diff --git a/slic/gui/daqframe.py b/slic/gui/daqframe.py
index 0d97f24a..6830fc5e 100644
--- a/slic/gui/daqframe.py
+++ b/slic/gui/daqframe.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import wx
 from .daqpanels import ConfigPanel, StaticPanel, ScanPanel, TweakPanel
 from .widgets import NotebookPanel
 from .icon import get_wx_icon
+from .persist import load, store
 
 
 class DAQFrame(wx.Frame):
@@ -34,5 +35,20 @@ class DAQFrame(wx.Frame):
         sizer.Add(panel_main, proportion=1, flag=wx.EXPAND)
         self.SetSizerAndFit(sizer)
 
+        try:
+            load(".neatdaq", self)
+        except Exception as e:
+            en = type(e).__name__
+            print(f"skipped persist load as it caused: {en}: {e}")
+
+        self.Bind(wx.EVT_CLOSE, self.on_close)
+
+
+    def on_close(self, event):
+        try: # make sure the close event fires
+            store(".neatdaq", self)
+        finally:
+            event.Skip()
+
 
 
diff --git a/slic/gui/persist.py b/slic/gui/persist.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eca50217
--- /dev/null
+++ b/slic/gui/persist.py
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+from slic.gui import widgets as ws
+
+
+PERSISTABLE_WIDGETS = (
+    ws.MathEntry,
+    ws.FilenameEntry
+)
+
+
+def store(*args):
+    p = Persistence(*args)
+    p.store()
+
+def load(*args):
+    p = Persistence(*args)
+    p.load()
+
+
+
+class Persistence:
+
+    def __init__(self, fname, managed):
+        home = Path.home()
+        self.fname = home / fname
+        self.managed = managed
+        self.values = []
+
+
+    def store(self):
+        self._get()
+        list_store(self.fname, self.values)
+
+    def load(self):
+        self.values = list_load(self.fname)
+        self._set()
+
+
+    def _get(self):
+        children = self.get_good_children()
+        for child in children:
+            value = child.GetValue()
+            self.values.append(value)
+
+    def _set(self):
+        children = self.get_good_children()
+        nchildren = len(children)
+        nvalues = len(self.values)
+        if nchildren != nvalues:
+            raise ValueError(f"got {nchildren} widgets vs. {nvalues} values mismatch")
+        for child, value in zip(children, self.values):
+            child.SetValue(value)
+
+
+    def get_good_children(self):
+        return list(c for c in recurse(self.managed) if isinstance(c, PERSISTABLE_WIDGETS))
+
+
+
+def recurse_all(objs):
+    for obj in objs:
+        yield from recurse(obj)
+
+def recurse(obj):
+    children = obj.GetChildren()
+    if children:
+        yield from recurse_all(children)
+    else:
+        yield obj
+
+
+def list_store(fname, values):
+    print("store to", fname)
+    with open(fname, "w") as f:
+        for v in values:
+            f.write(f"{v}\n")
+
+def list_load(fname):
+    print("load from", fname)
+    values = []
+    with open(fname, "r") as f:
+        for line in f:
+            value = line.strip()
+            values.append(value)
+    return values
+
+
+