What are your research goals for 2019?

An article in the January/February issue of Family Tree Magazine — “Go for the Goal” — might help you prioritize. The 12 monthly goals recommended are: January, get organized; February, reconstruct a family; March, find female ancestors; April, do more with DNA; May, do a house history; June, go outside (meaning visit the old neighborhood, a graveyard, or the library); July, reconnect with relatives; August, travel into history; September, improve your skills (attend a genealogy lecture to learn more skills, take online classes, listen to a podcast); October, give back (put gravestone photos online, respond to others’ requests, index or transcribe genealogical records); November, tell your stories (share with other family members, write it up to share in any format that works); December, celebrate traditions. You can buy the magazine is on newsstands now to read the full article and other great information, or check familytreemagazine.com.

Leila Ross Wilburn, architect, subject of new book

Many people in the Southeast lived in a house designed in the 20th century by Leila Ross Wilburn (1885-1967) of Decatur. An Agnes Scott graduate, she became one of the few women architects in Georgia and was most famous for her house plan books. Now there’s a book that covers her career in-depth and puts her in her rightful place to be forever remembered. For those who have one of her houses, or who will learn from this book that they do, it’s a great source to have on hand. The book contains images from her many plan books, as well as color photographs of how they look now. It does not include a list of all of her works, as that is too vast a number. “Southern Homes & Plan Books: the Architectural Legacy of Leila Ross Wilburn” was written by Sarah J. Boykin and Susan M. Hunter and published by the University of Georgia Press. It can be purchased at major bookstores, online, or at UGApress.org.

Witches in your family tree?

The Cobb County Genealogical Society’s Family Tree Quarterly recently included an article on witches with a full listing of qualifying ancestors from the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches. More information and the list can be found at ADEAW.us. Qualifying witches come from many states, not just New England.