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.

Finding Your
World War I Ancestors

Need help tracking down your World War I military ancestor? Watch this free webinar and get started with your research!

Books and Ebooks

Upcoming Events

Anna and Her Brothers - Finding Relations When No Family Stories Exist
Sat, Jun 12
SCGS Jamboree
Jun 12, 12:00 AM – Oct 10, 11:59 PM
SCGS Jamboree
This presentation examines a combination of family stories, photographs and both direct and indirect evidence to rebuild the journey of an immigrant Czech family in Ohio and Nebraska.
Share
RSVP

Adventures with Lost Postcards: Using eBay, Etsy, Craigslist, and CardCow to Break Down Genealogical Brick Walls
Tue, Jul 13
Lake County Public Library
Jul 13, 5:30 PM
Lake County Public Library
Online auction and resale sites don’t make finding genealogical treasures easy, but with a little persistence, you can discover lost family heirlooms for yourself or share item details with others online.
Share
RSVP

Spies Among Us: Tracing WWI Era Ancestors through FBI and American Protective League Records
Thu, Jul 15
Larimer County Genealogical Society of Colo
Jul 15, 6:30 PM
Larimer County Genealogical Society of Colo
Learn how a mass collective of middle class private citizens helped the FBI collect information on non-US citizens during the Great War, and how to track down the files these investigations left behind.
Share
RSVP

Unusual Places to Find Births and Naturalizations
Mon, Jul 26
Plainfield Public Library
Jul 26, 7:00 PM CDT
Plainfield Public Library
Widen your search for birth dates and locations as well as naturalizations from a variety of underutilized resources such as military rosters, consulate applications, voter registrations, cancelled passports, frakturs and much more.
Share
RSVP

Researching your Irish Ancestors Online
Sat, Aug 07
Naperville Irish Fest
Aug 07, 1:00 PM CDT
Naperville Irish Fest, 3380 Cedar Glade Rd, Naperville, IL 60564, USA
Learn online tools and resources to unpuzzle your Irish heritage. This lecture will introduce you to a variety of online sites, new search strategies, and what steps to take to further your research objectives online and abroad.
Share
RSVP

Crime, Prison, and Punishment: Researching UK Criminal and Prisoner Records online and at the National Archives
Wed, Aug 18
The Skeleton Whisperer’s Webinar Series
Aug 18, 3:00 PM PDT
The Skeleton Whisperer’s Webinar Series
Whether by choice or circumstance, some of your ancestors may have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. The vast array of criminal and prison records available online and at the National Archives in Kew.
Share
RSVP

Discovering your UK/Irish Roots Online
Tue, Sep 07
Lake County IL Genealogical Society
Sep 07, 7:00 PM CDT
Lake County IL Genealogical Society
Websites and Resources for English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish Ancestry
Share
RSVP

Discovering your UK/Irish Roots Online
Thu, Sep 23
Indian Prairie Genealogy Group
Sep 23, 1:00 PM CDT
Indian Prairie Genealogy Group
Websites and Resources for English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish Ancestry
Share
RSVP

Tracing Female Ancestors in WWI Military and Non-Combatant Records
Fri, Oct 01
Texas State Genealogical Society Conference
Oct 01, 8:00 AM – Oct 02, 11:59 PM
Texas State Genealogical Society Conference
Women were essential to the success of America’s troops in World War I. This lecture will outline a plan to locate and use a variety of local, state, and national records to discover the stories of female ancestors serving in military and volunteer roles.
Share
RSVP

Anna and Her Brothers - Finding Relations When No Family Stories Exist
Fri, Oct 01
Texas State Genealogical Society Conference
Oct 01, 8:00 AM – Oct 02, 11:59 PM
Texas State Genealogical Society Conference
This presentation examines a combination of family stories, photographs and both direct and indirect evidence to rebuild the journey of an immigrant Czech family in Ohio and Nebraska.
Share
RSVP

Discovering your UK/Irish Roots Online
Mon, Jul 11
Wabash Valley Genealogy Society
Jul 11, 2022, 5:30 PM CDT
Wabash Valley Genealogy Society
Websites and Resources for English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish Ancestry
Share
RSVP

Free Webinars

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.

Using Fold3 Library Edition

April 28, 2020

Learn how to navigate the site, browse resources effectively, download important documents, and find the hidden gems on this fantastic database.

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

Fall 2020

Suffrage and Service: Finding Your Suffragist Ancestor
While there are few online resources dedicated to American suffrage research, tantalizing sources can be found in newspapers, scrapbooks, personal items, digitized books, society collections, and archival materials. This article provides checklists and a case study for researching suffrage crusaders performing patriotic volunteer service during the Great War.

Illinois State Genealogical Society Quarterly

Fall 2020

Book Review: The World of Juliette Kinzie: Chicago Before the Fire

The World Of Juliette Kinzie by Dr. Ann Durkin Keating is a richly detailed account of one of Chicago's earliest leading matrons: an author, philanthropist, savvy business helpmate, a woman credited with helping to establish one of the city's earliest churches and for opening her home to a parade of historical figures, one of whom was Abraham Lincoln.

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.