Archival Memories
Archival Memories is a paired get-to-know-you activity in which each person scrolls back to the oldest picture in their phone's photo gallery and tells a partner the story behind it. The activity is credited to Mark Collard of playmeo. Because the image is whatever happens to be stored first, people share something real without having to decide what to reveal.
Facilitation script
- 1
Form pairs, explain the task and mention that people may pick the next photo if the first is too private.
2 min - 2
Everyone scrolls to their earliest stored photo.
1 min - 3
First partner shows the photo and tells its story.
3 min - 4
Switch: second partner shows and tells.
3 min - 5
Optional second round with new partners or a different prompt, then a brief word from one or two volunteers in plenary.
5 min
Tips
Say before people start scrolling that anyone can skip to the next photo if the first one is private or painful; old photos can show former partners or people who have died.
Give a clear signal for swapping speakers, since the first story tends to take all the time.
Allow a minute for scrolling, as some galleries go back many years.
Common pitfalls
Giving no permission to skip a photo: someone is confronted with a painful or intimate image and either overshares or shuts down
Not calling the switch: the first speaker uses all the time and the second partner gets thirty seconds
Asking people to pass their phones around: others scroll further than intended and privacy is breached
Reporting each story back in plenary: a quick paired exchange becomes a long round and the stories lose their intimacy
Assuming everyone has a long photo history: people with new phones feel left out unless you offer an alternative
Variations
Further rounds can use other prompts of your own, such as the most recent photo or a photo that makes the person smile. Online, send pairs into breakout rooms and have people hold the phone up to the camera or just describe the picture. In a very small team, skip the pairs and let each person share with the whole group for a minute. Someone without a phone or with a new device can describe an early photo they remember.
Where it fits
When to use it
A new team or a mixed group needs a first personal conversation and you have no materials
Participants are reserved and a concrete object to talk about makes sharing easier than an open question
A remote session where breakout pairs need a prompt that works without preparation
The start of a session on storytelling, memory or team history
You need a filler of a few minutes that still creates real contact
When not to use it
Phones are not allowed or not carried, for example in secure sites or some production settings; use Check-In Questions instead
Many participants use company phones with only work photos, which gives thin stories; a Photo Check-In with a prepared image set works better
The group is in a formal first meeting with clients where showing private photos would feel intrusive
You want a mood or expectation check for the session; Photo Check-In is designed for that
People are grieving or the context is emotionally raw, where an unexpected old photo can hit hard
Related methods
Frequently asked questions
What is Archival Memories?▾
Archival Memories is a paired icebreaker credited to Mark Collard of playmeo. Each person finds the oldest photo stored on their smartphone and tells their partner the story behind it. It needs no preparation and takes a few minutes per pairing.
How long does Archival Memories take?▾
Allow two to five minutes per pairing, plus a minute for scrolling. One round with instructions fits into about five minutes; two or three rounds with new partners take up to fifteen.
What if someone's oldest photo is private?▾
Tell the group at the start that they can move on to the next photo, or the first one they are happy to show. The point is the story, not the exact image, so nobody should feel obliged to explain a picture they would rather keep to themselves.
Does it work in remote meetings?▾
Yes. Put people into breakout rooms in pairs or threes and have them hold the phone to the camera or describe the photo. It is a good use of breakout rooms because the prompt needs no shared screen or tool.
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Try it freeMethod descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices. This method was inspired by work from Mark Collard, playmeo.