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{"value"=>"<p>Series II holds Cobb's published studies, background research, genealogical research, drafts of her memoir, and subject files. These files date from 1897 until 2017, and include others' writing used in research and Cobb's original texts. Materials created related to Cobb's published and unpublished writings on cancer include her notes and grant proposals, including reports on the status of the project. In addition to her science writing and research, Cobb spent a significant amount of time researching and writing about her family and personal history.</p> <p>Cobb kept notebooks, daybooks, and diaries, often related to her cancer and scientific research. However, these often also contain personal reflections, travel notes, and various practical information, such as phone numbers, addresses, and appointments. Notable among these are notebooks kept during a trip to Antarctica and a travel diary.</p> <p>Cobb collected published writings by several different authors who specialize in cancer research. These articles often contain Cobb's comments and margin notes, and were often used in her research and teaching.</p> <p>Genealogy was a strong interest of both Cobb and her mother, Carriebel (Cole) Plummer. Cobb conducted extensive research on her ancestry, tracing it back to before the Civil War, when her ancestor was an enslaved man. Conducting research in smaller museums, libraries, and later, online, Cobb collected materials about both sides of her family. This research dates back to 1841, tracing the ancestry of Adam Francis Plummer. An enslaved person, Plummer kept a diary for over sixty years. He also taught his daughters to write and encouraged them to keep diaries. Plummer's diaries are an important historical record, tracing the separation of the enslaved Plummer family and their efforts to reunite after the Civil War. Cobb also conducted extensive genealogical research into Bob Cole, her mother Carriebel's elder brother. Cole was a significant composer, producer, and lyricist at the turn of the 20th century.</p> <p>Additionally, Cobb printed resources on recommendations for conducting genealogical research. Cobb's files on members of her family, particularly Adam Francis Plummer and Bob Cole, hold clippings and correspondence. The Bob Cole files also contain copies of all his published compositions and sheet music.</p> <p>Cobb and her students often relied on grant funding for their research, and her writing files hold the applications and progress reports on grants and fellowships. The majority of these grants were conducted with her biology lab students at Sarah Lawrence College in cancer research and experiments on melanoma cells in animals</p> <p>Cobb worked on her biography for the latter half of her life, and much of this writing is present in both diaries and journals, as well as several drafts with edits. These notes were often referred to as \"Musings\" and contain her reflections on her career, childhood, and daily thoughts. Her memoir files also hold reference materials from throughout Cobb's life, such as newspaper clippings and personal items. Cobb also kept a separate folder of writings about her travels.</p> <p>The series also holds Cobb's published writings and articles on her cancer research. Beginning with her PhD dissertation entitled \"Mechanics of Pigment Formation\" (1950), Cobb's writing files contain notes and progress reports on her cancer research, and copies of her scientific publications. Files include Cobb's collaborative research with others (mainly her students) studying cancer cells, particularly those related to melanoma and tissue cultures. These studies were published in various outlets, including journals, magazines, university presses, and collections of scientific articles. These articles' files also include illustrations using diagrams and microscopic photography.</p> <p>In addition to Cobb's writing, the series contains writings about Cobb and her career, including articles, thesis papers, and a bound copy of an interview conducted with Cobb as part of an oral history project at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and California State University, Fullerton.</p> <p>Subject files in the series are related to Cobb's interests in Black scientists, women in science and engineering, cancer research, and biology.</p>"}