The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will receive a donation of papers and personal objects from Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, representing the life of their son. Shepard died due to severe injuries he sustained during a vicious attack in October 1998 in Laramie, Wyoming.
There will be a public event Thursday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.
Participating will be Judy Shepard, president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation; Dennis Shepard, board member emeritus of the Matthew Shepard Foundation; Katherine Ott, curator, National Museum of American History; Heather Hicks; Jared Pugh, Maderi, School of Theater, George Mason University and Harry Lewis, student.
The personal papers highlight Matthew's school life from elementary through college, theater scripts, photographs, correspondence and notebooks, as well as a number of objects, including a child-sized Superman cape, sandals, a wedding ring and purple ribbon award.
Students from George Mason University's School of Theater will perform excerpts from The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project. A brief panel discussion will follow.