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:

Ed Simon and wife, January 1889

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

Identifier: MSS003:01.44.07

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Eighteen photographs.

Dates: January 1889

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

Ed Wilkinson, September 1889

Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 08, Object: 20

Identifier: MSS003:01.48.20

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thirty nine photographs.

Dates: September 1889

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

Ed Wilkinson child, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/446

Dates: 1889

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Edward Symens, April 1885

Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 05, Object: 15

Identifier: MSS003:01.45.15

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty five photographs

Dates: April 1885

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

Edward Symens, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/404

Dates: 1885

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Ehler Band, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 02, Object: 02

Identifier: MSS003:01.02.02

Scope and Contents

Ehler Band in fraternal regalia, portrait

Dates: 18uu

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

Ehler Band in fraternal regalia, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/523

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Election street scene, Cleveland celebration

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/701

Dates: 1884

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Leever, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 03: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229202], Folder: 04, Object: 06

Identifier: MSS003:01.31.06

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Eighteen photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Merriman Leever (Constant), portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/231

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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