Official history is created by reshaping collective memory in order to represent a specific understanding of the past. This implies that by supplementing documented history with the memories of those directly affected by the September 11 attacks, the Smithsonian website is able to represent the emotional costs of this tragedy. Within Curator Stories, David Shayt shares that "What we are doing is building a collection for all time here". His use of inclusive language, such as "we", presents the idea that it is not the individual's effort, but rather the unity of people's shared memories that are important and will stand the test of time. Peter Liebhold, chair and curator, within his article in 'Collecting September 11' writes, "our conversations… often included a lot of crying - us included. It is difficult dealing with death." Here Liebhold reflects on his experience of hearing personal memories, his emotive language, "A lot of crying", conveying the empathy that individual testimonies can provide. Another way in which the emotional cost is represented is through the photographs depicting victims of the attacks within the "objects on view: World Trade Center" section. The juxtaposition of images, such as Jeffrey and Heidi Wiener standing atop their Manhattan apartment house less than a month before the attacks and the memorial poster of Goumatie Thackurdeen, reveals a startling reality of the loss that took place. The tones of the images are contrasting, as shown through facial expressions of the victims and the juxtaposing settings of picturesque Manhattan skyline with the industrial fence highlights the human experience. The Smithsonian website intentionally includes a unique combination of sources, with a focus on personal memories through photographs and testimonies, in order to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. The act of supplementing official history with individual memories creates a specific understanding of the emotional cost of the tragedy.