Currently accepting clients for...

• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting

Debbie Kroopkin has enjoyed working with her genealogy clients for over 15 years. She enthusiastically helps people learn about their family history, reconnects cousins, and teaches Jewish and beginning genealogy. She has traced her clients’ families to towns in Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania and more. Debbie loves the research hunt and connecting with new families – both in person and on paper.  Her all-time favorites: helping people, research and libraries, organizing and problem-solving, Jewish history and community. Thus, genealogy is wonderfully satisfying work.  Debbie served as President of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois for ten years, and currently serves on the board as the Past President. She has a master’s degree in social work administration, and is a mother to twin 21 year olds.
 

Testimonials
"I was one of Debbie’s first clients 15 years ago and she continues to discover relatives. She also has superbly edited three books which I have self published on my family’s history.
- W. B.

"After Debbie Kroopkin decided to specialize as a private genealogy researcher, I became her client.
Debbie's capabilities are excellent; she has a highly superior memory and great patience with difficult or frustrating research.
I highly recommend Debbie Kroopkin!" - T. M.
 

Additional specialities or search keywords
Jewish Chicago

Publications/Media
My Missing Aunts: The Value of Death Certificates and Autopsy Reports" Context by Dr. Wayne N. Burton, Research process by Deborah Kroopkin. Morasha. The Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois. Volume XXIX No. 1. Spring 2014. "My Great-Grandmother's Murder: The Value of Newspaper Articles" by Wayne Burton and Debbie Kroopkin. Avotaynu. Volume XXVII Number 4 Winter 2011. P. 52-54. Avotaynu, December 2011.

Lectures
Discover Genealogy: Learn to Explore Your Ancestry
Assembling the Pieces of Your Family History Puzzle
Discovering Your American Family’s Story
Key Strategies for Successful Genealogy Research
Introduction to Jewish Genealogy
Unique Aspects of Jewish Genealogy
Jewish Genealogy with the JewishGen.org Website
JewishGen.org: Leave No Stone Unturned
Techniques for Using JewishGen.Org (Computer Workshop or Presentation)
Exploring Jewish Genealogy - A One Day Conference comprised of four workshops: 1) Intro to Jewish Genealogy, 2) Jewish Family Research in the US, 3) Jewish Family Research around the World, 4) Key Strategies for Successful Research
 

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century

Languages
Debbie can work with some written Yiddish and Hebrew.

Affiliations
Past President, Jewish Genealogical Society of Illinois

Degrees
M.S.W. (Social Work Administration), B.A. (Sociology)