Reclaiming Memory transforms a century-old glass plate archive into a living civic process in Samokov. Created by photographer Angel Hadzhimitov (1887–1962), one of the early pioneers of photography in Bulgaria and a chronicler of the town, the archive documents everyday life in the early twentieth century. Digitization has begun in cooperation with the Historical Museum-Samokov and the local public library. Rather than remaining institutional heritage, the images are opened as civic material. Through a structured identification campaign, citizens recognise individuals in the photographs, trace descendants, and contribute family stories. Online sharing generates sustained engagement, with around 300 reactions per post and over 1,000 interactions overall. The process is expected to mobilise at least 300 residents before six families are selected for filmed intergenerational conversations. The initiative culminates in a public exhibition presenting archival prints with QR-linked video testimonies. By redistributing narrative authority from institutions to citizens, the project strengthens democratic participation and civic culture in small European towns.