Descriptive Summary
Borish, Irvin
M.
Dr. Irvin M. Borish Papers
1939-1996
In 1982 Dr. Irvin Borish assumed the
Benedict Professorship of Optometric Practice at the University of Houston. The
University of Houston College of Optometry established the Irvin M. Borish
Chair in Optometric Practice in 1987. This endowed chair carries more than one
million dollars of support. The papers of Dr. Irvin Borish contain manuscripts,
patents, awards and notices, conference proceedings, print items,
correspondence, photographs, as well as audio and video recordings.
1997-001
9 Boxes; 5 Linear
Feet
Special Collections, University of
Houston Libraries
Biographical Note
Irvin M. Borish was born on January 21, 1913 in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, the son a Lithuanian Jewish immigrants. His father later
contracted tuberculosis, forcing the family to move to Liberty, New York, where
Borish graduated from Liberty High School. He returned to Philadelphia in 1930
to pursue studies in English literature at Temple University. In 1932 he
enrolled in the Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago.
Dr. Borish graduated from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in
1935 and achieved the best academic record in the institution's history. During
the same year, the Northern Illinois College of Optometry also appointed him to
the position of Instructor on the school's faculty as well as Chief of Staff
for the college's Eye Clinic. By 1942, Dr. Borish held the position of
Assistant Dean.
In 1944 Borish moved to Kokomo, Indiana where he started a successful
private optometric practice. A heart attack in 1973 forced him to retire from
private practice. After recovering, he assumed a full-time faculty position at
Indiana University's Optometry School. Between the 1944 and 1973 he actively
pursued many endeavors. In 1948 the first of numerous editions of
Clinical Refraction, still a
standard for optometry students, was published. While in private practice,
Borish lobbied for the establishment of an optometry school in Bloomington,
Indiana, wrote nearly one hundred articles, delivered numerous lectures, served
as a visiting professor to at least nine optometry schools, and patented hard
toric and bifocal contact lenses. He also contributed to the by-laws
establishing the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry, coauthored
the original manual of Accreditation used by the Council on Education and
Accreditation in Optometry, as well as working on the by-laws of the Contact
Lens Manufacturers Association which sets standards for the safe manufacture of
contact lenses.
Dr. Borish retired from Indiana University in 1982, at which time he
assumed the Benedict Professorship of Optometric Practice at the University of
Houston. Since his arrival at the University of Houston, the University of
Houston College of Optometry has established the Irvin M. Borish Chair in
Optometric Practice (1987), an endowed chair with more than one million dollars
of support. In 1995, Indiana University honored him by establishing the Borish
Center for Ophthalmic Research.
Scope and Contents
The papers of Dr. Irvin Borish contain manuscripts, patents, awards
and notices, conference proceedings, print items, correspondence, photographs,
as well as audio and video recordings. Items in the collection date from 1937
to 1996 with most of the material dating from the late 1970s and 1980s. The
majority of the material in the collection contains articles and other
manuscript items written by Borish. However, the collection also contains
numerous photographs, most of which are not labeled. Patent information and
letters from prominent optometrists and ophthalmologists regarding
Clinical Refraction might
also be of interest to the researcher.
The University of Houston College of Optometry displays several of Dr.
Borish's awards, honorary degrees, certificates, and other memorabilia
(including a painting by him) in the Irvin M. Borish Reading Room located in
the Optometry Library.
Dr. Borish's papers are arranged into twelve series:
Résumé, Manuscripts, Patents, Awards and Notices, Conferences,
Optometric Delegations, Print Items, Correspondence, Scrapbooks, Photographs,
Audio Recordings, Video Recordings, and Miscellaneous. Original arrangement has
been adhered to where possible. Subject file titles within the various series
reflect titles created by Dr. Borish. Material arrangement, other than series
arrangement, follows a chronological scheme whenever possible with the
exception of the Manuscripts series. Subject files within the Manuscripts
series are arranged alphabetically, with items in each subject file
chronologically ordered.
Acquisition
Donation from Dr. Borish, 1997
Processed by
Tyler Selle, February 1997
Preferred Citation
Dr. Irvin M. Borish Papers, Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries.
Index Terms
Terms are either Library of Congress Subject Headings or taken from local sources.
Subjects (Persons)
Borish, Irvin M.
Subjects (Organizations)
University of Houston. College of Optometry.
University of Houston
Subjects
University of Houston History
Optometry schools United States
Optometry Study and teaching.
Access Restrictions
Open for research.
Use Restrictions
Special Collections owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, locating copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies of Special Collections material in print or electronic form. For more information, consult the appropriate librarian.
Detailed Description
Résumé
There is one folder in this series, which contains Dr. Borish's
1996 résumé along with a letter to Suzanne Ferimer, Optometry
Librarian at the University of Houston College of Optometry's Library.
