Trafford Cole
Researcher
After serving a mission for the LDS Church in Italy, Trafford Cole returned to Italy to live and continue his studies. Although of English-Germanic origins, he became interested in Italian genealogy as he researched the origins of his wife's family. From then on he was hooked.
Trafford has researched Italian records as a professional genealogist for the past 29 years and has become an expert on Italian record sources. He has written numerous articles on the subject and has contributed to other books on genealogy. While working as a professional researcher, he put himself through graduate school and obtained a doctorate in psychology from the University of Padua in 1982. For several years he pursued the dual careers of genealogist and clinical psychologist, and since 1987 he has been an instructor for the European division of the University of Maryland.
Trafford is the author of the acclaimed book Italian Genealogical Records: How to Use Italian Civil, Ecclesiastical, & Other Records in Family History Research (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1995).