Skip to main content

Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

 Person

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:

Cameron girl, 18uu

 Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 01, Object: 04
Identifier: MSS003:01.13.04
Scope and Contents

Four photographs.

Dates: 18uu

Cameron woman, 18uu

 Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 01, Object: 05
Identifier: MSS003:01.13.05
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty five photographs.

Dates: 18uu
Campers making baskets
Campers making baskets

Campers making baskets

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/773

Camping, bulk: 18uu

 Sub-Series — Box 06: Series MSS003:02 [Barcode: 35138008115542], Folder: 07
Identifier: MSS003:02.07
Scope and Contents

Five photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 18uu

Cantrall boys, 1893

 Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 01, Object: 13
Identifier: MSS003:01.13.14
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty five photographs.

Dates: 1893
Cantrall children, portrait
Cantrall children, portrait

Cantrall children, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/748
Cantrall children, portrait
Cantrall children, portrait

Cantrall children, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/460

Cantrall family, 18uu

 Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 01, Object: 15
Identifier: MSS003:01.13.16
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty five photographs.

Dates: 18uu
Capt. James P. Goodall with firearm, portrait
Capt. James P. Goodall with firearm, portr...

Capt. James P. Goodall with firearm, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/353

Captain Goodall, April 1889

 Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 09, Object: 07
Identifier: MSS003:01.21.07
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Seventeen photographs.

Dates: April 1889

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 791
Digital Record 777
Collection 1
 
Subject
Photographs 1568
Individuals -- Portraits -- Southern Oregon 1111
Children -- portraits -- Southern Oregon 298
Homes and haunts 62
Jacksonville (Or.) 42