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:

W. J. Wimer, May 1884

Sub-Group — Box: 04, Folder: 08, Object: 25

Identifier: MSS003:01.48.25

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty nine photographs.

Dates: May 1884

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

W. J. Wimer, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/389

Dates: 1884

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

W. Parker's children, 1885-1891

Sub-Group — Box: 03, Folder: 12, Object: 08

Identifier: MSS003:01.39.08

Scope and Contents

Nine photographs.

Dates: 1885-1891

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

W. W. Cameron, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 01, Object: 11

Identifier: MSS003:01.13.12

Scope and Contents

Uniontown, Oregon.

Dates: 18uu

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

W. W. Cameron, youth, Uniontown, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/399

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

W-Z, bulk: 1884-1893

Sub-Series — Box: 04

Identifier: MSS003:01.48

Scope and Contents

Thirty nine photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1884-1893

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

Walter Dewel, 1884

Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 04, Object: 15

Identifier: MSS003:01.16.15

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty two photographs.

Dates: 1884

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

Walz home, 2 men, woman, loaded wagon and horse

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/82

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Wanna Miller, July 1885

Sub-Group — Box: 03, Folder: 09, Object: 14

Identifier: MSS003:01.36.14

Scope and Contents

Two photographs.

Dates: July 1885

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

Washout on Jacksonville Highway

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/787

Dates: 1927

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

Biography

Found in 1568 Collections and/or Records:

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