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!

Download

red cross workers greeting chicago men f

Upcoming Events

Internet Archive - The Amazing Genealogical Resource!
Thu, Mar 11
Mount Prospect Public Library
Mar 11, 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
Share
RSVP

That One Time Martha Washington's Will Was Stolen
Sat, Mar 13
North Shore Chapter NSDAR
Mar 13, 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.
Share
RSVP

Allied with the Allies - Researching British, Canadian, Australian, French and Italian Military Records
Thu, Apr 08
McHenry County IL Genealogical Society
Apr 08, 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.
Share
RSVP

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, 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.
Share
RSVP

Discovering your UK/Irish Roots Online
Sat, Apr 17
Appleton Public Library
Apr 17, 2:00 PM CDT
Appleton Public Library
Websites and Resources for English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish Ancestry
Share
RSVP

Unusual Places to Find Births and Naturalizations
Fri, May 07
Heartland Family History Conference
May 07, 8:00 AM CDT – May 08, 8:00 PM CDT
Heartland Family History Conference
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

Anna and Her Brothers - Finding Relations When No Family Stories Exist
Fri, May 07
Heartland Family History Conference
May 07, 8:00 AM CDT – May 08, 8:00 PM CDT
Heartland Family History 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

World War I Genealogy – Where Do I Start?
Tue, May 11
Schaumburg Township District Library
May 11, 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.
Share
RSVP

Victorian Mourning Customs - Lifting the Veil off Inherited Family Treasures
Thu, May 13
The Grove Interpretative Center
May 13, 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.
Share
RSVP

Internet Archive - The Amazing Genealogical Resource!
Thu, May 20
Downers Grove Public Library
May 20, 6:30 PM
Downers Grove Public Library
Webinar program hosted by the Downers Grove 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
Share
RSVP

Discovering your UK/Irish Roots Online
Tue, Jun 08
Lake County IL Genealogical Society
Jun 08, 7:00 PM CDT
Lake County IL Genealogical Society
Websites and Resources for English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish Ancestry
Share
RSVP

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

World War I Genealogy – Where Do I Start?
Thu, Jun 17
Williamson County Genealogical Society
Jun 17, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM CDT
Williamson County Genealogical Society
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.
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

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.