diff --git a/slack/__init__.py b/slack/__init__.py
index 7dd929b..31bc673 100644
--- a/slack/__init__.py
+++ b/slack/__init__.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ os.chdir(os.path.dirname(path))
 from . import api
 from . import auth
 from . import channels
+from . import groups
 from . import users
 
 
diff --git a/slack/channels.py b/slack/channels.py
index 9194729..c0f16b8 100644
--- a/slack/channels.py
+++ b/slack/channels.py
@@ -12,17 +12,9 @@ class Channel(threads.Thread):
     def __init__(self, json):
         threads.Thread.__init__(self, json)
         self.__member  = json.get("is_member", False)
-        self.__unread  = json.get("unread_count", None)
-        self.__last_ts = json.get("last_read", None)
 
-    def fetch_info(self):
-        json = info(self.__id)
-        if json != None:
-            self.__unread  = json.get("unread_count", None)
-            self.__last_ts = json.get("last_read", None)
-
-    def id(self):
-        return self.__id
+    def do_fetch_info(self):
+        return info(self.id())
 
     def is_member(self):
         return self.__member
@@ -30,11 +22,6 @@ class Channel(threads.Thread):
     def post(self, text):
         chat.postMessage(self.__id, text)
 
-    def unread_count(self):
-        if self.__unread == None:
-            self.fetch_info()
-        return self.__unread
-
     def read(self):
         if self.__last_ts == None:
             self.fetch_info()
diff --git a/slack/groups.py b/slack/groups.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8de0ae5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/slack/groups.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#
+# Copyright 2015 (c) Anna Schumaker.
+#
+from . import api
+from . import auth
+from . import threads
+
+
+class Group(threads.Thread):
+    def __init__(self, json):
+        threads.Thread.__init__(self, json)
+
+    def do_fetch_info(self):
+        return info(self.id())
+
+
+
+def info(group):
+    ret = api.call("groups.info", token = auth.token(), channel = group)
+    if ret["ok"] == False:
+        return None
+    return ret["group"]
+
+def list():
+    ret = api.call("groups.list", token = auth.token())
+    if ret["ok"] == False:
+        return None
+
+    gr_list = []
+    for group in ret["groups"]:
+        gr_list += [ Group(group) ]
+    return gr_list
diff --git a/slack/threads.py b/slack/threads.py
index 9a10fd4..271d3d2 100644
--- a/slack/threads.py
+++ b/slack/threads.py
@@ -3,12 +3,20 @@
 #
 
 
+#
+# This class represents a slack "thread", which could be a channel, group,
+# or chat.  Note that child classes need to implement the following methods:
+#
+# - do_fetch_info():  Call <whatever>.info to find unread count and timestamp.
+#
 class Thread:
     def __init__(self, json):
         self.__id      = json.get("id", 0)
         self.__name    = json.get("name", "").title()
         self.__topic   = json["topic"].get("value", "").encode("utf-8").decode("latin-1")
         self.__purpose = json["purpose"].get("value", "").encode("utf-8").decode("latin-1")
+        self.__unread  = json.get("unread_count", None)
+        self.__last_ts = json.get("last_read", None)
 
     def __str__(self):
         topic=""
@@ -16,5 +24,22 @@ class Thread:
             topic = "\nTopic: %s" % self.__topic
         return "%s: %s%s" % (self.__name, self.__purpose, topic)
 
+    def fetch_info(self):
+        json = self.do_fetch_info()
+        if json != None:
+            self.__unread  = json.get("unread_count", None)
+            self.__last_ts = json.get("last_read", None)
+
+    def id(self):
+        return self.__id
+
+    def is_member(self):
+        return True
+
     def name(self):
         return self.__name
+
+    def unread_count(self):
+        if self.__unread == None:
+            self.fetch_info()
+        return self.__unread