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!

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Upcoming Events

Unusual Places to Find Births and Naturalizations

Thu, Jan 14

Batavia Public Library

Jan 14, 2021, 7:00 PM CST

Batavia 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.

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Every Girl Pulling for Victory - Suffrage and Service During the Great War

Thu, Feb 11

McHenry Public Library District

Feb 11, 2021, 7:00 PM

McHenry Public Library District

This lecture examines how the suffrage movement motivated women to perform military and volunteer service during the Great War and how to find local, state, and national suffrage records to tie these stories of service together.

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World War I Genealogy – Where Do I Start?

Sat, Feb 20

CAGGNI

Feb 20, 2021, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

CAGGNI

Using a fail-proof method of record gathering, you can begin to construct a large amount of information even if your ancestor’s official military records were destroyed in the NRPC fire.

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Unusual Places to Find Births and Naturalizations

Tue, Feb 23

Central Jersey Genealogical Club

Feb 23, 2021, 7:00 PM CST

Central Jersey Genealogical Club

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.

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Internet Archive - The Amazing Genealogical Resource!

Thu, Mar 11

Mount Prospect Public Library

Mar 11, 2021, 7:00 PM

Mount Prospect Public Library

Webinar program hosted by the Mount Prospect Public Library Can’t find it on Ancestry? Learn all about Internet Archive and its amazing collection of city directories, county histories, gazetteers, yearbooks, and family genealogies. If you haven’t been on this site yet, you’re missing a lot of fan

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That One Time Martha Washington's Will Was Stolen

Sat, Mar 13

North Shore Chapter NSDAR

Mar 13, 2021, 1:00 PM

North Shore Chapter NSDAR

Remember that one time Martha Washington's will got stolen? Who knew Civil War looters, patriotic women braying for justice, and the death of a millionaire would set a precedent for protecting legal documents.

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Allied with the Allies - Researching British, Canadian, Australian, French and Italian Military Records

Thu, Apr 08

McHenry County IL Genealogical Society

Apr 08, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM CDT

McHenry County IL Genealogical Society

Examine the abundant resources, service files, and information for service men and women who served in Canadian, UK, Australian, and French forces during World War I. The lecture will also examine Red Cross records and resources in the US and abroad.

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Adventures with Lost Postcards: Using eBay, Etsy, Craigslist, and CardCow to Break Down Genealogical Brick Walls

Thu, Apr 15

Elgin (Illinois) Genealogical Society

Apr 15, 2021, 7:00 PM CDT

Elgin (Illinois) Genealogical Society

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.

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World War I Genealogy – Where Do I Start?

Tue, May 11

Schaumburg Township District Library

May 11, 2021, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM CDT

Schaumburg Township District Library

Using a fail-proof method of record gathering, you can begin to construct a large amount of information even if your ancestor’s official military records were destroyed in the NRPC fire.

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Victorian Mourning Customs - Lifting the Veil off Inherited Family Treasures

Thu, May 13

The Grove Interpretative Center

May 13, 2021, 7:00 PM CDT

The Grove Interpretative Center

Take a glimpse into the customs and rituals of death in Victorian America. We can thank the Victorians for the 'cult of mourning' which generated a fantastic assortment of keepsakes, mementos, and paperwork.

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Unusual Places to Find Births and Naturalizations

Mon, Jul 26

Plainfield Public Library

Jul 26, 2021, 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.

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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.