What tales the purses could tell, of gala evenings under gas and electric light, of balls and events and joyous carryings-on into the merry hours of the morning.

Just because they lack tongues does not mean the bags and purses —  now at the center of White River Valley Museum’s latest exhibit: Small Bags for Big Events: 100 Years of Pretty Purses — are mute under their beads and brocade and mesh and mother-of-pearl.

Indeed, given 130 purses and several fully-accessorized outfits from the 1950s and 1960s, they chatter freely about themselves and changing times and mores, giving those who see them a keen appreciation for the eyes and hands that prettied them up and the women who put their necessaries in them from 1860 through the 1960s.

In a drawstring lace bag of the 1870s, a tiny, linen hanky.

Gold-beaded bags of the 1920s, hiding rouge and powder.

And from the Madmen era, a women’s large, flower-patterned, plastic repository of car keys, lipstick, a mirror and money.

“It kind of carries on with our tradition of finding beautiful things that can shed light on women’s history but also be entertaining and give kind of a glimpse into the vintage fashion world,” said Patricia Cosgrove, curator of the White River Valley Museum.

Pausing at one of the earliest parts of the collection, Cosgrove describes what she sees.

“See the yonder thing — that’s called a pocket, an outside-the-clothing pocket. So, you’d connect that around here, and you’d have this little bag. They didn’t have purses; this is the pre-purse. And it all starts with the pocket. You might have had a beautiful one that hung outside, and you kept whatever you needed in it. Or you might have a secretive one that was under your dress or between your petticoat for high security. This comes from an era when there wasn’t much privacy,” Cosgrove said.

Guest curator Kate Slaminko, who has extensive experience with vintage clothing and accessories, said choosing bags from local, vintage fashion aficionados to add to the museum’s collection was hardship and joy.

“It was a wonderful excuse to ask people to show me their collections, and just so hard to choose what we could show, and what we just didn’t have room for,” Slaminko said.

The exhibit, supported by grants from 4Culture and the Auburn Hotel-Motel Tax fund, ends June 19 at the museum, 918 H St. SE, Auburn. From 6-8 p.m., April 7, a fashion-themed kid’s late play date.

The museum creates an exciting and educational experience for visitors through a series of award-winning exhibits and programs on regional cultures, arts and history. The museum’s artifact collections focus on Puget Sound history, Northwest Native culture, Japanese immigration and the Northern Pacific Railway.

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. On the first Thursday of each month the hours are extended from 6 to 8 p.m. Regular admission is $5 adults, $2 seniors and children, children 2 years of age or younger are always free. Admission is free for everyone all day on the first Thursday and the third Sunday of every month.

Call 253-288-7433 or visit www.wrvmuseum.org for event information.