Archival Anecdotes: No room for embarrassment
August 23, 2021

A full page ad from Rodenberg-Schwoebel Department Stores featuring many summer styles appeared in preparation for a sale on June 5, 1914 in the New Rockford Transcript. Among the advertised selections were both Cool Summer underwear for men and the New Style Corset.
Undergarments are one of those rarely talked about luxuries. Assuming (as I always have) that earlier generations were more prudish and cautious about such private matters, I am still surprised each time that I have encountered undergarments within the Eddy County Museum collections.
I couldn't understand why anyone would donate their most intimate clothing to be on public display. But maybe t...
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