History & Notes: These unique pince-nez spectacles belonged to Idaho Senator William E. Borah. An outspoken progressive Republican, William served in the United States' Senate from 1907 to 1940 but he began his career as a lawyer in his home state of Illinois. Seeking the opportunities offered by the new state, William moved to Idaho in 1890 where he began practicing law in Boise's still developing court system. Soon after he began to pursue a political career beginning with service in the Idaho State Governor's office. Here he met Mary McConnell, daughter of then Governor William J. McConnell. The two were married in 1895. While he lost his earliest bids for congressional office, William eventually succeeded and was elected to the senate in 1907. Aside from the national attention he garnered because of events occurring in Idaho, William was a notorious figure for his 10 gallon hat and insurgent progressive ideology. After his death, in 1940, Mary Borah gave this piece to Wayford Jones who had been William's friend. Wayford's wife then donated it to the Idaho State historical Society.
Description: Pince-nez spectacles (/1) with lapel button/pin winder chain (/2). Glasses are frameless with oval lenses. Metal gold-tone bridge and nose pads. Nose pieces have grooved lines on interior side. Lapel button/pin winder chain attaches to hole at outside edge of wearer's right lens. Pin/button is metal, silver-colored. Chain pulls out and will wind back into button with slight tug. Back of button has imprinted text and a pin with "C" clasp.
Object Number: 1993.101.0001
Object: pince-nez --chain, eyeglass
Category: Personal Gear
Circa: 1910
Materials: glass, metal