Irene Cobb Papers #2918 1 Descriptive Summary: Creator: Irene Cobb, New Hope Baptist Church Title: Irene Cobb Papers Inclusive Dates: 1886-1991 Bulk Dates: 1960-1989 Abstract: The Irene Cobb Papers consist of manuscripts authored by Irene Cobb during her life of service to her church, community, and family. These papers contain correspondence, legal, financial, literary, and photographic documents. Accession #: 2918 Extent: 9.45 linear feet (21 document boxes) Language: Collection is in English. Repository: The Texas Collection, Baylor University, Waco, Texas. Biographical Note: Irene Cobb, descendent through marriage of the locally prominent Cobb family of Waco, Texas, was a longtime schoolteacher, church member of New Hope Baptist Church, and collector of her family s history. Her collection provides valuable insight into her personal life and the activities of the oldest African-American church in Waco, New Hope Baptist Church. Irene was born in 1909 October 26 to Thomas J. and Emma Caufield. She graduated from A.J. Moore High School, then studied at Langston University, Samuel Huston College (now Huston-Tilltson College), and did graduate work at Baylor University to obtain her teaching certificates in elementary education and home economics. Irene taught in Waco area schools for thirty-one years. She married Eddie Cobb Jr. in 1930. The couple eventually had three daughters, one of whom donated this collection to The Texas Collection. Irene was also active in her church, New Hope Baptist, serving at various times in committees and groups within the church. Other community activities included involvement with the People s Cemetery Association, Young Women s Christian Association, McLennan County Retired Teachers Association, North Sixth Street Community Club, and Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. Included in the collection are documents relating to all these organizations, especially New Hope Baptist and the North Sixth Street Community Club. Sources: [Bicentennial Committee, Irene E. Cobb, Chairman]. History of New Hope Baptist Church, 1866-1976. 1976. [Church Anniversary Committee]. The 114 th Anniversary New Hope Baptist Church, 1866-1980. 1980. Scope and Content: The Irene Cobb Papers were acquired by gift in one transaction from donor Frances Todd, daughter of Irene Cobb, in 1989 September 12. There were ten boxes total at the time of donation. This collection begins in 1886 and ends in 1991. The New Hope Baptist Church series is the largest series in the collection.
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 2 Irene Cobb was a member of the Cobb family, an influential family in Waco, Texas, that has been associated with New Hope Baptist Church since its founding in 1866. A large number of people in this family were educators, including the well-known educator Robert Lloyd Smith, active in Texas through the mid-1900s. Irene Cobb continued that tradition, teaching for many years in Waco area schools. Organization and Arrangement: The Irene Cobb Papers were organized prior to this finding aid, but with no finding aid publicly available. Many of the folder titles and organization were kept. Currently, the Irene Cobb Papers are organized in four series: I. Personal, II. New Hope Baptist Church, III. Family Manuscripts, and IV. Organizational Materials. Restrictions: The collection is open for research. Literary Rights Statement: Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator (s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. All requests for copying of materials must be submitted to The Texas Collection in writing. Please use the Request Form for Copying Materials sheet. Index Terms: African Americans--Civil Rights--Texas--20th century. African Americans--Education--Texas--History. African Americans--Texas--History--20th century. African Americans--Texas--McLennan County. Baptists--Texas--McLennan County. Cobb, Irene E. Educators--Texas--Archives. Moore High School (Waco, Tex.). New Hope Baptist Church (Waco, Tex.). Waco (Tex.)--Church history. Related Materials: Farmers Improvement Society Records #2126 Jules Bledsoe Collection #2086 Smith-Cobb Family Collection #2755 [Waco] New Hope Baptist Church Records #0662 Separated Materials: None.
