Meta Rupp Cobb: First Serving AOTA Paid Executive Secretary

Abstract

This article documents and discusses the life and work of Meta Rupp Cobb, first executive secretary paid by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) when the office was in New York City. Cobb took office during the period when the American economy was recovering from the Great Depression and World War II was on the horizon, complicating Cobb's position as the primary spokesperson and contact person representing the profession of occupational therapy in the United States (U.S.) and abroad. This paper discusses Cobb's contributions to the AOTA and the profession in the three areas: national office and staff, national association activities, and nationwide response to the need to increase manpower, educational opportunity and delivery of occupational therapy services. The methodology was qualitative using historical documents from the late 1930s and early 1940s based on biographical research. This paper provides an important examination of one of the most significant positions in the AOTA as well as Cobb's contributions to the profession but may be overlooked historically because of the impact of World War II on occupational therapy personnel and services.