An electronic mail management system is operable to receive electronic mail message components from a user. Prior to sending of the email message, a plurality of predetermined categories for classifying the electronic message are presented to the user. The email system receives a user selection from the predetermined categories. A determination is made as to whether or not the email recipient is a member of a predetermined class of recipients. The electronic mail is then sent to the recipient. The user selection is embedded within the email message if the recipient is a member of the predetermined class of recipients. Finally, the email is stored in a manner dependent upon the user selection. Similarly, the email management server may also be operable to categorize received email messages. Further, email messages may be selected or programmed to automatically be deleted upon certain events.