Did you know that the Beale Library downtown has a special collections room full of archival material on Bakersfield and Kern County history? This collection, much of which needs to be organized and cataloged, is a treasure trove for anyone interested in local history. Our own Christopher Livingston (MA '04) is now in charge of these pieces of history, which include (among MANY other things) tax rolls dating back to the 1800s; the original articles of incorporation for the city of Bakersfield; county and city maps dating back to the 1800s; hundreds of photographs and postcards; oral history interviews on tape; and the books, papers, and notes of Harland Boyd, former professor at Bakersfield College who wrote extensively on local history.
There is plenty of material for any of our students interested in using these for local history research projects and perhaps even setting up an internship helping to archive this material for university credit. Chris says he has already helped some Cal State students with research projects. If you would like to contact him, he can be reached by phone or email through the Beale Library: 868-0721; christopher.livingston@kerncountylibrary.org.
