Undergarments are on display at the South Lake Tahoe Museum. Photos/Denise Haerr

By Denise Haerr

When one walks into the lobby of the South Lake Tahoe Library, one sees something unexpected in the display case — underwear.

The Friends of the Library in partnership with the Lake Tahoe Historical Society are hosting a presentation titled A Brief History of Underwear.

Diane Johnson, president of the LTHS, has gathered various dainties, from the museum’s collection to showcase Tahoe’s historic unmentionables. Many of the pieces have never been on display.

This is an opportunity to find out the “wear and why” about underwear.

Some of the items are on display for the first time.

Jan Loverin, who will be giving a talk about the undergarments, said, “This lecture looks at the history of various forms and styles of undergarments worn by our ancestors. Starting with the Egyptians and going through the millennia, this PowerPoint program reveals fascinating facts about corsetry, drawers — panties and undershorts, petticoats, bustles, farthingales, and other undergarments people have worn throughout western civilization.”

Loverin knows her stuff. For more than 30 years she has been the curator of Clothing and Textiles at the Nevada State Museum’s Marjorie Russell Clothing and Textile Research Center in Carson City.

The free talk is Aug. 30 at 6pm at the South Lake Tahoe Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd. The exhibit at the library ends the same day.