Britt, Peter, 1819-1905
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 151 Collections and/or Records:
A. Chale and family, March 1886
Twenty four photographs.
A. L. Reuter's baby, 1887
Twenty seven photographs.
A. L. Reuter's children, September 1887
Twenty seven photographs.
A. L. Reuter's son, September 1887
Twenty seven photographs.
Albright boys, 188u
Two photographs.
Alice Berry, January 1885
Alice Berry, young child.
Ankeny girl, 18uu
Two photographs.
Arrowsmith, girls, 18uu
Twelve photographs.
August Weidman, June 1884
Thirty nine photographs.
Bellinger boy, 18uu
Bellinger youth.