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 298 Collections and/or Records:
George Dunn, youth, portrait
George Hoffman (child or father?), portrait
George Merritt, 1887-1892
Six photographs.
George Merritt's boy in a lace collar, portrait
George Merritt's boy in a sailor suit, portrait
George Merritt's boy in dress, portrait
George Merritt's boy, in kilt, portrait
G.H. Watt's daughters, portrait with grapes
Gladys Rose, 18uu
Twenty eight photographs.
Gladys Rose, small child, portrait
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- Subject: Children -- portraits -- Southern Oregon X
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- Indians of North America 2
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