How to save emails in archive folders on local hard drive during server migration?

Thanks for the response, that is exactly the problem, I do not know. There is an archive folder in the email app but can't get any info on it except which email account it is located in. I also logged on the server and checked email accounts but they don't show what kind of boxes are there either just a general info again about the account itself. No option to view boxes individually... :(.

Is there a way I can create a backup folder in the mail app and make sure it was created on the hard drive, then I can move all email to this folder, but want to be sure it's a local copy so when we recreate the new accounts I can move the emails back.

Thank you, thank you!

Thank you, it doesn't mention about the Archive folder but it's working, those few emails from the old account are still in the Archive folder despite the account already deleted from the server. Note, I am not deleting the accounts in Mail, just on the server, when these accounts recreated on another server they will be linked to the existing Mail accounts again. Again, all mail in the Archive are still there, I can open them too. Mail is just complaining that it can't reach that old account anymore but tomorrow they'll be setup again on the new server.

Thanks again for the help!

I think I found the answer. I found an email account that hasn't been used for a couple of years with only a few emails in it, I moved the emails over to the 'Archive' folder then deleted the account on the server, all emails are still in the archive folder! Yeah! Saves me bunch of migration time.

So conclusion: the standard Archive folder in the Mail app does hold a local copy of emails.

Thank you for chipping in with some help!