Research Collections
The collection serves the research needs of university students and faculty in addition to national and international scholars in the area of Afghanistan studies. About a quarter of the collection users are international scholars using the resources of Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection in completing their research projects.
The Constitutions of Afghanistan
In 2003, Shaista Wahab, librarian for the Arthur Paul Afghanistan Collection, served as the Archivist for the Constitutional Loya Jirga, Afghanistans General Assembly, as it worked to write a new constitution for Afghanistan. The constitutional history of Afghanistan thus became a logical focus for the initial stages of this project. Additional constitutions are at www.afghan-web.com/politics/.
Books of Historical and Cultural Significance
Historical texts provide researchers with primary source materials. Contained within this collection of books are first-hand accounts of the British military and their exploits in the country during the early- and mid-1800s. In addition, selected items provide early scholarly research on the tribes and peoples of Afghanistan. Complementing historical texts, cultural texts offer insight into societal developments in Afghanistan. Poetry, literature, and personal narratives often reflect the times in which they are written. Items included in this collection present alternative perspectives into the history of the country and its varied cultures.
Artifacts, Maps, Newspapers, Photographs
The Collection includes many materials that are not books. Photographs, maps, newspapers, and some artifacts are included in the holdings. A unique oral history collection on the impact of the Soviet invasion on Afghan refugees and others is also available.