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 1569 Collections and/or Records:

Mrs. Jay (Laura) Bradley, 1891

Sub-Group — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 04, Object: 01

Identifier: MSS003:01.04.01

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty six photographs.

Dates: 1891

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / Peter Britt photographs / Families / Br - By

Mrs. (Jennie) Harbaugh, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/576

Dates: 1886

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Mrs. Joe Wetterer, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 08, Object: 14

Identifier: MSS003:01.48.14

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty nine photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

Mrs. John and friend, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 15, Object: 15

Identifier: MSS003:01.27.15

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thrity two photographs.

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / Peter Britt photographs / Families / I - J

Mrs. John, another young woman, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/200

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Mrs. John Watson

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/450

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Mrs. John Watson, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 08, Object: 07

Identifier: MSS003:01.48.07

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty nine photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

Mrs. Jones, 1885

Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 15, Object: 19

Identifier: MSS003:01.27.19

Scope and Contents

Three photographs.

Dates: 1885

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / Peter Britt photographs / Families / I - J

Mrs. Jones, seated portrait with shawl

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/206

Dates: 1885

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Mrs. Julia Kingcade, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 03: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229202], Folder: 01, Object: 13

Identifier: MSS003:01.28.13

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty nine photographs.

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library / Peter Britt photographs / Families / K

Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

Biography

Found in 1569 Collections and/or Records:

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