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:

U. S. Hayden, 1872

Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 10, Object: 25

Identifier: MSS003:01.22.25

Scope and Contents

In coffin.

Dates: 1872

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

Unidentified boys, bulk: 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 09, Object: 02

Identifier: MSS003:01.49.02

Scope and Contents

Fifteen photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 18uu

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

Unidentified buildings

Sub-Series — Box 07: Series MSS003:03; Series MSS003:02 [Barcode: 35138008223288], Folder: 14

Identifier: MSS003:02.43

Scope and Contents

Eighteen photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1874-1939

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

Unidentified children, bulk: 18uu

Sub-Series — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 09

Identifier: MSS003:01.49

Scope and Contents

Twenty seven photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 18uu

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

Unidentified – Couples, bulk: 18uu

Sub-Series — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 12

Identifier: MSS003:01.52

Scope and Contents

Seventeen photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 18uu

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

Unidentified girls, bulk: 18uu

Sub-Series — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 10

Identifier: MSS003:01.50

Scope and Contents

Thirty two photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 18uu

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

Unidentified – Groups, bulk: 18uu

Sub-Series — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 11

Identifier: MSS003:01.51

Scope and Contents

Twenty four photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 18uu

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

Unidentified groups of children, bulk: 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 09, Object: 03

Identifier: MSS003:01.49.03

Scope and Contents

Eight photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 18uu

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

Unidentified infants, bulk: 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 09, Object: 01

Identifier: MSS003:01.49.01

Scope and Contents

Four photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 18uu

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

Unidentified – Men portraits, bulk: 18uu

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

Identifier: MSS003:01.53

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 18uu

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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