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:

Shearer steamboat, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 04, Object: 13

Identifier: MSS003:01.44.14

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Eighteen photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

Sheriff Brad Dean and bride, wedding portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/48

Dates: 1886

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Sheriff Jacobs and wife, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/41

Dates: 1885

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Sheriff Jacobs, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/40

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Sheriff Jim Birdsey, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 03, Object: 09

Identifier: MSS003:01.03.09

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty six photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

Sheriff Jim Birdseye on horse

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/70

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Shovel Creek, 1884-1886

Sub-Series — Box 07: Series MSS003:03; Series MSS003:02 [Barcode: 35138008223288], Folder: 08

Identifier: MSS003:02.37

Scope and Contents

Twelve photographs.

Dates: 1884-1886

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

Silas J. Day, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 04, Object: 04

Identifier: MSS003:01.16.04

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty two photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

Silver cornet band, I00F building, boy, male passers-by, Jacksonville

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/592

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Smith, bulk: 1884-1889

Sub-Series — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 06

Identifier: MSS003:01.46

Scope and Contents

Fourteen photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1884-1889

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

Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

Biography

Found in 1569 Collections and/or Records:

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