Conversation persistence in real-time collaboration system

A stored transcript of a first conversation thread has beginning and ending points with a series of messages in between. A continuation point is inserted between two messages within the first thread, and an storaae indicator is displayed proximate to an entry for the first thread in a hierarchical list of stored conversations; When the indicator is operated, the transcript is retrieved, a portion of the first thread is copied in into a second user interface, the copied oortion being defined by two points selected from a the beginning point, the continuation point, and the ending point. Newly authored and received messages are aooended in the second user interface to the copied portion of the first thread, such that a second thread of conversation is provided having the copied portion of the first thread with the copied portion refreshing the user of a context of said first conversation thread.