Long before livestreams, podcasts, and sold-out author events became hallmarks of public literary programming, Bryan Weingarten saw the value of creating spaces where people could gather around ideas.
In 1999, Bryan Weingarten and Marjorie Wachs Weingarten helped establish the Ellis Wachs Endowed Lecture at the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Parkway Central branch. Created in honor of Ellis Wachs, the lecture series was designed not only as a tribute, but as a lasting investment in public dialogue, intellectual curiosity, and community engagement.
More than twenty-five years later, that investment continues to pay dividends across Philadelphia’s cultural landscape.
For Bryan, the enduring success of the lecture series stems from a simple belief: literature has the power to bring people together in meaningful ways.
“Literature has a unique ability to connect people across generations and perspectives,” Bryan says. “When authors and readers come together, it creates a shared intellectual experience that strengthens the fabric of a community.”
What began as a single endowed lecture has become part of the Free Library’s highly regarded Author Events Series, one of the city’s most influential forums for cultural and intellectual exchange. The series has evolved beyond traditional lectures into a dynamic platform where audiences are encouraged to explore new ideas, engage with different viewpoints, and participate in conversations that extend far beyond the event itself.
Its growing reach reflects that mission. Tens of thousands attend events each year, while livestream audiences and podcast listeners continue to expand the series’ influence beyond the library’s walls.
Yet Bryan sees something deeper behind the numbers.
“They show that people are still seeking thoughtful conversation,” he explains. “At a time when so much can feel fragmented, choosing to come together to listen and learn is incredibly powerful.”
Over the years, the series has welcomed an impressive roster of authors and historians, including Scott Berg, Blanche Wiesen Cook, and Candice Millard. Their appearances have helped reinforce Philadelphia’s longstanding reputation as a center for learning, culture, and civic engagement.
For Bryan, each event contributes to a larger ongoing dialogue.
“Every conversation adds to a larger understanding of who we are and where we are going,” he notes. “Those moments inspire curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking.”
That tradition continued on April 20 with an appearance by acclaimed Irish novelist Colm Tóibín, widely regarded as one of the most important literary voices of his generation. Celebrated for his nuanced explorations of love, loss, family, and identity, Tóibín has built an international reputation through works such as Brooklyn and Long Island.
His latest work, The News from Dublin, further demonstrates his ability to illuminate the quiet, defining moments of everyday life. Now a professor at Columbia University, Tóibín’s participation in the series underscores the caliber of voices the Free Library continues to attract and the relevance of the platform Bryan helped establish.
Beyond the literary world, Bryan views support for institutions like the Free Library as an investment in the future health of a city. Access to ideas, information, and lifelong learning, he believes, plays a critical role in fostering informed and engaged communities.
“A strong community depends on engaged citizens,” he says. “If even one person walks away thinking more deeply, reading more broadly, or participating more actively, the impact extends far beyond a single event.”
Today, the Ellis Wachs Endowed Lecture stands as more than a successful program. It represents a sustained commitment to dialogue, reflection, and civic connection—values that remain just as important as they were when the lecture was first established.
Bryan’s advice for those considering attending an event is straightforward.
“Attend a lecture. Listen with an open mind. Bring someone with you,” he says. “The value of these experiences builds over time, not just for individuals, but for the community as a whole.”
Through decades of support and a clear vision for the role of literature in public life, Bryan Weingarten has helped cultivate something lasting: a place where ideas continue to spark conversation, deepen understanding, and strengthen the bonds that connect a community.
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