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:

Water views

Sub-Series — Box: 07, Folder: 15

Identifier: MSS003:02.44

Scope and Contents

Eleven photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1874-1939

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

Water Wells

Sub-Series — Box: 07, Folder: 16

Identifier: MSS003:02.45

Scope and Contents

Three photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1874-1939

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

Watson family – Cemetery Plot, 18uu

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

Identifier: MSS003:01.48.08

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty nine photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

W.C. Myer stable in Ashland, with signs on barn

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/62

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Wendt family portrait (8 persons)

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/578

Dates: 1888

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Whipp baby, July 1886

Sub-Group — Box: 04, Folder: 08, Object: 15

Identifier: MSS003:01.48.15

Scope and Contents

Corpse

Dates: July 1886

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

White son with velvet suit and cap, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/395

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Will and Rose Bishop, September 1938

Sub-Group — Box: 01, Folder: 03, Object: 10

Identifier: MSS003:01.03.10

Scope and Contents

Two photographs.

Dates: September 1938

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

Will Deniff, March 1887

Sub-Group — Box: 02, Folder: 04, Object: 14

Identifier: MSS003:01.16.14

Scope and Contents

Three photographs.

Dates: March 1887

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

Will Deniff, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/376

Dates: 1887

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

Biography

Found in 1568 Collections and/or Records:

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