Abstract: An electronic messaging system, and related method, employs a handwriting server component operable on a network with an email host server, and a client component operable with an email client on a client computer connected to the network. The client component sets up a graphical data capture area into which a user can enter handwritten or handdrawn input through a suitable graphical input device. The handwritten or handdrawn input is captured and sent as pixel data or an attached graphics file with an email message. The preferred form of the handwriting messaging component is as a Java applet downloaded to the web page of the email client or installed as a plug-in with the email client. The graphical email message may be sent to a server having a Java-based handwriting server component, a Domino server, a real-time messaging server, a standard Internet email server, or an Internet email server with a WAP interface to wireless PDAs and other digital communications devices.