Spelling: Daguerreotype.  Developed in 1839 in France (not Virginia), but
Daguerre (and Niepce, his collaborator) also published his process widely;
by the end of the year even, Daguerreotypes were produced almost literally
around the world (I wouldn't be surprised if it reached Virginia, but it
wasn't developed here).  A competeing process (the calotype) was developed
the same year in England by Talbot, but lacked the Daguerreotype's fine
texture.  Chief drawback to the Daguerreotype was that it was unique -- no
way to duplicate prints.

By the Civil War, however, this issue is moot.  Both processes were
overtaken by new innovations -- in the 1850s, the collodion or wet-plate
process became the standard.  This included glass plate negatives
(inabling innumerable prints), but it was a laborious process -- you
basically had to carry your darkroom with you.  Civil War era
photographers -- almost all -- used this process.  [a dry plate process
was then developed about a decade after the war; Kodak cameras -- "you
press the button, we do the rest" came along still later in the 19th
century.]

Michael Trotti
Ithaca College

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