The collection contains information about the events surrounding the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, in the fall of 1998. The material came from different sources, such as the news media, University Presidents Office, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Association, now Spectrum, and includes correspondence from people in many parts of the country, news articles, fliers and posters, editorials, bulletins, and speeches. Also within the collection is information on demonstrations that took place, the debate about bias and hate crime laws in Wyoming, and memorials to Matthew Shepard. There are also lesbian and gay newspapers, posters for a drag party, and banners created by and sent to the LGBTA . The Presidents Office files include hate mail, lesbian and gay literature, memorial web sites, and hate crime legislation petitions.
