Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

Person

Staff Only

Biography

Born in Obslalden, Switzerland, Peter (1819-1905) was the second son of Jacob Britt. At the age of 27 he went to America and became a citizen in 1850 in Indiana. He studied daguerreotyping in St. Louis under an early-day photographer, J.H. Fitzgibbon. Britt crossed the plains in 1852 with his camera to settle in Jacksonville.

He opened a studio (see photo 24-21) in 1854 to become one of the first studio daguerreographers in Oregon. W.H. Jennings of Oregon City was first in 1851. Although best known as the leading northwest photographer, Britt was a civic minded person. He owned land (almost 2,000 acres at one time), became a leading horticulturist, a mine owner, a money lender, and a good friend of Chinese laborers.

He retired in 1900 to spend more of his time with oil painting and in the greenhouse. In 1861, he married Amalia Grob (1822-1871), a widow with one son, Jacob (1854-1896). They had three children, Emil (1862-1950), Arnold (1864, aged three months), Amalia (1865-1954). None were ever married. Peter Britt attended the 1905 Lewis and Clark Expedition and there contracted a cold that led to pneumonia and his death later that year.

Found in 1568 Collections and/or Records:

A, 18uu

Sub-Series — Box: 01, Folder: 01

Identifier: MSS003:01.01

Scope and Contents

Twelve photographs.

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / MSS-003, Peter Britt photographs / Families

A camp scene with firearms, many people, Annie Creek Canyon, near Crater Lake

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/79

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

A. Chale and family, March 1886

Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 02, Object: 01

Identifier: MSS003:01.14.01

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty four photographs.

Dates: March 1886

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / MSS-003, Peter Britt photographs / Families / Ch - Com

A. Chale, his wife, and child, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/444

Dates: 1886

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

A. Cody – Cemetery Plot, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 02, Object: 10

Identifier: MSS003:01.14.10

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty four photographs.

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / MSS-003, Peter Britt photographs / Families / Ch - Com

A. Elliott, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 07, Object: 04

Identifier: MSS003:01.19.04

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty photographs.

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / MSS-003, Peter Britt photographs / Families / E

A. Elliott boy, portrait in a plaid suit

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/304

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

A. K. Hana, boy, December 1887

Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 10, Object: 04

Identifier: MSS003:01.22.04

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty seven photographs.

Dates: December 1887

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / MSS-003, Peter Britt photographs / Families / Ha

A. L. (Ashba Logan) Johnson, June 1888

Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 15, Object: 16

Identifier: MSS003:01.27.16

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thrity two photographs.

Dates: June 1888

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / MSS-003, Peter Britt photographs / Families / I - J

A. L. (Ashba Logan) Johnson, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/201

Dates: 1888

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

Biography

Found in 1568 Collections and/or Records:

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