1
1
Résumé and Material Accompanying
Collection,
April 1996
Manuscripts
This series is the largest in the collection with eighty-seven
folders. The materials date from 1939 to 1995. Items within this series vary
considerably in content, however, most are articles, chapters, lectures, or
notes. Subject files are arranged alphabetically and retain titles used by Dr.
Borish.
1
2
Academy Editorial,
March 1992
1
3
Academy and Professionalism,
undated
1
4
Accommodation and Refractive Error,
undated
1
5
Accreditation and Residents,
undated
1
6
Amos Book Introduction,
1985, undated
1
7
AOA Long Range Planning Committee,
September 1984-January 1985
1
8
Aphakia Interview Contact World,
undated
1
9
Aphakic Vision,
undated
1
10
ASCO RE Title VII of PHS Act,
May 1991
1
11
Bichrome Tests,
1973-1974, undated
1
12
Bifocal Contacts, Bennett Book,
February 1984-September 1984
1
13
Bifocal Contacts, Bennett Book,
undated
1
14
Bifocal Contact Lenses AOA Journal,
March 1982
1
15
Blueprint for Success - Opt Management,
April 1988
1
16
The Borish Nearpoint Chart,
undated
1
17
By-Laws and Constitution Association of Schools and
Colleges of Optometry,
1939-1955, undated
1
18
Commencement Address Pennsylvania,
undated
1
19
Commencement Address Southern California,
undated
1
20
Commencement Address SUNY,
undated
1
21
Comparison Acceptance PAL vs. Bifocal - Hitzeman,
May 1983, undated
1
22
Comparison Fitting 2 Types Gel Lenses,
undated
1
23
Comparison Fitting 2 Types Gel Lenses,
undated
1
24
Corneal Thickness Changes with Toric Soft Lenses with
Soni,
May 1979, undated
1
25
Corneal Thickness Changes with Toric Soft Lenses with
Soni,
undated
1
26
Don't Leave a
Vacuum,
1991, undated
1
27
Double Masked Study - Hitzeman/Brookman,
October 1980
1
28
Editorial in
Eye on
Education,
March 1992
2
1
Effect of Plus Lenses on Childrens Reading Ability -
with Jim Koetting,
May 1988
2
2
Effect of Plus Lenses on Childrens Reading Ability -
with Jim Koetting,
July-September 1988
2
3
External Clinics Adjunct Assignment,
undated
2
4
Fitting Contact Lens Bifocals,
undated
2
5
Fitting Contact Lens Bifocals,
undated
2
6
Fitting Contact Lens Bifocals,
undated
2
7
I.B.B. Speech,
1941
2
8
Icling Lens,
October 1962
2
9
Icling Lens,
1966-1968
2
10
Icling Lens,
undated
2
11
Icling Lens,
undated
2
12
Keratoconus (Contact Lens Forum),
undated
2
13
Keynote Speech IOOL,
1990
2
14
Learning from the
Past,
1990
2
15
Liposition Finished Manuscript,
March 1987, undated
2
16
Manual of Accreditation,
1941
2
17
Max Schapero Lecture,
December 1987
2
18
Max Schapero Lecture,
December 1987-March 1988
2
19
Milestones in Optics,
March 1991
2
20
Monocular Case Differential Analysis,
undated
2
21
Morgan Memorial Lecture,
April 1988-1990
2
22
Notes on Refraction Management,
undated
2
23
Observations of Bifocal Contact Lenses - Perrigin,
undated
3
1
Observation Operation Contact Lens Bifocals,
August 1985, undated
3
2
Old Case Analysis Paper,
March-September 1945
3
3
Ophthalmology and Optometry,
undated
3
4
Optometry in Foreign Countries,
undated
3
5
Optometry's Premise Legal Panel in New Orleans,
December 1971-February 1972
3
6
Pennsylvania Externship,
undated
3
7
Perspective on Worldwide Optometry,
undated
3
8
Perceptual Problems in Aphakia,
1981-1983
3
9
Perceptual Problems in Aphakia - Diagrams,
undated
3
10
Physiology of Ageing and Its Influence Contact Lens
Prescription with Benjamin,
November 1990-October 1991
3
11
Policoff Tribute,
December 1976, undated
3
12
Position of Contact Lenses in the Eye,
undated
3
13
Positioning of Contact Lenses in the Eye,
undated
3
14
Presbyopia and Contact Lenses,
undated
3
15
Problems in Progressive Lens Placement (Brooks),
undated
3
16
Progressive Lenses vs. Other Forms Bifocals,
December 1984-November 1989
3
17
Pupil Dependency - Bifocal Contact Lenses,
undated
3
18
Referral Relationships Article,
undated
3
19
Reflections on Practice Today Optometry Management,
April-November 1987
3
20
Reflections on Practice Today Optometry Management,
1988, undated
3
21
Refraction Lecture for Japan,
undated
3
22
Relation of Visual Science to Refractive Procedures,
