Leather Archives & Museum

The Leather Archives & Museum (the LA&M), located in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, United States, was founded by Chuck Renslow[1] and Tony DeBlase in 1991, “as a community archives, library, and museum of Leather, kink, fetish, and BDSM history and culture.”[2][3] Its mission statement reads, “Making leather, kink, BDSM, and fetish accessible through research, preservation, education and community engagement.”[2] It is a 501(c)(3) organization.[2]

In addition to activities in Chicago, the LA&M sends "traveling" exhibits around the country, and provides email and telephone research assistance.[4]

The LA&M is open to those 18 years old or older due to the adult nature of some of its contents.[5]

Permanent exhibits

The permanent exhibits at the LA&M are the Fakir Musafar exhibit, the Dungeon exhibit (which shows some of the museum’s artifacts in an erotic environment), the Leatherbar exhibit, and the A Room of Her Own exhibit (about women’s leather history).[6][7][8]

In regard to the name of the A Room of Her Own exhibit, curator Alex Warner has written,[9]

As I began work for the first exhibit installation of the Women’s Leather History Project, I was excited that we were both literally and figuratively making room for Leatherwomen’s history in the LA&M. It was out of this line of thinking that "A Room of Her Own" emerged, building on Virginia Woolf’s 1929 feminist text [A Room of One's Own] that argues for women’s need for space to think and create.

Etienne auditorium

The LA&M has the Etienne auditorium, which is used for the LA&M film series, Cinekink, the German Fetisch Film Festival, leather-related contests, demonstrations, community meetings, lectures, and as a place where leather groups and clubs can gather for free.[10]

The auditorium has numerous murals done by Dom Orejudos, who used the pseudonym Etienne, the French equivalent of his middle name Stephen.[11][6]

Notable items

The LA&M has the world’s biggest collection of original pieces by Dom Orejudos under the name Etienne, some Touko Valio Laaksonen (who used the pseudonym Tom of Finland) originals, and complete sets of the magazines Drummer (before its relaunch) and Bound & Gagged.[12][13] It also has one of three original leather pride flags which the flag's creator Tony DeBlase assembled as a prototype,[14] and all of the artwork, notes, and other materials of Bill Schmeling.[15]

The LA&M also has notable writings such as the records of International Mr. Leather, National Leather Association, and the Mineshaft, and the papers of Tony DeBlase.[12]

It also has all photos by Kris Studios, a male physique photography studio founded by Chuck Renslow and Dom Orejudos, that took photos for gay magazines they published. The studio was named in part to honor transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen.[16][17][18][19] Renslow later co-founded the LA&M with Tony DeBlase.[2][3]

History

In August 1991, the LA&M was incorporated in the state of Illinois.[3]

Tony DeBlase served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the LA&M from 1992 until 2000.[20]

The LA&M moved into its current building in 1999.[5]

In May 2006, the LA&M's executive director Rick Storer participated in a panel discussion entitled "Censorship & Sexually Explicit Materials" at the 2006 GLBT ALMS (Archives, Libraries, Museums and Special Collections) Conference.[21][22]

In May 2009, the LA&M announced that International Mr. Leather proceeds would be placed in a trust to benefit the museum.[23]

In 2009, the LA&M acquired the 25-box collection of papers of Robert Davolt, author and organizer of the San Francisco Pride leather contingent, and the editor of Bound & Gagged.[24][25]

In July of 2019, Bill Schmeling donated all of his artwork, notes, and other materials to the LA&M, shortly before he died in September.[15]

Honors

The LA&M received the Large Nonprofit Organization of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 1997, 2001, 2006, and 2011.[26]

Joseph Bean, while executive director of the LA&M, received the Man of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 1998 and 2000,[27][28] and the Steve Maidhof Award for National or International Work from the National Leather Association International in 1998.[29]

Rick Storer, while executive director of the LA&M, received the President’s Award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2005, the Man of the Year award as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2008, the Mr. Marcus Hernandez Lifetime Achievement Award (Man) as part of the Pantheon of Leather Awards in 2012, and the National Leather Association International Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.[21][28][30]

