Wakefield Building, Raleigh NC 1760 - Historical Photo

This vintage photograph, attributed to Frances Benjamin Johnston, captures a historic structure located in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina. The building, known as Wakefield, dates back to 1760 and is representative of the early architectural styles prevalent in the region. Its notable features include a gambrel roof and a portico, elements that reflect the design sensibilities of the time.

Johnstons work forms part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, which aimed to document significant structures across the Southern United States. This image was included in the reference publication The Early Architecture of North Carolina by Thomas Tileston Waterman, published in 1941. The photograph not only showcases the architectural details but also serves as an important historical record of North Carolina’s built heritage.

Acquired from the Frances Benjamin Johnston estate in 1953, this image is part of the collection housed at the Library of Congress, providing valuable insight into the architectural history of Raleigh and the surrounding areas.