Bakersfield and Kern Picture Album

About the Author Chris Brewer Chris Brewer is the great-great grandson of Col. Thomas Baker, whose family was one of the first four families in Visalia. Baker was also the founder of Bakersfield. Chris was raised with living history, as his father, Harold Baker Brewer, was an active member of the Kern County historical community. He is a fourth generation native Californian whose family arrived in the state in 1849. Chris is a Registered Professional Historian/Architectural Historian, certified by the California Council for the Promotion of History (CCPH). He is an Associate Architectural Historian with Caltrans, Central Region, involved in the planning of major highway projects in the San Joaquin Valley. Brewer also serves as a consultant in historic preservation and architectural history to public agencies and private firms. He also owns and operates Bear State Books, publishing California history. Brewer operates an archive of California and local historical material rivaling that of larger public libraries. The archive includes tens of thousands of photographic images, local historical data files, books, maps and other related material. Brewer is published in numerous newspapers, including columns and editorials for a number of years for The Exeter Sun, frequently commenting on daily life in Exeter and the southern San Joaquin Valley. He has written numerous published articles, including the huge, multi-section historical Centennial Edition of The Bakersfield Californian in 1998. He has also authored a number of books, including the following: Bakersfield and Kern Picture Album, with Don Pipkin; 1986, 2002, 2004. Bakersfield’s Photographic Past, 1998, 2002. Exeter’s Photographic Past, 1998. The Golden Years of Memorial Hospital at Exeter, 1998. Southern San Joaquin Valley Scenes, 1999. Historic Kern County, California, 2001. Bakersfield Picture Album, Volume 2, 2003 Historic Tulare County, California, 2004 Brewer has a number of upcoming publications planned including photographic albums on Bakersfield, Tulare County, and Kern County. He also has a book of Bakersfield history scheduled for late 2005 entitled Tales of Bakersfield. In addition he is preparing a comprehensive history of Bakersfield’s founder Col. Thomas Baker. Chris and his wife Sally own Exeter Flower Company in downtown Exeter. They also own and operate Book Garden next door. Sally operates both stores, as Chris spends much of his time working at his other endeavors including their citrus ranch. Chris is a member of the Society of California Pioneers, the California Council for the Preservation of History, and, with his wife Sally, a life member of the Tulare County Historical Society and the Death Valley ‘49ers. Chris holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Bakersfield. He also serves on the advisory committee of the Great Valley Center, in Modesto. Brewer is also a member of the board of directors of Exeter District Ambulance and a former trustee of Exeter Union High School District. He is a board member of the Exeter Art Gallery and Museum Association and is responsible for the museum. Brewer is also a past president of the Exeter Lions Club. Besides at local bookstores like the Brewer’s Book Garden in Exeter, his books are sold internationally including through retail locations such as Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, B. Dalton and Borders.Brewer, Christopher D. is the author of 'Bakersfield and Kern Picture Album', published 2004 under ISBN 9781892622136 and ISBN 1892622130.