Bequest to the Penn Libraries Names Humanities Librarian, Supports Public School Library Initiatives and History Acquisitions

The late Steven A. Lipman, C'71, paid tribute to history when he planned his $3 million gift to the Penn Libraries — both the study of history at Penn and his own history as a student. Upon his death on March 17 of this year, in which he peacefully passed in hospice care, Lipman bequeathed funds to endow multiple facets of the Penn Libraries: a staff position, the Steven A. Lipman Librarian and Coordinating Bibliographer for the Humanities; the Steven A. Lipman Fund for Truth and Democracy, to purchase library resources supporting the Department of History; and the Steven A. Lipman Fund for Community Engagement, supporting the Penn Libraries’ work in Philadelphia public schools. In addition to this bequest, Lipman contributed more than $500,000 to the Libraries during his lifetime.

"Steve's generous support of the Penn Libraries ensures we can equip students with the resources and tools they need to thrive," says Brigitte Weinsteiger, H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of the Penn Libraries. "His legacy of giving underscores the crucial role our libraries play as centers of academic life on campus and the importance of cultivating lifelong learners, ready for the complexities of a rapidly evolving world."

Lipman wanted to honor his transformative undergraduate experience at Penn, particularly his experience as a history major, by offering support and resources to the next generation of history students.

"I don't know anyone who had a stronger commitment to the Penn Libraries and to the history department than Steve,” says Eddie Chez, W'71, Lipman’s friend, Tau Delta Phi fraternity brother, and executor of his will. In recent years, Chez visited the Penn Libraries and reported back to Lipman, who was too ill to travel, as they made plans for his estate. “Steve was always so appreciative that giving to the Libraries was a way to fulfill his dreams about this money," Chez continues. "The overall sense of purpose that it gave him in his last years was inspiring.”

The first Steven A. Lipman Librarian and Coordinating Bibliographer for the Humanities is Nick Okrent. Okrent joined the Libraries in 2001 as Information Literacy Librarian, and over the years has worked with many departments and disciplines, mainly focused on the humanities but also including the social sciences.

Okrent noted that some of the faculty Lipman identified as key figures in his education and life, such as Michael Zuckerman, Lee Cassanelli, the late Robert (Bob) Engs, and the late Richard (Rick) Beeman, were still making an impact at Penn decades later. “Having been able to work with each of them, I can understand how the experience was so powerful for Steve,” he says. As Lipman described his time at Penn, “the story was the archetype of what we imagine a young man who's exploring the world through getting a liberal arts education ought to be."  

Okrent will oversee the purchase of resources via the Steven A. Lipman Fund for Truth and Democracy, which Lipman created to provide databases, news subscriptions, and collections that enhance research and education in the Department of History. The fund aligns with the Libraries' commitment to develop global citizens and foster critical thinking skills students need to navigate and shape the future. It also echoes Penn's dedication to driving conversations about democracy, trust, and truth on campus and in the wider world.    

The final focus area for the gift is the Steven A. Lipman Fund for Community Engagement, which supports resource sharing, library collection development, and storytelling initiatives led by the Penn Libraries Community Engagement team in Philadelphia public elementary and high schools. When Chez visited the Penn Libraries on Lipman's behalf last year, he had the opportunity to visit a local high school whose library had just reopened thanks in part to a partnership with the Community Engagement team.

"It was nice to see some of the fruits of our support," Chez says of the visit, adding, "That sold us on that part of our commitment."

Throughout his life as a proud Penn alumnus and later as a donor to the Penn Libraries, Lipman eschewed publicity; but as a close friend, Chez is thrilled by the opportunity to share his legacy as a supporter of the Penn Libraries and the Department of History. He hopes Lipman's generosity will inspire fellow alumni as much as it has himself.

"We all felt so good that what he wanted to happen, happened," Chez says.  

Lipman's gifts also inspire Okrent's continued work with faculty and students. "I've been fortunate to work with large segments of the university, which is always extraordinarily rewarding," Okrent says. "I spend a lot of time working directly with individual patrons and  classes to help them make sense of the enormous number of resources that are available. The fact that Steve had this experience at Penn and that he felt like the best way to give back was by supporting the mission of the Penn Libraries is very moving.”