War in Afghanistan Exhibit Opens

1st Floor – War in Afghanistan offers visitors a high-level view of the twenty-year conflict from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and subsequent start of the war through the devastating re-takeover of the Taliban and U.S./coalition military pullout in 2021. In addition, the exhibit begins with a look at major points in Afghanistan's history going back to 1919 when they achieved independence from Britain.

This exhibit was created using documents from the U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel Archives and books from the Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection. Chuck Hagel served as U.S. Senator from 1997 to 2009 and as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2013 to 2015. As Senator, Hagel served on the Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees. The documents in this exhibit stem from this service.

The selected books help illustrate the period of 1919-2001 and major topics during the war itself. Visitors interested in any of the books in the exhibit cases may ask for them inside Archives and Special Collections. The 20,000+ titles (across more than twenty languages) in the Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection may be found by searching the library catalog. Find digital titles here.

Given the complexity of the War in Afghanistan and the space available for the exhibit, there are significant topics not included in as much detail as the exhibit curator would have preferred. Among these are: reconstruction efforts, details of military operations, involvement of coalition and ISAF/NATO forces, civilian costs and the refugee crisis, the Taliban resurgence and 2021 takeover, and full histories of al-Qaeda, the Taliban; Islamic State/ISIS, and other groups.

This exhibit follows on the War in Iraq, 2003-2011 exhibit in spring 2023. If visitors missed that exhibit and have an interest in this topic, they are encouraged to examine the extensive documentation of the Iraq War available within the Hagel Archives in Archives and Special Collections.

This exhibit was curated by Lori Schwartz, Hagel and Technical Services Archivist / Assistant Professor.

Available for Research  

Visitors may use the Hagel Archives in Archives and Special Collections, Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm, and view selected material online. We recommend researchers contact archivists in advance for help in selecting material. Information is available at U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel Archives. 

Hagel’s records are used for research, instruction, and exhibits. They cover legislative issues and topics of national and international prominence that arose from 1997 to 2009, including the Bill Clinton impeachment in 1998-1999, a contested presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore in 2000, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic downtown of 2007-2009, and disaster and drought assistance for rural areas.