Debra Dudek
Genealogist Author Librarian
About Debra Dudek
Genealogist Author Librarian
Debra M. Dudek is Head of Adult and Teen Services at the Fountaindale Public Library District in Bolingbrook, IL.
Ms. Dudek specializes in British genealogy, World War I research, and emerging technology topics. An alumna of Olivet College (Olivet, Michigan) and the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, Scotland). Ms. Dudek holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, a Masters in Information and Library Studies, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Genealogical, Palaeographic & Heraldic Studies.
Books and Ebooks
Free Downloadable World War I Research Checklist
Need help tracking down your World War I era ancestor? Download this free checklist and get started with your research!
Free Webinar
Internet Archive for Genealogy Research
February 14, 2019
Super charge your genealogy research with Internet Archive! If you haven’t been on this site yet, you’re missing a lot of fantastic resources!
Webinar for personal use only. Please contact speaker for society or group viewing options.
Recently Published Works
Articles and Book Reviews
Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly
Spring 2020
After 180 Years: Records of the Laborers Who Built the Illinois & Michigan Canal
Hundreds of documents with names and other information about the laborers who built the Illinois & Michigan Canal have been rediscovered in the vault of the canal commission’s former headquarters, nearly 180 years after work on the waterway began. The records could prove to be a treasure trove for genealogists and historians.
National Genealogical Society Magazine
April-June 2020
Immigrant Ancestors in World War I Military Naturalizations
Non-citizens residing in the USA during World War I were drafted in the military, and with their induction into service, and the government responded by streamlining the naturalization process for these 'alien' servicemen. This article introduces readers to strategies for researching WWI immigrant ancestors and discover more about their military service and personal path to citizenship.
Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly
Winter 2019
Book Review: The Khaki Road of Yesterday
John B. Kane, a World War I veteran of the US Army Graves Registration Service wrote his wartime memoirs for his 10-year-old daughter Sashie in 1940. His account, which was typed on onion skin paper, sat in his desk drawer for several decades and recently published by his descendents Gus and LaWanda Zimmerman. Kane's account is both harrowing and tender, and is a must-read for genealogists.
Get in Touch
Debra Dudek
Bolingbrook, Illinois
