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:

Lucinda Prather (Merriman), 18uu

 Sub-Group — Box 03: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229202], Folder: 13, Object: 15
Identifier: MSS003:01.40.15
Scope and Contents

Two photographs.

Dates: 18uu
Lulu Kubli, 3 young women, portrait
Lulu Kubli, 3 young women, portrait

Lulu Kubli, 3 young women, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/182

Lulu Kubli and friends, 1889

 Sub-Group — Box 03: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229202], Folder: 03, Object: 06
Identifier: MSS003:01.30.06
Scope and Contents

Two photographs.

Dates: 1889

Lum Brunson, January 1884, June 1886

 Sub-Group — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 04, Object: 15
Identifier: MSS003:01.04.15
Scope and Contents

Three photographs.

Dates: January 1884, June 1886
Lum Brunson, portrait
Lum Brunson, portrait

Lum Brunson, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/491
Lydia Clemons (Clemmons?), portrait
Lydia Clemons (Clemmons?), portrait

Lydia Clemons (Clemmons?), portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/382

Lydia Eaton, March 1888

 Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 07, Object: 01
Identifier: MSS003:01.19.01
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty photographs.

Dates: March 1888

M. G. Hackney, April 1887

 Sub-Group — Box 02: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229194], Folder: 10, Object: 01
Identifier: MSS003:01.22.01
Scope and Contents

Uniontown, Oregon.

Dates: April 1887
M. G. Hackney, Uniontown, portrait
M. G. Hackney, Uniontown, portrait

M. G. Hackney, Uniontown, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/296

Ma - Mc, bulk: 1884-1891

 Sub-Series — Box 03: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229202], Folder: 06
Identifier: MSS003:01.33
Scope and Contents

Thirty one photographs.

Dates: Majority of material found within 1884-1891

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