Nell Walker was the speaker for the Rootseekers Genealogy Society at the Tri-County Library recently. Her topic was "Old Photographs."Nell has two sons, David and John and a lovely husband Robert. She is Registrar of the Sarah Maples Daughters of the American Revolution and belongs to Colonial Dames, Dallas County Pioneers and Rootseekers.The year 1839 is recognized as the beginning of photography. While many people were working on various techniques for nearly 30 years prior, the first commercially viable method was announced and published in Paris that year. Announcements appeared Jan. 7, 1839 in the local newspapers heralding the dawn of nothing less than a miracle. This process was called Daguerrotype by Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre, a commercial artist and theater producer. He worked for 10 years to develop a method to capture images to a canvas by mere exposure to the desired scene.

In the Berkshires

The National Archives-Northeast Region is offering free genealogical workshops during this winter.

Participants will learn what they need to know in order to locate records as well as what one might expect to find in the records. Each free workshop is approximately one hour in length and will be offered in the Regional Archives building at 10 Conte Drive according to the following schedule:

Beginning Your Genealogy Research at the National Archives — 11 a.m. Feb. 8, 6 p.m. March 6, and 2 p.m. April 8.

Using Federal Census Records — 11 a.m. Feb. 15, 6 p.m. March 13, and 2 p.m. April 15.

Using Military Records at NARA — 11 a.m. Feb. 22.

Using Pre-1850 Census to Find Family Relationships — 5 p.m. March 18 and 2 p.m. April 22.

Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors at the National Archives — 11 a.m.