Systems and methods of hosting electronic conversations are provided in which a plurality of conversations, each having an identified set of participants, is maintained. Responsive to a search query from a first participant of a first conversation in the plurality of conversations, a second conversation in the plurality of conversations is identified as relevant to the search query. All or a portion of the second conversation is formatted for display to the first participant. Each conversation in the plurality of conversations, including the second conversation, is an instant messaging conversation. Participants in each conversation in the plurality of conversations are instant messaging participants.