On the third floor of the east Library, resides the Special Collections Reading Room, as well as several TCU historic exhibits. Next to the elevators are three cases containing items from TCU’s history; unique University collections; and TCU’s collection of rare books. On display in these cases are items such as early copies of the University’s student newspaper The Skiff; a letter sweater from the 1920s; and photos from the early 1900s. Statues, letters, first edition books, and other University historic items are also on display.

Across the hall from these exhibits is the entrance to the Special Collections Reading Room. The room is open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. It houses some of TCU’s art collection, including works by Chagall, Dali, Warhol, and Rembrandt. The room also displays rotating exhibits of topics such as the integration of TCU; the life and legacy of historic figures; and images and photos from TCU’s past.

Just past the entrance to Special Collections is the Speaker Wright Exhibit. These three display cases detail the life of former United States Speaker of the House Jim Wright. Born in Fort Worth in 1922, Speaker Wright first won election to the Texas House of Representatives after serving in the US Army Air Forces during World War II. He won election to Congress in 1954, representing Texas’ 12th congressional district as a democrat. In 1976, Wright narrowly won election to the position of House Majority Leader. And in 1987, he became Speaker of the House following the retirement of Tip O’Neill.

After leaving Congress in 1989, Speaker Wright became a professor at TCU. He passed away in his hometown of Fort Worth in 2015. In addition to this display, the Mary Couts Burnett Library also houses The Speaker Jim Wright Collection, consisting of Speaker Wright’s papers, photographs, audiovisual materials, books, and memorabilia from throughout his political career. The Jim Wright Papers, which span from 1911 to 2004, highlight the Collection. The papers provide insight into Wright’s relationship with his home district, as well as that with his colleagues in the House. In addition, the papers are an excellent representation of the social and political issues in the United States during the second half of the twentieth century.