H. Eugene Bolles (1853-1910)

He was born Hezekiah Eugene Bolles at New London, Connecticut. He graduated from Boston University Law School and became a successful attorney at Boston, living at 401 Quincy Street in Dorchester. From 1885, he and his wife, Elizabeth Howe, started collecting by adding to the family heirlooms Elizabeth had inherited with museum-quality examples of furniture, glass, china and textiles. Dating from 1630 to 1815, "their collection of American furniture was considered the finest of its kind". After exhibiting their 434-piece collection in New York, they agreed to sell the collection in tact (displayed in period room settings) with funds made available from Mrs Russell Sage to the Metropolitan Museum, hence it is known as the Sage Collection rather than the Bolles Collection. In 1911, Bolles co-founded The Walpole Society - antique enthusiasts, scholars, museum curators, professionals and above average collectors who met at museums and historic houses for private tours and lectures. They died without children.