Fossilized Email

The oldest email in my inbox is, literally, about fossils. It's a reply (1/18/2004) to a query I sent to Jack Horner when I was doing research for Untamed Hearts.

My query:

I need to learn about dinosaur digs in Montana from 1852 to 1890's. Was there much activity and who directed/funded the expeditions? What was the role of the local population (Native Americans, ranchers, miners)? Are there published dissertations/books/journals on the earliest discoveries?

Horner's response:

I'd suggest you get hold of "The Life of a Fossil Hinter" by Charles Sternberg (Indiana University Press) and "Strange Genius, The Life of Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden" by Mike Foster (Roberts Rinehart Publishers.

Jack

I obtained both books (excellent resources), and the information contained within proved valuable in creating the character of Philip Farnsworth, who appears in Untamed Hearts and Undaunted Hearts.

What is the oldest email that still resides in your inbox? Why do you keep it around? Tell me all about it in the comments section -- if it isn't too personal.