A system and method for displaying instant messaging (IM) session history as time-based calendar events is presented. A messaging system logs chat sessions between users and stores them as "chat events." When a user wishes to view previous chat sessions as time-based calendar events, the user sends a chat history request to an electronic calendar system. In turn, the electronic calendar system retrieves the chat events and formats the chat events, which are displayed on the electronic calendar for the user to view as time-based calendar events. Once displayed, the user is able to select one of the time-based calendar events in order to view the formatted chat event's details.