Gabriella Harvie Randolph Brockenbrough: Architectural Patronage in Early National Richmond

Gabriella Harvie Randolph Brockenbrough (1772- 1853), born into Virginia's elite, likely played a significant role in shaping the design of her residence at 1201 Clay Street in Richmond’s Court End. Surrounded from a young age by architectural innovators like Thomas Jefferson, B. Henry Latrobe, and Robert Mills, and considering her life as a member of one of Richmond’s prominent families, she may have brought personal vision and influence to the design of her home with her second husband, Dr. John Brockenbrough. Although documentation of her direct involvement is scarce, the modifications made to the house point to an understanding of architectural references that may have reflected her existing relationships and experiences. This paper contends that Gabriella's influence on the design of 1201 Clay Street was both substantial and underrecognized.