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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 14 Collections and/or Records:

Carpenters, railroad crew, north end of Siskiyou Summit tunnel

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/784

Jacksonville train coach interior

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/589

John Dyer, 1881-1884

 Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 06, Object: 12
Identifier: MSS003:01.18.12
Scope and Contents

R.R. Conductor. Four photographs.

Dates: 1881-1884

John Dyer in conductor uniform, portrait with lantern

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/46

Medford train station with people

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/590

Oregon and California Railroad, Jacksonville Depot

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/669

Oregon and California Railroad with a man in the foreground

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/128

Pacific Highway (99) over railroad at Steinman

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/790

Railroad grading, north side, Siskiyous

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/781

Railroad ties, sheds, north end of Siskiyou tunnel

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/560

Filtered By

  • Subject: Railroads X

Additional filters:

Type
Digital Record 12
Archival Object 2
 
Subject
Individuals -- Portraits -- Southern Oregon 3