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:

Henry E. Ankeny family group (family of 8), portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/73

Dates: 1891

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Henry Engel and Mrs. Engel, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/320

Dates: 1888

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Henry Engel and wife, September 1888

Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 07, Object: 09

Identifier: MSS003:01.19.09

Scope and Contents

Two photographs.

Dates: September 1888

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

Henry Engel's children, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 07, Object: 10

Identifier: MSS003:01.19.10

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

Henry Engel's son and daughter, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/368

Dates: 18uu

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Henry Heitman, July 1884

Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 12, Object: 04

Identifier: MSS003:01.24.04

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty two photographs.

Dates: July 1884

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

Henry Heitman, seated portrait (with photo of children)

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/332

Dates: 1884

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Henry Judge's children, 18uu

Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 15, Object: 20

Identifier: MSS003:01.27.20

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Thrity two photographs.

Dates: 18uu

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

Henry Klippel, 1889

Sub-Group — Box 03: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229202], Folder: 01, Object: 16

Identifier: MSS003:01.28.16

Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty nine photographs.

Dates: 1889

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

Henry Klippel, portrait

Digital Image

Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/205

Dates: 1889

Found in: Southern Oregon University, Hannon Library

Britt, Peter, 1819-1905

Biography

Found in 1569 Collections and/or Records:

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