undated
3
23
Relative Movement of Lower Lid with Dr. Perrigin,
undated
3
24
Report on Central and Peripheral Corneal Thickness with
Soni,
May 1979
3
25
Review of Ball's Article,
September 1992
3
26
Review of NIH Allen Grant,
1982-1988, undated
3
27
Rigid Bifocal C.L. with Leach,
1986
3
28
Satire on OEP,
March 1950
3
29
Spectacles as a part of Optometry Forum at Academy 1995,
May 1995
3
30
St. Louis Talk on Contact Lenses,
undated
4
1
Student Procurement,
1954
4
2
Subjective Chapter - Miller,
1990-1991, undated
4
3
Summary Speech Tucson Planning Conference,
January 1975, undated
4
4
Summary Speech Tucson Planning Conference,
undated
4
5
Survey of Well-Known Systems of Fitting Small Lenses,
undated
4
6
Survey on C.L. Presbyopia with W.B. Baldwin,
undated
4
7
Talk to Corning on Contacts,
undated
4
8
Textbook Contact Lens Practice with Benjamin,
December 1988-September 1990
Patents
There are five folders in this series which contain material from
1960 to 1989. Items in this series include copies of original patent
registration forms (both illustrations and written descriptions). A series of
black and white photographs located in the Photographs series (Box 9, Folders
14-21), although unidentified, likely relate to the items patented.
4
9
Stock Agreements,
December 1960
4
10
Number 3,238,676 - Method for Altering the Power of a
Corneal Contact Lens,
March 1966
4
11
Number 3,360,889 - Method for Altering the Power of a
Corneal Contact Lens,
January 1968
4
12
Number 3,430,391 - Apparatus for Altering the Power of a
Corneal Contact Lens,
March 1969
4
13
Indiana Contact Lens Balance Sheets,
August 1988-March 1989
Awards and Notices
There are twenty-one folders in this series with items dating from
1944 to 1996. Subject files include assorted Awards and Notices, Certificates,
Educational and Licence Certificates, and Honorary Degrees. The Irvin M. Borish
Reading Room in the University of Houston's Optometry Library also displays
several of Dr. Borish's awards and achievements.
4
14
Awards and Notices,
1966-1967
4
15
Awards and Notices,
1968
4
16
Awards and Notices,
1973-1977
4
17
Awards and Notices,
1982-1983
4
18
Awards and Notices,
1985-1987
4
19
Awards and Notices,
1988-1989
4
20
Awards and Notices,
1991-1996
4
21
Awards and Notices,
undated
5
1
Photos,
1968-1990, undated
5
2
Certificates,
1963-1979
5
3
Certificates,
1980-1988, undated
10
1
Certificates (Oversize),
1944-1987
5
4
Certificates and Letters - Indiana, Houston, Other,
1970-1987, undated
5
5
Membership Certificates,
1979-1985, undated
5
6
Educational and Licence Certificates,
1956-1995
5
7
Honorary Degrees,
1968
5
8
Honorary Degrees,
1975
5
9
Honorary Degrees,
1983
5
10
Honorary Degrees,
1984
5
11
Honorary Degrees,
undated
5
12
Awards and Notices,
April 1990
5
13
Awards and Notices,
May 1990
Conferences
The five folders in this series contain items dating from 1966 to
1992. Programs from various conferences are included in this series.
6
1
Programs,
1966-1968
6
2
Programs,
1972-1978
6
3
Programs,
1980-1985
6
4
Programs,
1986-1988
6
5
Programs,
1990-1992, undated
Optometric Delegations
The nine folders in this series hold material from two
international optometric delegations headed by Dr. Borish. The two subject
files, India and China, represent items associated from these delegations from
1985 through 1988.
6
6
India - Journal,
March-April 1987
6
7
India (India Elite School - Dr. Badranath),
1987
6
8
India (India Elite School - Dr. Badranath),
March-September 1987
6
9
India - List,
October 1987
6
10
India - Correspondence,
Jun. 1987-May 1988
6
11
China - Ophthalmologist List,
October 1985-January 1988
6
12
China - Project History,
undated
6
13
China - Material Included with Project History,
January 1986-October 1988
6
14
China - Material Included with Project History,
1986
Print Items
There are twelve folders in this series with material dating from
1937 to 1996. Items in this series contain various print items, newspaper
clippings, and different optometric journals. The majority of articles were
either authored by Dr. Borish or written about him.
