Interface for editing, binding, and displaying an annotation for a message

Methods and systems are directed toward associating, displaying, and managing notes or other annotations with emails, instant messages, or other messages. A user interface provides a listing of message headers. Selecting an annotation area associated with a message header causes an editor to open, and allows a user to enter an annotation, such as a text note, a URL, and/or other data. An annotation fragment, such as a snippet of text, is generated from the annotation and associated with the annotation and message. The annotation, the annotation fragment, an icon or another representation remains perceptibly associated with the corresponding message header whenever the message header is moved in the user interface. Placing a cursor over, or selecting the annotation representation causes the full annotation to be accessed and displayed. Clicking on, or otherwise selecting the annotation representation opens the editor to revise the full annotation.