Derek: In the past, I've also analyzed large amounts of email messages. No doubt there is newer software out there but my instinct is the same as it was then: get them into a specialized program for qualitative research, which has complex and powerful search functions. I have used QSR's N6, which has now been replaced by NVIVO. The latest version 8 has just been released. The trick will be importing the messages into NVIVO. It may have a function to do that itself but until I take the training later this month, I don't know. Here's a link to the QSR website: http://www.qsrinternational.com/ Rhiannon Bury Assistant Professor Athabasca University