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 3 Custodial History: Acquisition: Collection was acquired in one gift in 1989 September 12. Gift of Frances Todd, 1989 September 12. Citation: Irene Cobb Papers, Accession #2918, Box #, Folder #, The Texas Collection, Baylor University. Processing Information: Finding aid completed by Paul Fisher, 2011 November. Container List: Series I: Personal Materials, 1927-1991,, 3.15 linear feet (7 document boxes). This series contains letters, magazine articles (periodicals), small books, programs, notes, and photographs connected with Irene Cobb. The largest subseries is the programs of local events that she attended. Some of the folders in this series relate closely to other series, such as the certificates for winning flower shows that correspond directly to her involvement in a community organization that raised flowers. This series is in average to good condition. 1 1 Personal: Correspondence 1944-1988 2 Personal: Correspondence: (1 of 4) 3 Personal: Correspondence: (2 of 4) 4 Personal: Correspondence: (3 of 4) 5 Personal: Correspondence: (4 of 4) 6 Personal: Literary: 1957-1988 7 Personal: Literary: 8 Personal: Literary: Irene Cobb: 1943-1973 Education 9 Personal: Literary: Essays 1973, 2 1 Personal: Literary: Piece Book 1927 2 Personal: Literary: Piece Book 1: (1 of 2) 3 Personal: Literary: Piece Book 1: (2 of 2) 4 Personal: Literary: Piece Book 2: (1 of 2) 5 Personal: Literary: Piece Book 2: (2 of 2) 6 Personal: Literary: Certificates 1964-1991 7 Personal: Literary: Certificates: Flower Awards
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 4 2 8 Personal: Literary: Periodicals 1983 9 Personal: Literary: Periodicals 1985-1986 10 Personal: Literary: Periodicals: 1984 Waco Heritage and History 3 1 Personal: Literary: Books: African- 1976, American Workers 2 Personal: Literary: Books: Moore 1927 High School Yearbook: (1 of 2) 3 Personal: Literary: Books: Moore 1927 High School Yearbook: (2 of 2) 4 Personal: Literary: Clippings: 1961-1975 Local Community 5 Personal: Literary: Clippings: 1976 Local Community 6 Personal: Literary: Clippings: 1976-1985 May Local Community 7 Personal: Literary: Clippings: 1985 September-1989 Local Community 8 Personal: Literary: Clippings: Local Community: (1 of 3) 9 Personal: Literary: Clippings: Local Community: (2 of 3) 4 1 Personal: Literary: Clippings: Local Community: (3 of 3) 2 Personal: Literary: Clippings: 1984-1988, National 3 Personal: Literary: Printed Materials: Golden State Art Collection: (1 of 3) 4 Personal: Literary: Printed Materials: Golden State Art Collection: (2 of 3) 5 Personal: Literary: Printed Materials: Golden State Art Collection: (3 of 3) 6 Personal: Literary: Printed 1989 Materials: Teaching: Egypt 7 Personal: Literary: Printed Materials: Teaching: Egypt 8 Personal: Literary: Printed Materials: Teaching: Home Economics: (1 of 3) 1949
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 5 4 9 Personal: Literary: Printed 1949 Materials: Teaching: Home Economics: (2 of 3) 5 1 Personal: Literary: Printed 1949 Materials: Teaching: Home Economics: (3 of 3) 2 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1929-1983 3 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1985-1986, 4 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1929-1958 Graduations 5 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1960-1972, Graduations 6 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1969-1977 Weddings 7 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1948-1989 Funeral 8 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1972-1981 Community 9 Personal: Literary: Programs: State 1956 Congress of Christian Workers 6 1 Personal: Literary: Programs: State 1969-1981 Congress of Christian Workers 2 Personal: Literary: Programs: State 1985, Congress of Christian Workers 3 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1961-1982 Missionary Baptist Convention of Texas 4 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1987 Missionary Baptist Convention of Texas 5 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1980 Mrs. Jan Forney-Davis in Concert 6 Personal: Other Church Services 1978-1988 7 Personal: Other Church 1948-1986 Anniversaries 8 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1965 Toliver s Chapel Baptist Church 9 Personal: Literary: Programs: Pleasant Olive Women s Day : (1 of 2) 1988