The LA&M was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in 2017.[31]

The LA&M was inducted into the Leather Hall of Fame in 2019.[32]

Other

Chuck Renslow, who died in 2017,[17] is listed as the Chairman In Memoriam of the LA&M.[33] The LA&M also gives out the Chuck Renslow President's Award to honor individuals and organizations for their contributions to it.[34]

Sources
  1. Shapiro, Gregg. (2011). "Leatherman's man: an interview with Chuck Renslow's biographer Owen Keehmen". Outlook: Columbus. LGBT Life with Full Text, EBSCOhost. 16 (1): 48. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  2. "About the LA&M - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2019-12-16.
  3. Ridinger, Robert (2005). "Founding of the Leather Archives & Museum". LGBT History, 1988-1992 [serial online]. LGBT Life with Full Text, EBSCOhost: 33–36.
  4. Foer, Joshua (2016). "Atlas Obscura". Workman Publishing Company: 319. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. "Leather Archives & Museum | Museum Day | Smithsonian". Smithsonianmag.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
  6. "Exhibitions - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  7. "The Dungeon Exhibit - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  8. "The Leatherbar Exhibit - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  9. "A Room of Her Own - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  10. "The Etienne Auditorium - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  11. Tracy Baim; Owen Keehnen (2011). Leatherman: The Legend of Chuck Renslow. Obama and the Gays. pp. 35–. ISBN 978-1-4610-9602-3.
  12. "KANE, "DRUMMER," AND DEBLASE — Rick Storer, Leather Archives & Museum — San Francisco Leathermen's Discussion Group". Sfldg.org. 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  13. Mick O’Shea (3 August 2018). The Sex Pistols Invade America: The Fateful U.S. Tour, January 1978. McFarland. pp. 66–. ISBN 978-1-4766-3184-4.
  14. "The Leather Pride Flag - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. Retrieved 2019-12-05.
  15. Peregrin, Tony. "Drawn together". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  16. Baim, Tracy; Keehnen, Owen (2011). Leatherman: The Legend of Chuck Renslow. Prairie Avenue Productions. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-46109602-3.
  17. Goldsborough, Bob. "Chuck Renslow, Chicago gay community icon and International Mr. Leather contest founder, dies at 87". chicagotribune.com.
  18. Bedwell, Michael (October 7, 2019). "Remembering transgender pioneer Christine Jorgensen". LGBTQ Nation.
  19. Materville Studios - Host of Windy City Times (2008-05-21). "Kris: The Physique Photography of Chuck Renslow - 12839 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News - Windy City Times". Windycitymediagroup.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  20. Steve Lenius (2000-07-28). "Leather Life: Tony DeBlase, 1942-2000; Transitions article published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #135, July 28, 2000, by Joseph W. Bean". Leathercolumn.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  21. "#508: The Evidence of Leather".
  22. "GLBT ALMS 2006 Conference Program". GLBT ALMS 2006 Conference Program. 2006.
  23. "Leather Archives & Museum Announcement". Twitter. 2009-05-25. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  24. "Robert W. Davolt". San Francisco Chronicle. 3 July 2005. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  25. Galloway, A. (2009). "Grants and Acquisitions". College & Research Libraries News. 70: 62. doi:10.5860/crln.70.1.8121.
  26. 🖉"Pantheon of Leather Awards All Time Recipients - The Leather Journal". www.theleatherjournal.com.
  27. "view a dia". www.museum.com.
  28. "Pantheon of Leather Awards All Time Recipients - The Leather Journal". www.theleatherjournal.com.
  29. "List of winners - Living In Leather". livinginleather.net.
  30. "List of winners". NLA International. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  31. Materville Studios - Host of Windy City Times (2017-11-09). "Hall of Fame induction strikes joyous notes - 729 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News - Windy City Times". Windycitymediagroup.com. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  32. "> Inductees". Leatherhalloffame.com. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
  33. "Staff and Board - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. 1999-06-28. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  34. "President's Award - Leather Archives & Museum". Leatherarchives.org. 1987-03-21. Retrieved 2019-12-29.

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