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Elizabeth Murray Vargas is a bilingual professional genealogist and owner of Legacy Quest Genealogy. She specializes in genealogical research throughout Latin America, the Spanish Caribbean, and immigrant communities in the United States, extending research to European countries of origin. With particular expertise in Cuban genealogy, she combines original records, multilingual sources, and an international network of onsite researchers to resolve complex cross-border genealogical problems, probate and heir research, and historical Spanish-language records.

A first-generation American of Dominican and Scottish heritage, Elizabeth holds bachelor's degrees in International Relations and Spanish and completed the Genealogical Research Program at Boston University, ProGen, and advanced coursework through the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP). She is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.

Elizabeth has authored genealogy course content for the International Institute of Genealogical Studies, served as a mentor and grader for the National Genealogical Society's Advanced Skills in Genealogy program, and has presented for the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. She has also appeared as a guest on the Extreme Genes podcast and contributed research to the BBC television series Who Do You Think You Are?

She serves on the Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Genealogists and chairs its Professional Development Committee, leading educational initiatives that support the advancement of the genealogy profession.

Geographic Specialities
Latin America, the Spanish Caribbean, immigrant communities in the United States, and European countries of origin.
 

Testimonials
"Elizabeth was a huge help to our genealogy journey. She was able to solve the fuzzy linkage and history of my 1700 era paternal tree thereby resolving a huge part of our total ancestral picture. We are so grateful for her efforts and expertise!"

Additional specialities or search keywords
Bilingual Researcher, family history, heir & probate research, dual citizenship processing

Publications/Media
Victorian Photo Album Gifted to Living Descendants 
Extreme Genes Podcast, Researching Cuban Records, Episode 472
 

Lectures
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
Historical Society of Pennsylvania 
Historical Society of Plainfield, NJ, Drake House Museum, and the Plainfield Public Library.
 

Repositories
Elizabeth has established research relationships in multiple countries to access archives that are not fully digitized or available online, including Cuba.

Research Time Periods

• 21st Century
• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century
• 17th Century

Languages
English, Native Spanish speaker, understand Italian and Portuguese

Honorifics/Credentials
FSAScot, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 
Board of Directors (2026-2028), Association of Professional Genealogists

Certificates
Certificate in Genealogical Research (Boston University)
ProGen Study Group Graduate

Affiliations
Fellow, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
The National Genealogical Society (NGS)
The Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami (CGC)
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B) 
The International Society for British Genealogy and Family History (ISBGFH)
The Scottish Genealogy Society The Irish Genealogical Research Society (IGRS)
American Ancestors - The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS)
The International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG)
 

Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Spanish
Certificate holder in Genealogical Research from Boston University
ProGen Graduate - 14-month Genealogical Program