Genealogical Association of Sacramento
Sacramento, California

Genealogy Tips

~Genealogy Programs from Sacramento Public Library's YouTube Channel

Sacramento Public Library records some of its genealogy programs and makes them available on the library's YouTube channel. Topics include online maps, Gretna Green marriages, obituaries, institutional records, cemetery research, reading old handwriting, and reconstructing women's pasts from newspapers, and many more. 

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~How to view film negatives

(This tip was presented at our last Regular GAS Monthly Meeting by member Patti Thompson.)

If you have old negatives and you are wondering how to view them this might be of help.  You need a light box.  I found an Apple App to view negatives on my iPad.  I use my iPad as the light box.  Place the negative on my iPad.  I use my iPhone to use view the negative as a photo.  Using my iPhone I go to Settings, General, Accessibility, Invert Color. Now hit the Home button at the bottom of the iPhone, then Camera.  Move the iPhone over the negative on the iPad.  You will now see the photograph and may take a picture of the negative.

I learned this by Googling "How to view Negatives" and a YouTube Video date October 2012, will show the process.

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~The formula for figuring birthdate from headstones

Our President, Melanie, volunteers at the Old City Cemetery http://www.cityofsacramento.org/ccl/cemetary/index.cfm  and this formula has helped her.  She offers it here for your use.

If a person died May 6, 1889 at age 71 years, 7 months and 9 days:

18890506
Year, day, month of death (yyyymmdd)
 -710709 Subtract age at death (yymmdd)
_________
18179797

    -8870 Subtract constant 8870
________
18170927 Born 27 Sept. 1817 (yyyymmdd
)

 
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~French ancestors
 
If you are researching French ancestors, you might want to check out: http://www.francogene.com
 
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~How to tell which cousin is which
 
Check out this video from Got Genealogy's Lisa Lee to help you decide if they are your first, second or once-removed cousins.