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 6 7 1 Personal: Literary: Programs: 1988 Pleasant Olive Women s Day : (2 of 2) 2 Personal: Literary: Notes 3 Personal: Literary: Notes: 1982-1984, Teaching 4 Personal: Literary: Notes: Teaching 5 Personal: Photographic: Photographs Series II: New Hope Baptist Church, 1908-1989,, 4.95 linear feet (11 document boxes). This series contains letters, various legal papers, financial records, a wide variety of programs, reports, membership directories, and notes. The extensive collection of church bulletins in this series contains important financial information, as well as the daily life of a vibrant Waco church. This series is in good condition. 7 6 New Hope: Correspondence 1980-1986 7 New Hope: Correspondence 1987 January-July 8 New Hope: Correspondence 1987 August, 9 New Hope: Legal: Articles of Incorporation: (1 of 2) 10 New Hope: Legal: Articles of Incorporation: (2 of 2) 8 1 New Hope Financial: Budget 1985-1987 2 New Hope: Financial: Budget 1987-1988 3 New Hope: Financial: Budget 1988 4 New Hope: Financial: Budget 1988-1989 5 New Hope: Financial: Budget 6 New Hope: Literary: 1899-1987 7 New Hope: Literary: 1987-1988, 8 New Hope: Literary: Essays: 1985, 9 New Hope: Literary: Essays: The History of the Organization 10 New Hope: Literary: Pamphlets: Christian Workers Information Booklet 1981
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 7 9 1 New Hope: Literary: Pamphlets: Church Working Organization 2 New Hope: Literary: Newsletters 1934-1986 February 3 New Hope: Literary: Newsletters 1986 March-May, 4 New Hope: Literary: Programs: 1943-1987 5 New Hope: Literary: Programs: 1952-1988 Pastor s Installations 6 New Hope: Literary: Programs: 1952 Church Anniversary 7 New Hope: Literary: Programs: 1966-1980 Church Anniversary 8 New Hope: Literary: Programs: 1981-1986 Church Anniversary 10 1 New Hope: Literary: Programs: 1987-1989 Church Anniversary 2 New Hope: Literary: Reports: 1970-1988 3 New Hope: Literary: Reports: 1989, 4 New Hope: Literary: Reports: 1983-1987 Mission 5 New Hope: Literary: Reports: 1988-1989 Auxiliary Council 6 New Hope: Literary: Reports: 1985-1986 Annual Congregational Meeting 7 New Hope: Literary: Reports: 1987 Annual Congregational Meeting: (1 of 3) 8 New Hope: Literary: Reports: 1987 Annual Congregational Meeting: (2 of 3) 9 New Hope: Literary: Reports: 1987 Annual Congregational Meeting: (3 of 3) 10 New Hope: Literary: Books: 1976 History of New Hope Baptist Church 11 1 New Hope: Literary: Books: 1973 Pioneer Day 2 New Hope: Literary: Books: Veterans Day Handbook 1988
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 8 11 3 New Hope: Literary: Books: New 1908 Hope Handbook 4 New Hope: Literary: Clippings 1931-1987, 5 New Hope: Literary: Membership 1967-1975 Directories 6 New Hope: Literary: Membership 1978-1980 Directories 7 New Hope: Literary: Membership 1981-1983 Directories 8 New Hope: Literary: Membership 1984-1985 Directories 9 New Hope: Literary: Membership 1986-1987 Directories 12 1 New Hope: Literary: Membership 1988-1989 Directories 2 New Hope: Literary: Notes: 1969-1989, Notebook: (1 of 3) 3 New Hope: Literary: Notes: 1969-1989, Notebook: (2 of 3) 4 New Hope: Literary: Notes: 1969-1989, Notebook: (3 of 3) 5 New Hope: Literary: Notes: 1983, Teaching 6 New Hope: Literary: Notes: Teaching: (1 of 5) 7 New Hope: Literary: Notes: Teaching: (2 of 5) 8 New Hope: Literary: Notes: Teaching: (3 of 5) 9 New Hope: Literary: Notes: Teaching: (4 of 5) 13 1 New Hope: Literary: Notes: Teaching: (5 of 5) 2 New Hope: Literary: Notes: (1 of 2) 3 New Hope: Literary: Notes: (2 of 2) 4 New Hope: Literary: Church 1967-1969 Bulletins 5 New Hope: Literary: Church 1970-1971 Bulletins 6 New Hope: Literary: Church Bulletins 1972-1974 August
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 9 14 1 New Hope: Literary: 2 New Hope: Literary: 3 New Hope: Literary: 4 New Hope: Literary: 5 New Hope: Literary: 15 1 New Hope: Literary: 2 New Hope: Literary: 3 New Hope: Literary: 4 New Hope: Literary: 5 New Hope: Literary: 16 1 New Hope: Literary: 2 New Hope: Literary: 3 New Hope: Literary: 4 New Hope: Literary: 5 New Hope: Literary: 17 1 New Hope: Literary: 2 New Hope: Literary: 3 New Hope: Literary: 4 New Hope: Literary: 5 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: People 6 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: Pastors 18 1 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: Musical Groups 1974 September-1975 April 1975 May-September 7 1975 September 14-1976 February 1976 March-June 1976 July-1977 March 1977 April-July 1977 September- December 1978 January-April 1978 May-August 1978 September-1979 January 1979 February-May 1979 June-September 1979 October-1980 January 1980 February-April 1980 May-July 1983-1986 May 1986 June-1987 June 1987 July-1988 1989 1914, Undated
