Our Services
This is not intended to be a formal or stressful exercise. It should be enjoyable. Sessions can be tailored to maximise comfort — family members, friends and even pets are welcome to take part. The historian can take an active role, asking thoughtful questions and encouraging deeper reflection. Alternatively, they can step back and act as a facilitator, recording natural conversations while gently guiding the flow and ensuring time is given to the stories that matter most.
Commissioning an oral history for a loved one is a gift that extends far beyond the present moment. It honours their identity, preserves their voice and safeguards their stories for generations to come. In doing so, it strengthens connections, deepens understanding and nurtures a lasting sense of family and identity.
From Research to Narrative
Consolidating your research into a story you can share
We’re not searching for dramatic spy sagas or high-stakes international negotiations. At Historic Stories, we believe that every life is extraordinary. Each person’s journey is filled with anecdotes, coincidences, relationships, places and moments that shape who they are. We want to hear what truly matters to your storyteller — the authentic tales of a life well lived.
There are other ways to preserve memories, such as pre-prepared books filled with standard prompts. While these can be helpful, many people lack the confidence to sit down and write detailed responses to generic questions. More importantly, life rarely fits neatly into pre-set categories. What if the story that matters most doesn’t align with those prompts? Imagine what could be lost.
Our oral historian engages in meaningful, guided conversations with your nominated storyteller. These sessions encourage clients to share the stories and experiences that feel most important to them. The tone is warm, relaxed and personal — capturing not just the facts of a life, but the genuine character, personality and voice of the storyteller.
Before each session, the historian will be briefed on key themes, priorities and specific stories that should be included. Whether there are particular memories the storyteller wishes to preserve, or stories their family hopes to see recorded, we ensure these moments are thoughtfully explored and celebrated.
Expanding your Research Team
Benefit from our location and research experience
Located in Canberra, Historic Stories is ideally placed to undertake research in the collections of Australia’s national collecting institutions. We offer general research services, where you outline your research question and we identify and review sources that may contribute to an answer, before providing copies of relevant sources and a summary of findings. Alternatively, if resources have already been identified by the researcher, we can attend the collection’s research rooms and access the collection items on behalf of the client.
If there is a lingering question that could use some extra research focus or a different perspective, or perhaps there is just a need for someone on the ground near a Canberra research institution, bring us on as part of your research team!
Museums and Collection Management
Collection management services for institutions
Historic Stories can provide assistance for museums and collecting institutions looking for assistance with professional practice. Services include Significance Assessments and drafting of interpretive material for exhibitions and other visitor experiences.
First Hand Histories
Recording authentic stories as told by those who were there
You’ve done all the hard yards, chased down the records and pulled together the pieces of your project. You’ve compiled multiple binders full of photocopied or printed pages, or stashed hundreds of digital files away on your computer. But just because you have identified all the records, doesn’t mean the story reveals itself. Further work is required, to turn the records into a narrative, making the stories accessible and engaging in their own right. After all, not everyone has the patience to bury themselves in your files with the same enthusiasm as you do!
Making your project accessible to a broader audience is important. Family and friends will most likely appreciate the chance to engage with the project that they have likely heard a lot about! Additionally, you deserve to have your hard work recognised and appreciated by a broader audience than just yourself! But ultimately, your research illuminates the stories of people and places that can no longer speak for themselves, and your project is an opportunity to make those stories more widely available than ever before.
If you’re unsure how to transform your research into a cohesive story or outcome, we can help! We can take your extensive research and consolidate it into an accessible and polished product that is ready to be shared.
Whether you imagine a written book or pamphlet, a digital product such as a website or digital photo album, or another idea entirely, we will work with you to present your research work in an engaging and compelling historical product.
This service makes an ideal gift idea for people who love the thrill of researching a history project, but who lack inspiration when it comes to compiling a final product.
Milestones, Moments and Memories
Celebrating people, places, events and organisations
Many organisations and groups like to use milestones, anniversaries or big celebrations and events to reflect on where they began and the journey so far. Similarly, places of interest or dates of special significance can provide chances for interesting and engaging heritage projects to tell the stories that may not be well known. These opportunities offer the chance to harness the event or significant date to undertake a focussed historical project to increase community interest and knowledge, and to produce a historical product to commemorate the event.
Historic Stories provides services to support heritage projects for groups, places, significant events or just because. Like all of our heritage practices, the goal is to honour and celebrate authentic history with a focus on the stories and experiences of everyday people. Whether you need a project manager to oversee the project and coordinate a team of volunteers, or are looking for someone to deliver the entire project, speak to us about the services we provide.
Contact us
Make us part of your storytelling adventure!
We can’t wait to hear from you!