Research Policy

The Kern County Genealogical Society is not prepared to answer requests for land records or for birth, marriage, or death certificates.  Such requests should be sent to the Kern County Assessor-Recorder's 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 for an obituary published in any available 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 research fee for a Level 1 research is $10 per individual and for Level 2 it is $15 per individual to cover any research expenses and mailing costs.  All research 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 known information as you have about the individual being researched including nicknames. 

All requests must be accompanied by a check or money order for the appropriate amount.