Unlock the secrets of your family history with our guest, Roger Dudley, a genealogy expert with 45 years of experience. Roger's passion for genealogy was kindled by the 1976 bicentennial celebrations, leading to a lifelong journey of uncovering ancestral tales and penning his first book. Join us as we compare the thrill of genealogical research to detective work and explore how modern technology has revolutionized the field, making resources like FamilySearch and Ancestry.com critical tools for uncovering the past.

In this engaging episode, we discuss the emotional and transformative journey of tracing one's lineage. From personal stories to capturing family memories, Roger emphasizes the importance of seizing the moment to ask questions. We reflect on how the pandemic reshaped research habits and highlight the Denver Public Library as an invaluable resource for genealogical pursuits. Discover how music can evoke memories, particularly in hospital settings, and how libraries have brought genealogy within reach for many.

Roger shares captivating stories of his ancestors, whose adventures along the Mississippi River are brought to life through local newspapers. We dive into practical advice for overcoming genealogical challenges and the rewarding nature of preserving history through volunteer work. Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just beginning your genealogical adventure, this episode is brimming with insights and inspiration to connect with your heritage.

Rodger Dudley Info:
Credentials:

45 years of genealogical experience as researcher, lecturer and writer and reference librarian in the Western History and Genealogy Department of the Denver Public Library. Member of National Genealogical Society, Colorado Genealogical Society, 1971 BA in Speech Communication, University of Northern Colorado, 2006 Masters in Library Science from Emporia State University.

 Books Published:

In Their Time: A Timeline Journal for Placing Family Events into Historical Context 1000-2076 available through print on demand on Amazon or from the author. 738 pages

Kravig Family from Buskerud Fylke, Norway to Lincoln County, Colorado: Published in 2011 for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Karval post office by the author's great grandfather.

 Presentations:

When All Else Fails Try the Local Newspaper: Weekly local newspapers are my “go-to” source for all kinds of information about the family members that can be found nowhere else. This presentation shows where and how to locate and use them.

 Maps and Genealogy: Few of the amazing number of maps that have been produced in the world have been created for genealogists, but all can be used in genealogical research.

 How Karval, Colorado Got Its Name: This talk demonstrates how easy it is to repeat bad information until it is widely believed, though easily shown to be inaccurate. Karval was named by my great grandfather and is seen on many local weather maps as the only town besides Limon in Lincoln County.

 Preserving Family Photos – Keeping Images Safe: This presentation explains how different types of prints and negatives should be handled and stored. Tips on best practices for digital images are also covered.

 Capturing Your Family on Tape or other Media: Oral histories can preserve the most precious resource genealogists come across – memories. This talk is designed to acquaint the audience with the questions that can be asked along with the hardware necessary to capture the best quality sound and images.

 The Story of In Their Time: This talk traces how the idea for a book evolved from a “Tricentennial Family Calendar” con
&