1996 internet chat rooms

Has anyone any knowledge of the internet chat rooms available in 1996? Weren't there rooms back then for specific cities? Can those chats be investigated for clues to see if suspects were connecting online? Years ago (2017) I came across a Boulder chat room or discussion forum and somehow drilled down to 12-26-96 and found peculiar chatting between two individuals (one screen name was "good doktor" don't remember other). But now I can't find those chats. Maybe there are somewhere?