diff --git a/frontends/gtk/src/tree_list_util.c b/frontends/gtk/src/tree_list_util.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..636438ba3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontends/gtk/src/tree_list_util.c
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+/* 
+   
+  file : tree_list_util.c
+  author : jae gangemi (jgangemi@yahoo.com)
+   
+  contains functions to populate and manipulate the tree lists contained
+  in the main gphoto2 interface window
+   
+*/
+
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include <config.h>
+#endif
+
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <dirent.h>
+
+
+#include <gdk/gdkkeysyms.h>
+#include <gtk/gtk.h>
+
+#include "callbacks.h"
+#include "interface.h"
+#include "support.h"
+#include "tree_list_util.h"
+
+GtkWidget *create_camera_tree(void) {
+
+  /* this is where we're going to initially populate the camera tree in the 
+     main window. this function definately needs to be expanded tho - 
+     since we're going to have a config file, we should look for the 
+     existance, and then create the tree based upon that. 
+
+     either selecting d/l thumbnail index or some form of a click on the 
+     camera should further populate the tree w/ directories etc.
+
+     but hey - this is all open to debate, and is pretty incomplete since 
+     i don't feel like lugging GTK books around on the train with me :) 
+  */
+
+
+  GtkWidget *win;
+  GtkWidget *tree_hbox;
+  GtkWidget *pixmap;
+  GtkWidget *leaf_label;
+
+  tree_hbox = gtk_hbox_new(FALSE, 2);
+  gtk_widget_ref(tree_hbox);
+  /*  gtk_object_set_data_full(GTK_OBJECT(NULL), "tree_hbox",
+                           tree_hbox,
+                           (GtkDestroyNotify) gtk_widget_unref);
+  */
+  pixmap = create_pixmap(win, "camera.xpm");
+  gtk_widget_ref(pixmap);
+  gtk_widget_show(pixmap);
+  gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(tree_hbox), pixmap, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+
+  leaf_label = gtk_label_new("No Camera Selected");
+  gtk_widget_ref(leaf_label);
+  gtk_widget_show(leaf_label);
+  gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(tree_hbox), leaf_label, FALSE, FALSE,0);
+  
+  return (tree_hbox);
+
+} /* end create_camera_tree */
+
+GtkWidget *create_local_tree(void) {
+
+  GtkWidget *win;
+  GtkWidget *tree_hbox;
+  GtkWidget *pixmap;
+  GtkWidget *leaf_label;
+
+  DIR *DP;
+  struct dirent *list;
+  
+  tree_hbox = gtk_hbox_new(FALSE, 2);
+  gtk_widget_ref(tree_hbox);
+  /*  gtk_object_set_data_full(GTK_OBJECT(NULL), "tree_hbox",
+                           tree_hbox,
+                           (GtkDestroyNotify) gtk_widget_unref);
+  */
+  pixmap = create_pixmap(win, "folder.xpm");
+  gtk_widget_ref(pixmap);
+  gtk_widget_show(pixmap);
+  gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(tree_hbox), pixmap, FALSE, FALSE, 0);
+
+  leaf_label = gtk_label_new("Local Directories");
+  gtk_widget_ref(leaf_label);
+  gtk_widget_show(leaf_label);
+  gtk_box_pack_start(GTK_BOX(tree_hbox), leaf_label, FALSE, FALSE,0);
+  
+  if ((DP = opendir("/")) == NULL) {
+    g_error("opendir");
+  }
+
+  while ((list = readdir(DP)) != NULL) {
+
+    if (strcmp(".", list->d_name) == 0) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp("..", list->d_name) == 0) {
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    g_print("dir : %s\n",list->d_name);
+
+  }
+
+  closedir(DP);
+
+
+  return (tree_hbox);
+
+} /* end create_local_tree */
+
diff --git a/frontends/gtk/src/tree_list_util.h b/frontends/gtk/src/tree_list_util.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7872adfe7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontends/gtk/src/tree_list_util.h
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+/*
+    
+  file : tree_list_util.h
+  author : jae gangemi (jgangemi@yahoo.com)
+
+  header file for tree_list_util.c 
+  
+*/
+
+GtkWidget *create_camera_tree(void);
+GtkWidget *create_local_tree(void);