Archives On The Air 232: University Of Wyoming In Afghanistan — Miscellaneous AHC Collections

By Wyoming Public Media

Published December 9, 2020 at 6:52 PM MST

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University of Wyoming President George "Duke" Humphrey presents Afghanistan's Queen Homaira with a bouquet of roses as she and the King prepare to leave Cheyenne aboard U.S. Air Force jet transport. Afghanistan Photo File, American Heritage Center.

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Afghanistan's King Zahir Shah is greeted by Afghan students at the University of Wyoming during a royal visit, 1963. Afghanistan Photo File, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Afghanistan's King Zahir Shah is greeted by Afghan students at the University of Wyoming during a royal visit, 1963. Afghanistan Photo File, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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A University of Wyoming instructor participates in training students in Afghanistan, 1962. Box 2, F. Paul Baxter papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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A University of Wyoming instructor participates in training students in Afghanistan, 1962. Box 2, F. Paul Baxter papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

The government of Afghanistan signed an agreement with the University of Wyoming in 1952 to train Afghans in engineering and agriculture.

The courses were hugely popular with Afghan students and formed the basis for future educational initiatives between the U.S. and Afghanistan.

Wyoming was selected in part because of its similarity to Afghanistan's geographical features and climate.

Afghan royalty visited UW in 1963 where they were warmly welcomed and received honorary degrees.

The program ended in 1973, but it opened the door for other international student and faculty exchanges at UW.

Learn more at UW's American Heritage Center.