Abstract: An electronic mail (e-mail) search folder device utilizing an easily configurable search system that allows the user to associate attributes to a folder and will automatically search and organize the user's e-mail messages. Search attributes that are specified by the user are associated with a file folder by the invention. Search strings and properties, the frequency of the search, and the scope of the search are designated by the user. The invention waits for the specified interval or event condition to become true and performs the search across the folders and objects specified by the user. The invention inserts pointers to the e-mail messages that were found to match the search criteria into the search folder which is always available to the user.