7
1
Print Items,
1937
7
2
Print Items,
1955-1978
7
3
Print Items,
1980-1985
7
4
Print Items,
1986-1989
7
5
Print Items,
1990-1996
7
6
Print Items,
undated
7
7
Newspaper Clippings,
1963-1978
7
8
Newspaper Clippings,
1980-1987, undated
7
9
Journals,
1982-1983
7
10
Journals,
1987-1989
7
11
Journals,
1991-1996
7
12
Journals,
undated
Correspondence
The thirty-three folders in this series contain correspondence
dating from 1946 to 1994. Subject files include letters received concerning
Clinical Refraction, general correspondence, as well as more personal
correspondence (retirement and sympathy cards regarding Dr. Borish's heart
attack). The Letters of Recommendation subject file comprises of the largest
subject file in the series.
7
13
Clinical Refraction,
1946-1949
7
14
Clinical Refraction,
1954-1955
7
15
Clinical Refraction,
1962-1980
7
16
General
1973-1980
7
17
General
1981-1984
7
18
General,
1986-1989
7
19
General,
1990-1996
7
20
General,
undated
7
21
Retirement,
1983, undated
Letters of Recommendation
7
22
Dr. William Baldwin,
August 1984
7
23
Dr. Richard Ball,
March 1993
7
24
Dr. Caroline Begley,
September 1991
7
25
Dr. Al Bucar,
January 1994
7
26
Dr. Lena Chu,
September 1986
7
27
Dr. Glenn Fry,
July 1987
8
1
Dr. Henry Hofstetter,
January 1991
8
2
Dr. Richard Hopping,
April 1988
8
3
Dr. Patricia Keach,
August 1985
8
4
Dr. David Loshin,
October 1991
8
5
Dr. Gerald Lowther,
February 1988
8
6
Dr. Morris C. McKee,
January 1985
8
7
Dr. Raymond I. Myers,
March 1987
8
8
Dr. Donald Pitts,
May 1986
8
9
Dr. Kenneth Poise,
December 1991
8
10
Dr. Maurice Poster,
July 1985
8
11
Dr. Lewis Scott,
December 1981
8
12
Dr. P. Sarita Soni,
Aug. 1991
8
13
Dr. B. Leonard Werner,
July 1988
8
14
Dr. Melvin Wolfberg,
May 1989
8
15
Dr. Dennis Yamamoto,
July 1988
8
16
Cards Regarding Heart Attack,
1971-1985
8
17
Cards Regarding Heart Attack,
undated
8
18
Cards Regarding Heart Attack,
undated
Scrapbooks
There are five folders in this series. Materials, dating from 1954
to 1989, focus on three areas: Presentation for Distinguished Professorship at
Indiana University, the University of Houston's Borish Chair in Optometry, and
a photo album containing pictures from an optometric conference in Japan. The
scrapbooks remain intact to preserve their original organization while items
placed in them loosely have been removed and labeled accordingly.
8
19
Presentation for Distinguished Professorship at Indiana
University,
1980
8
20
Material Contained in Presentation for Distinguished
Professorship at Indiana University,
1954-1980, undated
8
21
UH Borish Chair in Optometry,
1987
8
22
Material Contained in UH Borish Chair in Optometry,
1987-1989, undated
10
2
Japan - Conference (Oversize),
undated
Photographs
There are fifty-three photographs in this series, with items
dating from 1951 to 1996. The majority of the photos are neither identified nor
dated.
9
1-53
Photos,
1951-1996, undated
Audio Recordings
This series contains four cassette tapes made between 1974 and
1993.
11
1
COIT 2nd Session NOCW,
January 1974
11
2
COIT 2nd Session NOCW,
January 1974
11
3
Evolution of Progressive Addition Lens Design,
October 1993
11
4
NCAA Title - Irv Borish - Hall of Fame Tapes,
undated
Video Recordings
This series contains eight VHS tapes recorded between August 1984
and January 1990. Three of the tapes contain interview footage of noted
optometrists, including Dr. Borish, produced by the American Optometric
Association (AOA).
11
5
Bayshore
Lens,
August 1984
11
6
Two Hour Tour of China -
People to People,
October 1985
11
7
AOA Interviews: Koetting, Stewart, Goodlaw, Baily,
Borish,
September 1989
11
8
AOA Interviews: Wechsler, Borish, Grosvenor, Hill,
Baily,
December 1989
11
9
AOA Interviews: Wolfberg, Borish
Living History of Contact
Lenses,
January 1990
11
10
3rd Symposium International de la Presbytie,
undated
11
11
Auto
Refractometer,
undated
11
12
Electronic
Refractor,
undated
Miscellaneous
There are two folders in this series. The items are not dated and
consist mostly of sketches of Dr. Borish drawn by students.
9
54
Sketches by Students,
undated
9
55
Miscellaneous,
undated