The History Factory was founded in 1979 as Informative Design Group, Inc. The original business proposition was to marry solid historical research with distinctive graphic design to inform and educate a range of intended audiences.

IDG capitalized on the convergence of two revolutions-the introduction of the personal computer and the massive restructuring of corporate America-to position itself as a technology-savvy outsource alternative to highly competitive companies undergoing massive change. From the outset, the company's use-driven approach to archives—and leveraging of corporate history as an authentic and compelling communications resource—attracted an impressive client base that included recognizable names such as Boeing, Brooks Brothers, McCormick Spices, Mellon Bank and Sara Lee Corporation.

In 1989, the company relocated to a historic 12,500 square-foot-building in Washington, D.C., that provided the rationale for the new identity—"The History Factory"—as well as a physical manifestation of the company's open environment and creative culture. The History Factory's passionate client focus and regular addition of new services, combined with the long-term nature of archives maintenance, affords the company exceptional client loyalty and longevity. In 1995, the company again relocated to its current headquarters, a 37,000-square-foot archival storage and office facility in Chantilly, Virginia (19 miles from Washington, D.C., in the Dulles technology corridor).

The quality of products and client satisfaction have remained high throughout The History Factory's history. In 1999, the company was awarded the prestigious "Five Star Certification" by Goldman Sachs for exceptional client service. Today, The History Factory is widely referred to as the first choice of the Fortune 500 for archival services, corporate anniversary programming, corporate history books, and heritage-based marketing and communications initiatives.