Legacy: Preserving History, Telling Weidner’s Story

Much of our work has centered on preserving the history and memory of John Weidner and the Dutch-Paris Line.  When the Foundation was formed in 1996, we became the official archive of a large trove of invaluable primary documents and artifacts related to the Line, most collected by Weidner himself after World War II.  In 2006, we transferred these vital historical materials from our original home at Atlantic Union College in Massachusetts to the Hoover Institution at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.  Our work today includes continuing to expand the Weidner Collection by adding new documents, interviews, and other materials to the archive on an ongoing basis.  In addition, we are working to preserve history and tell Weidner’s story through a variety of mediums, including books, articles, and films.

Education: Supporting Students and Scholars

The Weidner Foundation is not attached to any educational institution but has education as a primary objective. We offer research grants to undergraduate and graduate students conducting original research for publication using the documents in the Weidner Collection housed in the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.  We also support scholars doing original research on John Weidner and the Dutch-Paris Line.  Historian Megan Koreman’s book, The Escape Line, commissioned and funded by the Foundation, is a reflection of our commitment to supporting rigorous, original research on the Line.  In addition, we are committed to helping support students who are engaged in various forms of selfless action to improve the lives of others.  There is currently a Weidner Chapter at Butler University in Indiana that provides an annual scholarship award to two deserving Butler students.

Action: Making a Difference Today

The Foundation seeks not only to preserve the memory of John Weidner and the other Line members for their remarkable actions in the past but also to keep alive their spirit of humanity and to fan the flame of altruism in the present.  We will do this in two ways: 1) through an annual John Henry Weidner Award (more information coming soon), and 2) through an annual event, in partnership with another organization, to benefit refugees fleeing humanitarian crises today (more information coming soon).