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:

Britt family and others with wagon, guitar

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/764

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt garden, bulk: 1908-1919

Sub-Series — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 09

Identifier: MSS003:01.09

Scope and Contents

Thrity nine photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1908-1919

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

Britt home, Britt family outside

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/540

Dates: 1887

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt home (inscribed on photo: Britt Park)

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/691

Dates: 1911

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt home parlor

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/586

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt home showing dining room

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/722

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt home showing parlor

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/723

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt home showing piano in parlor (early)

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/724

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt house, bulk: 1882-1919

Sub-Series — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 10

Identifier: MSS003:01.10

Scope and Contents From the Collection: Most of the prints are portraits taken by Peter Britt. After 1883, Emil Britt was also in the studio. Nearly half the portraits are unidentified. Peter Britt did take photographs outside the studio infrequently. His most well-known effort occurred in 1874 at Crater Lake. He created what is probably the only wet-process photo of Crater Lake. William Gladstone Steel used the photograph in his successful effort to have Crater Lake designated a National Park. This collection includes the...

Dates: Majority of material found within 1882-1919

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

Britt house and park, Emil, Mollie and friend

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/682

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

Biography

Found in 1569 Collections and/or Records:

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