Leila Ross Wilburn
Encyclopedia
Leila Ross Wilburn http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-567 was an early 20th century architect
, one of the first women in Georgia
to enter that profession.
. In the midst of the economic depression of 1895
, her family moved to Decatur, Georgia
. There, she attended Agnes Scott College
and took private lessons in architectural drafting
. After taking an architectural tour of the country, Leila returned home to join the Atlanta firm of Benjamin R. Padgett and Son as a trainee, making her one of only two Georgia women to work in the male-dominated field of architecture.
At age 22, she received her first commission, a three-story building that became the YMCA
gym
nasium at Georgia Military Academy (now Woodward Academy
). She continued designing single family homes and apartment homes throughout midtown Atlanta and Decatur, many designed in the Craftsman
style that is still popular today.
In a half-century of work, she left a legacy of homes, apartments and commercial buildings in the southeast." Today, her homes may be seen in the MAK Historic District of Decatur, Georgia
, and Ansley Park
, Druid Hills
and Candler Park
and East Lake
in Atlanta. Some of her buildings are listed among the finest examples of 20th Century architecture. Each year in Decatur, her former home, administers the Leila Ross Wilburn Award to those who excel in historic preservation
.
, an honor which is reflected in the fact that the membership certificate at the time still read, “Having given evidence of his qualifications....”
Wilburn was inducted as a Georgia Women of Achievement in 2003 as "one of the pioneering women architects in the United States".
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, one of the first women in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
to enter that profession.
Early life
Leila Ross Wilburn was born in Macon, GeorgiaMacon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
. In the midst of the economic depression of 1895
Long Depression
The Long Depression was a worldwide economic crisis, felt most heavily in Europe and the United States, which had been experiencing strong economic growth fueled by the Second Industrial Revolution in the decade following the American Civil War. At the time, the episode was labeled the Great...
, her family moved to Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
. There, she attended Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott College is a private undergraduate college in the United States. Agnes Scott's campus lies in downtown Decatur, Georgia, nestled inside the perimeter of the bustling metro-Atlanta area....
and took private lessons in architectural drafting
Drafting
Drafting or draughting may refer to:* Campdrafting, an Australian equestrian sport* Drafting , slipstreaming* Technical drawing, the act and discipline of composing diagrams that communicates how something functions or is to be constructed. E.g.:** Architectural drawing** Electrical drawing**...
. After taking an architectural tour of the country, Leila returned home to join the Atlanta firm of Benjamin R. Padgett and Son as a trainee, making her one of only two Georgia women to work in the male-dominated field of architecture.
At age 22, she received her first commission, a three-story building that became the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium at Georgia Military Academy (now Woodward Academy
Woodward Academy
Woodward Academy is an independent, co-educational college-preparatory school for grades Pre-Kindergarten to 12 located in College Park, Georgia, within the Atlanta metropolitan area...
). She continued designing single family homes and apartment homes throughout midtown Atlanta and Decatur, many designed in the Craftsman
American Craftsman
The American Craftsman Style, or the American Arts and Crafts Movement, is an American domestic architectural, interior design, landscape design, applied arts, and decorative arts style and lifestyle philosophy that began in the last years of the 19th century. As a comprehensive design and art...
style that is still popular today.
Career as an independent architect
In 1909 Wilburn opened her own firm. She insisted that the design and construction of the American home should not be reserved only for those who could afford an architect. To reach a wider audience, the young architect produced a series of “Pattern Books,” from which people could choose a design and purchase construction plans.In a half-century of work, she left a legacy of homes, apartments and commercial buildings in the southeast." Today, her homes may be seen in the MAK Historic District of Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, and Ansley Park
Ansley Park
Ansley Park is an affluent residential neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, located just east of Midtown and west of Piedmont Park. One of the first suburban neighborhoods in the city designed for automobiles, it features wide, winding roads rather than the grid pattern typical of older streetcar...
, Druid Hills
Druid Hills
Druid Hills can refer to some places in the United States:*Druid Hills, Georgia, a neighborhood and census designated place in DeKalb County, partly in the City of Atlanta and partly unincorporated**Druid Hills High School, in DeKalb County...
and Candler Park
Candler Park
Candler Park is a 55-acre city park located at 585 Candler Park Drive NE, in Atlanta, Georgia. It is named after Coca-Cola magnate Asa Griggs Candler, who donated this land to the city in 1922...
and East Lake
East Lake (Atlanta)
East Lake is a neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, situated in DeKalb County.It is the eastern-most of the 238 neighborhoods in the City of Atlanta . East Lake is bordered by:* Knox St./Pharr Rd. and the Decatur neighborhood of Oakhurst to the north;* 1st St...
in Atlanta. Some of her buildings are listed among the finest examples of 20th Century architecture. Each year in Decatur, her former home, administers the Leila Ross Wilburn Award to those who excel in historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
.
Honors
In 1961, Wilburn was welcomed into the Society of American Registered ArchitectsSociety of American Registered Architects
The Society of American Registered Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States.-History:The Society of American Registered Architects was founded on November 9, 1956 by Wilfred J. Gregson. As a professional society that includes the participation of all...
, an honor which is reflected in the fact that the membership certificate at the time still read, “Having given evidence of his qualifications....”
Wilburn was inducted as a Georgia Women of Achievement in 2003 as "one of the pioneering women architects in the United States".