About Story Trust
Story Trust helps families, businesses, and organizations tell their remarkable stories in ways that create a lasting legacy. We firmly believe that from seemingly ordinary lives, extraordinary stories emerge. They are our most valuable gift to the next generation.
David G. O’Neil, Founder
David G. O’Neil has been a high-school English teacher, book editor, video producer, and publishing executive. He holds a BA in economics from American University and a master’s degree in theology from Harvard University. He is also a frequent speaker on the topic of personal history and has been quoted in The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, Reuters, and Boston-area newspapers and magazines.
My Story: Preserving Treasured Memories
My parents raised six children—I’m “number five.” As I grew into adulthood and saw the changes in my own life, I wondered more about my parents and what their lives were like, in the 1940s and ’50s, before we kids—and the ensuing chaos—came along. Like many of their generation, my parents told us very little about those years.
When my father passed away years ago I knew I needed to sit down with my mother and encourage her to tell me her stories. I kept putting it off and putting it off until August 2006, when I finally stirred up the courage to ask if she would agree to be interviewed. I was surprised and pleased when she said yes. A month later, though, my mother fell and broke her hip. She never recovered and passed away a few weeks later. I regret now that my brothers, sisters, and I will never know the answers to those questions.
I have spoken to many friends and colleagues who have felt that similar sense of regret and loss of not having captured the knowledge and experiences of older relatives when they had the chance. I started Story Trust to help others preserve those treasured stories.
My work with Story Trust brings together many passions: family, history and understanding one’s own place in the world, books and publishing, and storytelling. When I graduated from college, I moved to Brooklyn, New York, to teach high school English and history. After graduate school I ventured into publishing and spent most of my career developing award-winning educational software and books. I have studied economics and theology—an unusual combination, I know. There’s certainly a story behind that. Ask me and I’ll tell you!
Why Hire A Professional Historian?
The right questions at the right time can create the perfect atmosphere for sharing memories. As an independent listener, a professional historian can gather information from a narrator without preconceptions or judgment. A personal historian brings skills in interviewing, project planning, writing and editing, and digital layout and multimedia production. Perhaps most importantly, a personal historian ensures that the project gets completed in a timely manner and meets the highest standards for content and presentation.
Your Best Intentions Realized
“Thank you! I can tell listening to this excerpt, especially, how good you are at making people feel listened to. You have a gift!” — Coventry E., Newton, MA
Many families begin the process of interviewing a parent or grandparent only to find that busy schedules and long distances can make the project too overwhelming to complete. We transform a challenging task into a rewarding one, giving you peace of mind knowing that your loved one’s memories and stories will be captured before they are lost.
A Priceless Family Heirloom
For many people, non-financial items that parents leave behind—like ethics, morals, faith—are much more valuable than the financial aspects of inheritance. A personal history communicates your values, hopes, and hard-won life lessons to your descendants…a priceless gift for future generations.
Our Promise to You
Whether captured in print, audio, or video, your personal history will be treated with the utmost respect and documented with care.
Professional Associations
