On the second floor near the Library Services Desk hangs a portrait of Mary Couts Burnett – namesake of the TCU Library. In 1923, Mary Couts Burnett gave more than three million dollars to Texas Christian University, one of the largest gifts to a Texas institution. A native of Weatherford, Mrs. Burnett married wealthy cattleman and oil baron Burk Burnett in 1892. After the death of their only child in 1917, Mary feared Burk was trying to kill her. In response, he had her declared insane and confined to a private house in her hometown.

On the day her husband died, Mrs. Burnett fled Weatherford and returned to Fort Worth. Her husband left his entire estate to his granddaughter from his first marriage, but Mrs. Burnett successfully sued for half of the funds. She then proceeded to will her portion of the estate to TCU, which came as a surprise to the University, since Mrs. Burnett was Episcopalian and had no formal ties to the campus. Mrs. Burnett never fully revealed her motives, but she was impressed with TCU’s religious inclusivity and wanted to help Fort Worth.  

At her request, a portion of the money was used to construct the library that still bears her name, which was dedicated a year after her death in 1925. The remainder was placed in a trust that ensured TCU’s survival during the Great Depression.