A Legacy That Built a Library: The Story of the Claire McGill Luce Fund

What began as one woman’s deep connection to Harney County has grown into a financial cornerstone securing the future of the Harney County Library. The Claire McGill Luce Fund, an endowment that has flourished over decades, stands as a testament to the power of foresight, philanthropy, and an enduring love for history and community.

A Pioneer Spirit Rooted in Harney County

Born in 1923 near Andrews, Oregon, Claire McGill Luce spent much of her childhood on her grandfather’s ranch near Harney City. There, she developed a profound admiration for the early pioneers who settled the valley. Though life took her beyond Oregon, she remained deeply connected to her roots, returning often and maintaining strong family ties in the county.
When plans emerged to replace the cramped Burns City Hall library with a new facility, Luce saw an opportunity to contribute. In a 1969 letter to Bob Salladay, she expressed her enthusiasm, writing, “The library is one of the most important things in Burns or Harney County in a very long time… Next week, Americans will land on the moon, and Burns finally will have an honest-to-goodness library. Let’s hope it is a fine one.”

A Vision for Preserving History

Luce’s commitment extended beyond a physical building—she envisioned a library rich in historical resources. In a 1970 letter to her friend George Hibbard, she lamented the loss of historical knowledge as early settlers passed away, writing, “It has long concerned me that the young people of Harney know so little about their natural heritage. As the ‘old-timers’ die, so die the memories of struggle and challenge unique to the prairie.” Her passion for history led her to establish an endowment of $30,000 for the library, to be distributed at $1,000 per year for 30 years.
Luce passed away from cancer in 1971, but her legacy lived on. Her estate placed the remaining $29,000 in Time Inc. stocks, which were later transferred to the Harney County Library. Over the years, this endowment grew significantly. By 1996, the fund’s market value had surpassed $537,000, supporting key initiatives such as the recorded oral history program that began collecting pioneer stories in 1972.

A Library’s Financial Transformation

By the early 2000s, the fund had grown substantially, but legal constraints limited its earning potential. Recognizing an opportunity for greater financial growth, county officials and library leaders took action. In 2005, Harney County Judge Steve Grasty and the newly formed Library Foundation Directors negotiated the transfer of $1.75 million—accumulated from the original stock endowment—into the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF), an organization specializing in nonprofit investment management. The results were remarkable: within a year, the fund earned $250,000 in interest.
Today, the endowment has surpassed $3 million, with OCF employing a diversified investment strategy to maintain stable annual contributions. The Harney County Library Foundation receives approximately 4% of the fund’s 13-quarter rolling average balance each year, ensuring consistent support for library operations. The total contribution paid out of the Luce Fund to the county for the library through the end of 2024 is $1,161,859.

Empowering the Future of the Harney County Library

The funds generated by the endowment are instrumental in supplementing county allocations for the library. They cover essential expenses such as purchasing new books and digital resources, expanding community outreach programs, upgrading technology, maintaining infrastructure, and supporting staff development. Additionally, as an independent nonprofit, the Harney County Library Foundation plays a crucial role in securing grants to further Luce’s vision.
One particularly impactful initiative, funded through grants in 2020, enabled the professional digitization of oral history recordings collected since 1972. These digitized archives, now available online, have provided hundreds of users with access to family histories, photographs, and invaluable anecdotes about Harney County’s pioneering past.

A Lasting Legacy

Thanks to Claire Isabel McGill Luce’s generosity and the stewardship of dedicated community leaders, the Harney County Library continues to thrive. What began as a heartfelt desire to preserve history has grown into a financial foundation ensuring that future generations will always have access to knowledge, heritage, and inspiration.

Luce once wrote, “I found faith and courage in a place of ghosts, Harney City… There I became an American.” Through the library she helped build, her faith and courage live on, lighting the way for all who seek knowledge in Harney County.