Research Policy

August 21, 2006

The Society is not prepared to answer requests for land records or for birth, marriage, or death records.  Such requests should be sent to the County Recorders Office.  We are prepared to offer two levels of research as described below for patrons who are unable to come to the library in person. 

Level 1. 

·        A Society volunteer will research The Bakersfield Californian and The Kern Valley Sun newspapers for an obituary published in those years for which we have an index. 

o       for the Californian those years are 1983 to the present;

o       while for the Sun those years are 1969 to 1990. 

Level 2. 

·        A Society volunteer will research an obituary published in any year of The Bakersfield Californian or The Kern Valley Sun

PLUS

·        the volunteer will research:

o       our extensive cemetery records,

o       those of the Payne Mortuary (1903-1968),

o       our collection of biographies of local citizens,

o       and the Federal censuses of Kern County. 

Our fee for a Level 1 research is $10 per individual and for Level 2 it is $15 per individual.  All fees are non-refundable but include copies of whatever material is found.

If interested in Level 1 or Level 2 research, please send us a letter at:

KERN COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY

PO BOX 2214

BAKERSFIELD, CA 93303-2214.

Be sure to include in your letter your name and address, telephone number, e-mail address if any, and specify what level of research you desire.  In addition, please provide as much information as you have about the individual being researched including nicknames.  All requests must be accompanied by a check for the appropriate amount and a stamped self-addressed envelope.