StoryCorps

What started in a small recording booth in Grand Central Terminal has grown into one of the largest oral history projects of its kind. Founded in 2003 by Dave Isay, StoryCorps began with a simple yet powerful mission: to preserve and share humanity's stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. Modeled after the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the 1930s, the organization set out to record the lives of everyday Americans, believing that every story matters and every voice deserves to be heard.

Over the past two decades, StoryCorps has evolved from a single booth in New York City to a nationwide initiative with mobile recording trailers, permanent booths in major cities, and a robust digital presence. The organization has collected more than 600,000 conversations from participants across all 50 states, preserving them in the StoryCorps Archive at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Today, StoryCorps continues to innovate with platforms like StoryCorps Connect, allowing people to record interviews remotely, ensuring that the tradition of storytelling endures even in changing times. Through its weekly broadcasts on NPR's Morning Edition and its animated shorts, StoryCorps shares these deeply personal narratives with millions, fostering empathy and understanding across the globe.