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:

Mr. and Mrs. B. Lewis, 18uu

 Sub-Group — Box 03: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229202], Folder: 04, Object: 10
Identifier: MSS003:01.31.10
Scope and Contents

Phoenix, Oregon. Two photographs.

Dates: 18uu

Mr. and Mrs. Biede, 18uu

 Sub-Group — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 03, Object: 03
Identifier: MSS003:01.03.03
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty six photographs.

Dates: 18uu

Mr. and Mrs. Bigham, 18uu

 Sub-Group — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 03, Object: 04
Identifier: MSS003:01.03.04
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Twenty six photographs.

Dates: 18uu
Mr. and Mrs. Bigham, portrait
Mr. and Mrs. Bigham, portrait

Mr. and Mrs. Bigham, portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/517
Mr. and Mrs. Bishop (Will and Rose) of Medford at Crater Lake with Mollie Britt
Mr. and Mrs. Bishop (Will and Rose) of Med...

Mr. and Mrs. Bishop (Will and Rose) of Medford at Crater Lake with Mollie Britt

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/679

Mr. and Mrs. Buck, July 1887

 Sub-Group — Box 01: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008229186], Folder: 04, Object: 13
Identifier: MSS003:01.04.13
Scope and Contents

Uniontown, Oregon.

Dates: July 1887
Mr. and Mrs. Buck from Uniontown
Mr. and Mrs. Buck from Uniontown

Mr. and Mrs. Buck from Uniontown

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/811
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Rippey (Addie Buzan), portrait
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Rippey (Addie Buza...

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Rippey (Addie Buzan), portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/607

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. A. Rippey, 1887

 Sub-Group — Box 04: Series MSS003:01 [Barcode: 35138008115534], Folder: 01, Object: 23
Identifier: MSS003:01.41.23
Scope and Contents

Addie Buzan

Dates: 1887
Mr. and Mrs. Colvig, wedding portrait
Mr. and Mrs. Colvig, wedding portrait

Mr. and Mrs. Colvig, wedding portrait

 Digital Image
Identifier: https://cdm16085.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15013coll1/id/49

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