Journal of the National Medical Association for 28 years.
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Dr. Cobb’s contributions were recognized with over 100 honors, including the prestigious Henry Gray Award from the American Association of Anatomists in 1980. In 2021, the 600 block of W Street NW in Washington, D.C., was officially designated “Dr. Montague Cobb Way” in his honor.
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Dr. Cobb passed away on November 20, 1990, but his legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched and the institutions that continue to uphold his vision of equity, education, and scientific integrity.