UNITED STATES            12/31/97
                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              SCHEDULE 13G

               UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                     (AMENDMENT NO.          )*

KERR MCGEE CORPORATION
(NAME OF ISSUER)
COMMON STOCK
(TITLE CLASS OF SECURITIES)
492386107
(CUSIP NUMBER)

CHECK THE FOLLOWING BOX IF A FEE IS BEING PAID WITH THIS
STATEMENT.____(A FEE IS NOT REQUIRED ONLY IF THE FILING PERSON: (1)
HAS A PREVIOUS STATEMENT ON FILE REPORTING BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF
MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT OF THE CLASS OF SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN ITEM
1; AND (2) HAS FILED NO AMENDMENT SUBSEQUENT THERETO REPORTING
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF SUCH CLASS.) (SEE
RULE 13D-7).

*THE REMAINDER OF THIS COVER PAGE SHALL BE FILLED OUT FOR A
REPORTING PERSON'S INITIAL FILING ON THIS FORM WITH RESPECT TO THE
SUBJECT CLASS OF SECURITIES, AND FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENT
CONTAINING INFORMATION WHICH WOULD ALTER THE DISCLOSURES PROVIDED
IN A PRIOR COVER PAGE.

THE INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS COVER PAGE SHALL
NOT BE DEEMED TO BE "FILED" FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 18 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 ("ACT") OR OTHERWISE SUBJECT TO THE
LIABILITIES OF THAT SECTION OF THE ACT BUT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL
OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE ACT (HOWEVER, SEE THE NOTES).


CUSIP NO. 492386107            13G       PAGE 2 OF 5 PAGES

1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
    STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE     04-1867445
    KERR MCGEE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*

    NOT APPLICABLE                                   A __
                                                     B __


3.  SEC USE ONLY


4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

5.  SOLE VOTING POWER
    0 SHARES
6.  SHARED VOTING POWER
    2,437,711 SHARES
7.  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
    0 SHARES
8.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
    2,437,711 SHARES
9.  AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    2,437,711 SHARES

10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES*

     NOT APPLICABLE 

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
    5.1%

12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

     BK
CUSIP NO. 492386107            13G       PAGE 2A OF 5 PAGES

1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
    STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE     04-1867445
    OR DISCRETIONARY ADVISOR VARIOUS COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT FUNDS FOR   
    EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS AND OTHER INDEX ACCOUNTS      KERR MCGEE

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*

    NOT APPLICABLE                                   A __
                                                     B __


3.  SEC USE ONLY


4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

5.  SOLE VOTING POWER
    652,844 SHARES
6.  SHARED VOTING POWER
    0 SHARES
7.  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
    699,944 SHARES
8.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
    0 SHARES
9.  AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    699,944 SHARES

10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES*

     NOT APPLICABLE 

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
    1.5%

12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

     BK
CUSIP NO. 492386107            13G       PAGE 2B OF 5 PAGES

1.  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF PERSON
    STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST CO, TRUSTEE/CO-TRUSTEE     04-1867445
    VARIOUS PERSONAL TRUST ACCOUNTS             KERR MCGEE

2.  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP.*

    NOT APPLICABLE                                   A __
                                                     B __


3.  SEC USE ONLY


4.  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

    BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

5.  SOLE VOTING POWER
    19,421 SHARES
6.  SHARED VOTING POWER
    9,970 SHARES
7.  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
    14,458 SHARES
8.  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
    14,933 SHARES
9.  AGGREGATED AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
    29,391 SHARES

10.  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
     SHARES*

     NOT APPLICABLE 

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9
    .1%

12.  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

     BK
                         SCHEDULE 13G        PAGE 3 OF 5 PAGES
ITEM 1.
  (A)  NAME OF ISSUER
       KERR MCGEE CORPORATION

  (B)  ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES
       KERR MCGEE CENTER
       OKLAHOMA CITY
       OKLAHOMA  73125

ITEM 2.

     (A)  NAME OF PERSON FILING
          STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE


     (B)  ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE OR, IF NONE,
          RESIDENCE

          225 FRANKLIN STREET, BOSTON, MA 02110


     (C)  CITIZENSHIP

          BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS


     (D)  TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES

          COMMON STOCK
 
     (E)  CUSIP NUMBER
     
          492386107

ITEM 3.   IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B), OR
          13D-2(B), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:

     (B)  _X_  BANK AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(A)(6) OF THE ACT


                                             PAGE 4 OF 5 PAGES
ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP
  (A)  AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED
        3,167,046 SHARES
  (B)  PERCENT OF CLASS
       6.7%
  (C)  NUMBER OF SHARES AS TO WHICH SUCH PERSON HAS:
    (I)  SOLE POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE
         672,265 SHARES
   (II)  SHARED POWER TO VOTE OR TO DIRECT THE VOTE
         2,447,681 SHARES
  (III)  SOLE POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF
         714,402 SHARES
   (IV)  SHARED POWER TO DISPOSE OR TO DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF
         2,452,644 SHARES

ITEM 5.   OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS

          NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM 6.   OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER
          PERSON.

          NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM 7.  IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
         ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT         
         HOLDING COMPANY

          NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM 8.   IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

          NOT APPLICABLE

ITEM 9.  NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP

          NOT APPLICABLE

                                   PAGE 5 OF 5 PAGES

ITEM 10.  CERTIFICATION

          THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION SHALL BE INCLUDED IF THE
          STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-1(B):

          BY SIGNING BELOW I CERTIFY THAT, TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF, THE SECURITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE WERE
ACQUIRED IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS AND WERE NOT ACQUIRED
FOR THE PURPOSE OF AND DO NOT HAVE THE EFFECT OF CHANGING OR
INFLUENCING THE CONTROL OF THE ISSUER OF SUCH SECURITIES AND WERE
NOT ACQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH OR AS A PARTICIPANT IN ANY
TRANSACTION HAVING SUCH PURPOSES OR EFFECT.

     THIS REPORT IS NOT AN ADMISSION THAT STATE STREET BANK AND
TRUST COMPANY IS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF ANY SECURITIES COVERED BY
THIS REPORT, AND STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY EXPRESSLY
DISCLAIMS BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF ALL SHARES REPORTED HEREIN
PURSUANT TO RULE 13D-4.

                         SIGNATURE

     AFTER REASONABLE INQUIRY AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND
BELIEF, I CERTIFY THAT THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THIS STATEMENT
IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND CORRECT.

                         10 FEBRUARY 1998
                    
                         STATE STREET BOSTON CORPORATION
                         STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,    
                         TRUSTEE



                         /s/ Mary Sue Spain
                         Senior Compliance Officer