Thanks to the many "familiar faces" that popped up in response to my 
somewhat OT question.

Mark Lively's response (somehow) inspired me to look in my own "lists" 
folder...(duh!) Lo and behold, item 1, dated Wed, 6 Aug 1997 17:26:19, 
turns out to be my own subscription confirmation for the list. Hmm... I 
don't seem to have any email from 1956 ... but then, I'm not sure I could 
read in 1956, so I probably just ate it.

So, boo, you beat at least two of us (fwiw) (and I'm glad the margin 
wasn't any narrower than 6 days...)

Thanks again.

   - Brian Johnson, University of Washington