Page 7 - 2019 Spring Newsletter

Mary Couts Burnett, circa 1876 Mary Couts Burnett Library, 1925

One story has it that Burk Burnett swore none of his money There was one stipulation of the bequest, that $150,000 be
would ever go to a religious concern nor to an institution of immediately allocated to the university for construction of a
higher learning. The story continues that it was knowledge new building. Then-President, E. M. Waits, proposed a new
of this that led Mary Couts Burnett, left without heirs, to library building to be named the Mary Couts Burnett Library.
make this bequest. The choice of TCU as the recipient of her
estate was purportedly guided by her physician, Dr. Harris Scholarship Provided
(who later founded Harris Hospital and whose Harris College Mrs. Burnett specified in declaration that all money derived
of Nursing joined TCU in 1942), and perhaps could be a
recollection of her father’s support of AddRan College. by the university under her gift shall be used for the support
of professorships at the school during her lifetime. After her
According to the December 12, 1923 issue of the Fort Worth death, when the full income will go to the school, the money
Star-Telegram, Mrs. Burnett’s gift was prompted by her desire is to be used for paying salaries and for scholarships to
to help the boys and girls of the land and her belief that the worthy students. This clause, however, didn’t conflict with the
best way to help people is to educate them. $150,000 cash gift for the library building.

Mrs. C.R. Bardin, secretary to Mrs. Burnett, said Mrs. Burnett Mrs. Burnett made a wise and sound distribution of her
had been contemplating the gift she made to Texas Christian fortune. She realized marble and granite will crumble, but
University since the death of her son in 1916. It had been her a college, properly endowed will live in the undying youth
purpose to help build a great educational institution so the of Texas and preserve the work of its benefactor. She has
youth of Texas would have the best advantage to be found excelled in that her ambition was to serve all the youths of
anywhere and where the youth of other states, especially Fort Worth and Texas – rich and poor and of whatever creed.
from the far sections of the Nation, could come to find a real Mary Couts Burnett died in December 1924, shortly before
center of culture and become acquainted with the ideals and
purposes of the people of the South. the opening of the new library, but did see her nearly
completed namesake before her death.
$150,000 Cash For Library
Dr. Waits Expresses TCU’s Gratitude
Under the terms of the gift, one-fourth of the net income “As the president of Texas Christian University, I desire to
from the estate would go to TCU each year during the life of state through the Star-Telegram a public acknowledgment
Mary Couts Burnett, the remaining three-fourths going to the of the thanks and deep gratitude to Mrs. Mary C. Burnett,
donor. Upon the death of Mrs. Burnett, the entire income will and extend to the City of Fort Worth and to all of Texas
go to the university and 20 years after the death of the last congratulations that Mrs. Burnett saw fit in her wisdom to
surviving trustee, the university will receive the corpus of the
estate. make this investment.”
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