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 10 18 2 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: Church Building 3 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: Mortgage Burning 4 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: Historical Marker Dedication 5 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: 113th Church Anniversary: (1 of 2) 6 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: 113th Church Anniversary: (2 of 2) 7 New Hope: Photographic: Photographs: 115th Church Anniversary 1943 1983 1979 1979 1981 Series III: Family Manuscripts, 1886-1988,, 0.9 linear feet (2 document boxes). This series contains letters, literary productions, and photographs on the Cobb and Caufield families. The grade cards are the school grades from various family members of Irene Cobb. This series is in good condition. 18 8 Family: Correspondence 1952-1988, 9 Family: Literary: 1886-1986, 10 Family: Literary: Programs 1948-1972, 11 Family: Literary: Genealogies 1981 12 Family: Literary: Grade Cards 1947-1948 13 Family: Literary: Grade Cards 1948-1949 14 Family: Literary: Grade Cards 1949-1952 19 1 Family: Literary: Clippings 1948-1984 2 Family: Literary: Clippings 3 Family: Photographic: Photographs 1914-1945 4 Family: Photographic: Photographs 1948-1971 5 Family: Photographic: Photographs 1971-1978 6 Family: Photographic: Photographs: (1 of 3) 7 Family: Photographic: Photographs: (2 of 3) 8 Family: Photographic: Photographs: (3 of 3)
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 11 Series IV: Organizational Materials, 1936-1988,, 1.35 linear feet (3 document boxes). This series contains correspondence, legal, financial, and literary manuscripts from the various community clubs Irene Cobb belonged to. The North 6th Street Community Club contains many documents that describe social activities of the people on a specific street in Waco, Texas. The Common-Equity Investment Company was evidently a speculative venture that many local people participated in. Sigma Gamma Rho was Irene Cobb s sorority that she joined while in college. There series is in good condition. 19 9 Organizational: Correspondence: North 6th Street Community Club 10 Organizational: Correspondence: North 6th Street Community Club 11 Organizational: Correspondence: North 6th Street Community Club 12 Organizational: Correspondence: Common-Equity Investment Company 20 1 Organizational: Correspondence: Union Baptist District Association 2 Organizational: Correspondence: Sigma Gamma Rho 3 Organizational: Legal: Sigma Gamma Rho 4 Organizational: Legal: Union Baptist District Association: Articles of Incorporation 5 Organizational: Financial: North 6th Street Community Club: Reports 6 Organizational: Financial: North 6th Street Community Club: Bank Statements 7 Organizational: Financial: Union Baptist District Association 8 Organizational: Financial: Sigma Gamma Rho: 9 Organizational: Financial: Common-Equity Investment Company 1977-1980 1981-1983 1983-1987 1936-1987, 1971-1981 1945 1952-1988 1980-1983, 1976-1983 1986-1987, 1982-1988 1983-1984,
Irene Cobb Papers #2918 12 21 10 Organizational: Literary: Common- Equity Investment Company 11 Organizational: Literary: North 6th Street Community Club: 12 Organizational: Literary: North 6th Street Community Club: Yearbooks 1 Organizational: Literary: North 6th Street Community Club: Yearbooks 2 Organizational: Literary: North 6th Street Community Club: Yearbooks 3 Organizational: Literary: Schools: 4 Organizational: Literary: Peoples Cemetery Association: 5 Organizational: Literary: Peoples Cemetery Association: Minutes 1983, 1976-1983 1974-1978 1978-1980 1980-1984 1961, 1982-1987, 1969-1987 Notes: This collection is one of several that contains original materials on the history of New Hope Baptist Church. The photographs of New Hope in this collection are particularly valuable, showing the close relationship of New Hope to Paul Quinn College, as on at least one occasion a Paul Quinn choir sang at the New Hope church. The photographs of the New Hope congregation burning the mortgage to their building in 1943 were taken by noted Waco photographer Fred Gildersleeve. Appendix A: Irene Cobb Family Tree Mary E. Harris Eddie Cobb, Jr. + Irene Emma "Dollie" Caufield Cobb Jean Alexander Eddie Cobb, Sr. + Mary Miller Cobb Minnie Cobb Louise Jones Frances Todd Chester Cobb