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Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

 Person

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 777 Collections and/or Records:

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

A. Chale, his wife, and child, portrait

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

A. Elliott boy, portrait in a plaid suit

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

A. L. (Ashba Logan) Johnson, portrait

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

A. L. Reuter's son in a checked suit, straw hat, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/273

A. Lewis of Sams Valley and unidentified woman, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/147

Adelaid Noe, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/161

Al Howel, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/196

Albright house, child

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/809

Albright young boy, portrait with straw hat

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/608

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Subject
Individuals -- Portraits -- Southern Oregon 517
Children -- portraits -- Southern Oregon 147
Homes and haunts 35
Jacksonville (Or.) 34
Chinese Americans 20