Background
Thomas A. Tefft was born in 1826 in Rhode Island, United States.
Thomas A. Tefft was born in 1826 in Rhode Island, United States.
Mr. Tefft went to Providence in the summer of 1844 to take up architectural study. Later, after a period of employment with the firm of Tallman & Bucklin, he entered Brown University to complete a formal educa¬tion, and graduated there in 1851 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy.
While a student he designed a “School for Young Ladies" on Benefit Street, and about the same time prepared plans for the old Railroad Depot in Providence, his first important work, built in 1848 under the supervision of Tallman & Bucklin.
During a brief career in architecture Mr. Tefft attained a reputation as a designer of ecclesiastical buildings. Noteworthy examples of his work in Providence include the Central Congregational Church (long ago razed). He also designed the South Baptist Church in Hartford, Conn., Baptist churches in Wakefield and South Kingston, R. I., St. Paul's old wooden Church in Wickford, R. I., the Bank of North America in Providence (1856), and several early homes in the city.
In 1856 Mr. Tefft sailed for Europe, planning to study the cathedrals and other famous buildings on the continent.
One of the charter members in 1857 of the American Institute of Architects.