In 1999, Bryan Weingarten, alongside Marjorie Wachs Weingarten, Elizabeth Wachs and Peter Sahlman, and Esther Wachs Book, helped establish the Ellis Wachs Endowed Lecture at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Parkway Central location. The endowed lecture was created to honor Ellis Wachs and to perpetuate a deep love of literature and lifelong learning within the Philadelphia community.
For Bryan, the lecture series represents something larger than a family tribute. It reflects a belief in the power of shared ideas.
“Literature connects people across generations and perspectives,” Bryan says. “When we create spaces where authors and readers can come together, we strengthen the intellectual foundation of our community.”
More than two decades later, that commitment continues to resonate.
The Free Library’s award winning Author Events Series has become a cornerstone program in Philadelphia, serving as a vibrant forum for discussion, discovery, and civic engagement. Through the Ellis Wachs Endowed Lecture, Bryan and his family helped ensure that distinguished writers and scholars would have a lasting platform to share their work with the public.
The impact continues to grow.
- 32,104 attendees across 134 lectures, reflecting a 13.6 percent increase in attendance.
- 700 livestream followers.
- Approximately 12,000 podcast downloads each month.
To Bryan, these numbers tell a hopeful story.
“They show that people are hungry for thoughtful conversation,” he says. “In a time when so much pulls us apart, gathering to listen and learn together brings us closer.”
The series has welcomed Pulitzer Prize winning biographer Scott Berg, historian Blanche Wiesen Cook, Distinguished Professor of History and Women’s Studies at John Jay College and the CUNY Graduate Center, and Candice Millard, former writer and editor for National Geographic whose work has appeared in Time magazine, The Washington Post Book World, and The New York Times Book Review.
By bringing nationally recognized authors to Philadelphia, the program reinforces the city’s role as a center of cultural and intellectual life.
“Every author who steps onto that stage contributes to the larger conversation about who we are and where we are going,” Bryan reflects. “Those conversations matter. They inspire curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking.”
The Free Library advances literacy, guides learning, and inspires curiosity throughout the greater Philadelphia region. It remains a cornerstone of democracy and a driver of educational, cultural, and economic advancement.
Bryan believes that supporting institutions like the Free Library is an investment in the city itself.
“A strong community depends on informed and engaged citizens,” he says. “If we can encourage even one person to read more deeply, think more broadly, or participate more actively in civic life, then the impact extends far beyond a single lecture.”
More than twenty five years after its founding, the Ellis Wachs Endowed Lecture continues to foster dialogue, reflection, and connection.
“My hope is that the community continues to show up,” Bryan says. “Attend a lecture. Listen to the podcast. Bring a friend. The more we participate, the stronger the city becomes.”
Through sustained support and a clear vision, Bryan Weingarten has helped create not just a lecture series, but a living platform for ideas, ensuring that literature and learning remain at the heart of Philadelphia’s civic life.
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